Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller

1
Death of a SalesmanArthur Miller

• The American Dream
• At what cost?

2
About the PlaywrightArthur 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

3
Millers 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
Millers 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 Willys
  life
• Unity of action - the play is complete unto
  itself
• the tragic herowith a twist

7
Also from Classical Tragedy

• the heros traits, esp. being a mixture of good
  and bad and being of higher moral worth than
  others in society
• the concept of the heros flaw
• the heros 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 individuals search for meaning and purpose in
  life (not Willy, but Biff)
• failure in pursuit of success
• Mans 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 Willys primary obsession (Biff)

13
Symbols

• Seeds opportunity for growth, but will not
  always germinate.
• Diamonds Material tangible wealth
• The Womans Stockings betrayal and infidelity.
• The Rubber Hose Suicide
• Alaska, AfricaThe 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

• Millers 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
Millers 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 Lomans
  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 Willys vulnerable, tragic side
• Fails to reconcile his fathers expectations

22
Linda Loman

• Loving, devoted wife
• Naïve and realistic of Willys hopes
• Emotionally supportive of Willy
• Willys strength until his tragic perishing

23
Happy Loman

• Younger son, 32 years old
• In Biffs shadow all his life
• Relentless sex and professional drive
• Represents Willys 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 Willys only friend although
  Willy is jealous of Charleys success

25
Bernard

• Charleys 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

• Willys deceased older brother
• Independently wealthy
• Appears to Willy in daydreams
• Willys symbol of success that he desperately
  wants for his sons

27
The Woman

• Willys 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)