PDPU

1. Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller (1949)
Pulitzer Prize for Drama
WillyLoman – the
protagonist.
Failedsalesman,
livesindelusions,
talksto imaginary
people,arrogant,
loveshissonsbut
can’t accept their
failures,cheatson
hiswife, meets
self invited
accidentat the
endand dies .
Biff Loman – Son
of Willy.Loveshis
fatherbut hasall
hisfollies.Also
livesinhismake
belief world. Hasa
habitof stealing.
Cant getoverpast
cheatingof his
fatheron his
mother.Quarrels
withhisdad often.
Linda Loman –
wife of Willy.
Devotedtoher
husbandandblind
to hisweaknesses.
She has concerns
overBiff’sactions
but protectsall
foolishplansof her
husband.She,
partlyfailstosee
throughWillyalso.
Happy Loman –
Son of Willy.He isa
recklessflirt. His
name is ironic.
Unlike other
characters inthe
play,he is
reasonably
successful butstill
isnot happyand
getslessattention
fromhis parents.
Ben Loman – Dead
brotherof Wily.He is
a foil to him.He had
takenoff for Alaska
and became
successful.He
appearsas imaginary
visions.He is
everythingthatWilly
isnot and therefore
Willyseekshis
imaginarycounsel all
the time.
Main theme – Americandreaminthe 1940s had setall people inquestformaterial success.Cravingforluxuriesand material success,people soongot
disillusionedwithstressandchallenges.Successdoesnotcome throughluckonly.People whobecamesuccessful accidentallycreatedillusioninthe mindsof
othersthat itcouldbe foundimmediately. People, whocouldnotapprove of theirownseemingfailure,resortedtoday-dreamingandhallucinations. This
alsoledto driftinthe familyandthe relationsbecame shallowandsuperficial.Eachone was competingwiththe otherandwithoneself.People alsoturned
to othervicesto coverup theirfailureslike stealing,lying, sexual perverseness,alcohol andarrogance.Notbeingable tocope upwiththe challengesof the
real worldisthe mainweaknessinthe charactersof the playand therefore the title of the playisnot‘Deathof Willy’but ‘Deathof a Salesman’!
The play alsoemphasizesonthe needof practical wisdom.The reasonforthe tragic endof Willyisthat he couldnotaccept his capacityand couldnot digest
hisownstate.Trying toconstantlyreachfor endorsementof othersforone’sownsuccessisrisky. Havingambitioninlifeisgoodbutoverreachingthe
ambitionisa suicidal tendency.Expectationscreate stressandultimatelyleadtodestruction.
PDF textonline - http://www.pelister.org/literature/ArthurMiller/Miller_Salesman.pdf