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Title: Death%20of%20a%20Salesman%20Arthur%20Miller


1
Death of a SalesmanArthur Miller
  • The American Dream

2
About the PlaywrightArthur Miller (1915-2005)
  • Born in New York City on October 17, 1915
  • Began as playwright at University of Michigan
  • Wrote Death of a Salesman and The Crucible
  • Pulitzer Prize winner for Death of A Salesman

3
Death of a Salesman and the American Dream
  • Considered by many to be the essential modern
    literary work on the American dream.
  • The American dream defined Country is an empty
    frontier to be explored/conquered. Anything is
    possible with hard work.
  • Unlike the Old World, the New World supposedly
    had no social hierarchies.
  • A man could be whatever he wanted, rather than
    merely having the option of doing what his father
    did.

4
Broad Themes
  • Individual Dignity
  • The American Dream
  • The Tragic Hero
  • Identity Crisis
  • Fantasizing the Truth
  • Nature vs. The City
  • Unrealistic Expectations
  • Mortality vs. Immortality
  • Abandonment
  • Betrayal
  • Imperfect Love of Family

5
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

6
Themes
  • Willy Loman A modern tragic hero
  • Biff Loman - the search for meaning and purpose
    in life
  • Pursuit of success, consequence of failing.
  • Mans need to leave a thumbprint somewhere in
    the world.
  • An examination of the materialistic values of
    society

7
Characteristics of the Tragic Hero
  • Six Characteristics of the Tragic Hero
  • Nobility or wisdom (by birth)
  • A flaw or error of judgment
  • A reversal of fortune
  • The discovery or recognition that the reversal
    was brought about by the hero's own actions.
  • The audience must feel dramatic irony for the
    character.
  • The character's fate must be greater than
    deserved.

8
Dramatic Irony
  • Dramatic irony is when the words and actions of
    the characters of a story have a different
    meaning for the reader than the characters of the
    story.
  • Girl going into the woods in a horror movie.

9
Key traits of the Tragic Hero
  • Evokes empathy
  • Has a weakness, usually pride
  • Something has gone awry in his life
  • Usually faced with a very serious decision
  • Likely doomed from the start
  • Begins journey no better or worse than the rest
    of us

10
Setting
  • Year 1949
  • Place New York City
  • Story takes place in past and present. Past
    scenes occur through Willys daydreams. Audience
    would be alerted to time changes by actions of
    actors on stage.
  • Where characters are at on stage often helps
    audience make sense of how to make sense of
    scenes taking place simultaneously.

11
Major Characters
  • Willy Loman
  • Biff Loman
  • Linda Loman
  • Happy Loman
  • Charley
  • Bernard
  • Ben
  • The Woman
  • Howard Wagner
  • Stanley
  • Jenny
  • Miss Forsythe and Letta

12
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
  • Remembers the past fondly.

13
Biff Loman
  • Elder son, 34 years old
  • High school standout-football star, many male
    friends, and female admirers
  • Academic failures lead to questionable choices
  • Attempting to reconcile his fathers expectations

14
Linda Loman
  • Loving, devoted wife
  • Naïve and realistic of Willys hopes
  • Emotionally supportive of Willy

15
Happy Loman
  • Younger son, 32 years old
  • In Biffs shadow all his life
  • Relentless drive for women and his profession
  • Sense of self importance and ambition
  • Often engages in bad business ethics

16
Final thoughts before reading
  • Death is not a document of pessimism.
  • Death is not anti-American it celebrates the
    life of Willy Loman.
  • Miller believes that tragedy is inherently
    optimistic.

17
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

18
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

19
Ben
  • Willys deceased older brother
  • Independently wealthy
  • Appears to Willy in daydreams
  • Willys symbol of success that he desperately
    wants for his sons

20
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
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