Death of a Salesman

1. Death of a Salesman
Arthur Miller
The American Dream:
At what cost?

2. About the Playwright:
Arthur Miller
 Born in New York City on October 17, 1915
 Began as playwright at University of Michigan
 Pulitzer Prize winner for Death of A Salesman
 Double winner of New York Drama Critics
Circle Award
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3. Miller’s Legal Troubles
Suspected of being a Communist
sympathizer
Death seen as un-American
Miller has troubles with the
HUAC/McCarthy
1953 - Miller denied a passport
1955 - HUAC pressures NYC not to
allow Miller to make a film for them on
juvenile delinquency

4. The Saga Continues...
1957 - Miller convicted of contempt of
Congress for refusing to name names
And then...
1958 - US Court of Appeals overturns
his contempt conviction

5. Miller’s Assertions
Death is not a “document of
pessimism.”
Death is not un-American; it celebrates
the life of Willy Loman.
Miller believes that tragedy is
“inherently optimistic.”

6. From Classical Tragedy
 Unity of time -- the
final 24 hours in
Willy’s life
 Unity of action - the
play is complete
unto itself
 the tragic hero…with
a twist

7. Also from Classical Tragedy
the hero’s traits, esp. being a mixture of
good and bad and being of higher moral
worth than others in society
the concept of the hero’s flaw
the hero’s capacity to willingly endure
suffering
the catharsis of the audience

8. Initial Themes
 Addresses family conflict in post World War II
America
 Takes a close look at the price paid for the
“American Dream”
 Charges America with creating a capitalist
materialism centered around a postwar
economy
 This materialism skewed the original view of
the “American Dream” as envisioned by the
founding fathers

9. Death of a Salesman and the
American Dream
Death of a Salesman is considered by many to be the
quintessential modern literary work on the American dream, a term
created by James Truslow Adams in his 1931 book, The Epic of
America. This is somewhat ironic, given that it is such a dark and
frustrated play. The idea of the American dream is as old as
America itself: the country has often been seen as an empty
frontier to be explored and conquered. Unlike the Old World, the
New World had no social hierarchies, so a man could be whatever
he wanted, rather than merely having the option of doing what his
father did.
The American Dream is closely tied up with the literary works
of another author, Horatio Alger. This author grew famous through
his allegorical tales which were always based on the rags-to-riches
model. He illustrated how through hard work and determination,
penniless boys could make a lot of money and gain respect in
America.

10. Themes in Death
Willy Loman as a modern tragic hero
An individual’s search for meaning and
purpose in life (not Willy, but Biff)
failure in pursuit of success
Man’s need to “leave a thumbprint
somewhere in the world.”
An examination of the materialistic
values of society

11. More themes in Death
The love of a father for a son and a son
(Biff) for a father
The conflict between father and son
The question of who shall wield the
power?
the problem of communication

12. Add: Themes
Abandonment: The not-so-positive
transient nature of mankind
Betrayal: Willy’s primary obsession
(Biff)

13. Symbols
 Seeds: opportunity for growth, but will not
always germinate.
 Diamonds: Material & tangible wealth
 The Woman’s Stockings: betrayal and
infidelity.
 The Rubber Hose: Suicide
 Alaska, Africa…The American West:
success and failure

14. Characteristics of the Tragic Hero
"A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of
his own downfall."
~Aristotle
Six Characteristics of the Tragic Hero:
 Nobility or wisdom (by birth)
 A flaw or error of judgment (Hamartia)
 A reversal of fortune (perepetia)
 The discovery or recognition that the reversal was
brought about by the hero's own actions (anagnorisis)
 The audience must feel dramatic irony for the
character.
 The character's fate must be greater than deserved.

15. A few key traits of the T.H.
 Usually evokes empathy…
 Has a weakness, usually pride
 Something has gone awry in his/her life
 Usually faced with a very serious decision he
must make
 Noble in nature
 Must understand his mistakes…
 Likely doomed from the start…
 Begins his “journey” as no better or worse
than the rest of us…

16. The Common Man as Hero
Miller’s thoughts:
“Everyone knows Willy Loman.”
(allusion to the morality play,
Everyman.)
“The common man is suitable for a
tragic hero.”
Willy is meant to be seen as greater
and better (at least in potential) than his
society.

17. Miller’s Modern Tragedy
The hero is a common man.
The hero struggles against society.
The hero meets his downfall.
The downfall is a result of an
incongruity between his own perception
of the world and reality.
The hero achieves a kind of redemption
in his downfall.

18. Act 1
An air of the dream clings to the place, a
dream rising out of reality.
 How does this serve to foreshadow Willy
Loman’s life?

19. Major Characters
 Willy Loman
 Biff Loman
 Linda Loman
 Happy Loman
 Charley
 Bernard
 Ben
 The Woman
 Howard Wagner
 Stanley
 Jenny
 Miss Forsythe and
Letta

20. Willy Loman
Father, traveling salesman
Believes in chasing the American
Dream although he never achieves
it
Pins his failed hopes on his sons,
Biff and Happy
Becomes mentally ill when pressure
of reality crushes his illusions

21. Biff Loman
 Elder son, 34 years old
 High school standout-football star, many
male friends, and female admirers
 Academic failures lead to a life of
kleptomania
 Represents Willy’s vulnerable, tragic side
 Fails to reconcile his father’s
expectations

22. Linda Loman
Loving, devoted wife
Naïve and realistic of Willy’s hopes
Emotionally supportive of Willy
Willy’s strength until his tragic
perishing

23. Happy Loman
 Younger son, 32 years old
 In Biff’s shadow all his life
 Relentless sex and professional drive
 Represents Willy’s sense of self
importance and ambition
 Often engages in bad business ethics

24. Charley
The Lomans’ next door neighbor
Successful businessman
Often gives Willy financial support
Described sadly as Willy’s only
friend although Willy is jealous of
Charley’s success

25. Bernard
Charley’s son
Successful lawyer
Often mocked by Willy for being
studious
Compared to Loman sons by Willy;
they do not measure up to his
success

26. Ben
Willy’s deceased older brother
Independently wealthy
Appears to Willy in daydreams
Willy’s symbol of success that he
desperately wants for his sons

27. The Woman
Willy’s mistress
Her admiration for Willy is an ego
boost
Biff catches Willy with her in a hotel
room
Biff loses faith in his father due to
infidelity

28. WILLY: I'm not interested in stories about the past or
any crap of that kind because the woods are burning,
boys, you understand? There's a big blaze going on
all around. I was fired today.
BIFF (shocked): How could you be?
WILLY: I was fired, and I'm looking for a little good
news to tell your mother, because the woman has
waited and the woman has suffered. The gist of it is
that I haven't got a story left in my head, Biff. So
don't give me a lecture about facts and aspects. I am
not interested. Now what've you got so say to me?
(from Death of a Salesman)