Death of A Salesman

DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Death of a Salesman, a play in “two acts and a requiem” by Arthur Miller,

written in 1948 and produced in 1949. Miller won a Pulitzer Prize for the
work, which he described as “the tragedy of a man who gave his life, or sold it”
in pursuit of the American Dream.
Historical background
Arthur Miller was born in New York City on October 17, 1915. His career as a playwright
began while he was a student at the University of Michigan. Several of his early works
won prizes, and during his senior year, the Federal Theatre Project in Detroit performed
one of his works. He produced his first great success, All My Sons, in 1947. Two years
later, Miller wrote Death of a Salesman, which won the Pulitzer Prize and transformed
Miller into a national sensation. Many critics described Death of a Salesman as the first
great American tragedy, and Miller gained eminence as a man who understood the
deep essence of the United States. He published The Crucible in 1953, a searing
indictment of the anti-Communist hysteria that pervaded 1950s America. He has won
the New York Drama Critics Circle Award twice, and his Broken Glass (1993) won the
Olivier Award for Best Play of the London Season.
Character List
Willy Loman An aging salesman. He suffers from depression and
anxiety as a result of his dissipating career, his estranged relationship
with his oldest son, Biff, and his guilt over an extramarital affair. As
the play progresses, Willy loses the ability to distinguish between the
present and his memories of the past.
Linda Loman Willy Loman's wife. She is Willy's champion and takes it
upon herself to reconcile her family. She will protect Willy at all costs,
even if she must perpetuate his fantasies and deny his suicidal
behavior.
Biff Loman The Lomans' older son. Biff has been estranged from Willy
for over 15 years, during which time he has not been able to hold a
steady job. Biff is the only member of the family who knows about
Willy's affair, and he resents his father bitterly.
Happy Loman The Lomans' younger son. Happy is a womanizer driven
by his sexuality. He works as an assistant but exaggerates his position
and his authority.
Uncle Ben Willy's older brother. He made a fortune in the African

jungle by the time he was 21 years old. He once offered Willy a job in
Alaska. Ben appears in the play only in Willy's memories and fantasies.
Charley A long-time acquaintance of the Lomans. Charley supplies

Willy with a weekly loan once Willy is put on straight commission, and
he repeatedly offers him a job. Charlie is a true friend to Willy, even
though Willy is jealous of him. Charley appears in Willy's memories, as
well as in the actions of the present.
Bernard Charley's son. He provided Biff with answers while they were
in high school and attempted to help Biff study so that he would
graduate, even though Willy and Biff would criticize him. He is a
successful lawyer. Bernard appears in Willy's memories, as well as in
the present.
The Woman Willy's former lover, with whom he had an affair many
years ago in Boston. Biff discovered the affair when she came out of
the bathroom while he was in the room. She appears only in Willy's
memories and fantasies; however, as the play progresses, Willy has
difficulty distinguishing between his memories of the Woman and his
memories of Linda.
Howard Wagner Willy's current boss. He put Willy on straight

commission prior to the play's beginning, and later he fires him.
Howard is a businessman, unaffected by the facts that Willy worked
for his father and named him as a child.
Jenny Charley's secretary.
Stanley A waiter.
Miss Forsythe and Letta Young prostitutes.
MAIN CHARACTER:
William "Willy" Loman: The titular salesman. The product he is selling is never disclosed.[5] He
is 63 years old, unstable, insecure, and self-deluded. He vacillates between different eras of his
life throughout the play, and re-imagines them as if they were the present. Willy's age and
deteriorating mental state make him appear childlike. His first name, Willy, reflects this childlike
aspect as well as sounding like the question "Will he?"
What are the themes and symbols in Death of a Salesman?

Denial, contradiction, and the quest for order versus disorder comprise the three major
themes of Death of a Salesman. All three themes work together to create a dreamlike
atmosphere in which the audience watches a man's identity and mental stability slip away. The
main themes and symbols of Death of a Salesman include family relationships and, at
large, the shortcomings of the American dream and all of its consequences,
namely the financial well-being that can afford people certain luxuries.
Death of a Salesman Quotes

 “Why am I trying to become what I don't want to be? ...
 “Pop! ...
 “I'm gonna show you and everybody else that Willy Loman did not die in vain. ...
 “I've got to get some seeds. ...
 “I don't know what the hell I'm workin' for. ...
 “I am not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you.
What is the setting of Death of a Salesman American Dream?

This story takes place in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Boston, and Willy's head around the
1940's. The setting around them once use to be colorful natural beauty that covering
the home of the Loman's.
Death of a Salesman takes place in New York and Boston. The action begins in the home
of Willy Loman, an aging salesman who has just returned from a road trip. Willy is having
difficulty remembering events, as well as distinguishing the present from his memories of the
past.
Style:
In Death of a Salesman, Miller employs several dramatic techniques. In the play his dramatic
technique is a mixture of various techniques such as realism, naturalism, expressionism all
together directed towards enhancing the tragic effect of the play.
What Is the Genre? Death of a Salesman is a play, or drama, by Arthur Miller. This genre, or
type of literature, works well for the story of Willy Loman, a dramatic character driven to
distraction by his desire to be well liked
IRONY
Idealization and the American Dream are at the core of Arthur Miller's 1949 play, but so is irony.
Explore the use of irony in 'Death of a Salesman,' which comes in three forms: dramatic irony,
verbal irony, and situational irony. Updated: 01/04/2022
1. The American Dream

Death of a Salesman, written in 1949 by Arthur Miller, is a Pulitzer Prize winning play about
Willy Loman, a hard-working family man, whose reality does not match his expectations. It is a
commentary on the American Dream as Willy nears the end of his career and begins to realize
that he has missed the mark on success. Arthur Miller uses dramatic, situational, and verbal irony
throughout the play to help the reader better understand the characters and the events of the play.
2. Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows important information that a character isn't aware
of yet, which causes that character to say or do things that are the opposite of what he or she
should say or do. Willy ends up committing suicide after deciding that he is not living up to his
dreams, but after his funeral, we find out that he has successfully paid off the mortgage on the
house. His wife, Linda, talks to him out loud saying, ''I made the last payment on the house
today. Today, dear. And there'll be nobody home.'' For many people, having a house paid for
would be an indicator of success. Willy never sees the fruits of his labor because he kills himself
before he has a chance to reap the benefits.
3. Verbal Irony
Willy Loman's public self is so different from his actual self that often what he says creates
verbal irony. Verbal irony occurs when what the character says is in sharp contrast to the reality
of the situation. Willy Loman views himself as a success, but the audience knows that his
perspective is skewed. Loman offers his son advice, ''the man who makes an appearance in the
business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and
you will never want.'' He further claims that his clients never make him wait because they like
him and are excited to see him when just the opposite is true.
This juxtaposition between what is and what Willy says reveals a character unable to face the
reality of his life. Verbal irony is used as a tool to describe Willy's character by comparing the
way the world views him to the way he tries to present himself to his sons.
Plot Summary
Death of a Salesman is, at first glance, about the last day in the life of salesman
Willy Loman, who, at 63, has failed at his career. While at home, he dissociates
from reality, entering in time switches that explain why he turned out the way he
did through interactions with his brother Ben and his mistress. He also
constantly fights with his eldest son Biff, who, after dropping out of high school,
has been getting by as a drifter and as an occasional thief. By contrast, his
younger son, Happy, has a more traditional—albeit lackluster—career and is a
womanizer.
In the play’s climax, Biff and Willy fight and a resolution is reached when Biff
explains how his father’s ideal of the American Dream has failed them both. Willy
decides to commit suicide so that his family can collect his life insurance.

Death of A Salesman

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Death of A Salesman

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Death of A Salesman

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DEATH OF A SALESMAN

Death of a Salesman, a play in “two acts and a requiem” by Arthur Miller,

Uncle Ben Willy's older brother. He made a fortune in the African

Charley A long-time acquaintance of the Lomans. Charley supplies

Howard Wagner Willy's current boss. He put Willy on straight

Jenny Charley's secretary.

Miss Forsythe and Letta Young prostitutes.

What are the themes and symbols in Death of a Salesman?

Death of a Salesman Quotes

What is the setting of Death of a Salesman American Dream?

1. The American Dream

You might also like