Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller The American Dream

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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

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.

The American Dream Arthur Miller suggests that the American Dream is, for the most part, unattainable. Only those who are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time will prosper, and the rest will struggle for their entire lives and never reach the material and emotional success embodied in the American Dream. Willy is obsessed with the American Dream and the idea of being able to give his family whatever they desire. Miller's depiction of the Lomans as an average family struggling to fulfill their dreams shows his belief that the American Dream is a goal that, for many families, will never be reached. Willy knows that he is not living the American Dream because his salary is not enough to pay his debts, but he also knows that his family expects him to provide for them, and he is frustrated with his failure.

The American Dream Miller asserts that because people are so fixed on the American Dream, they are not able to enjoy the lives that they have made for themselves. The American Dream creates a false hope that prevents people from being proud of what they have accomplished to make their lives better than they would be in other countries. Willy feels inadequate because he has not found the success promised in the American Dream and is so consumed with the desire to fulfill the dream that he is willing to take his own life. He wants to know that he has succeeded in providing for his family and is admired by his sons.

The American Dream Motivation of looking to others who are successful. Willy's brother Ben represents everything Willy has ever dreamed of and is trying to achieve. Ben's adventurous nature embodies one of the key ideas in the American Dream, that of seeking the greatest opportunities in order to gain wealth The memory of Ben torments Willy even years after their last contact because Willy is jealous of the fact that Ben went out and struck a fortune. Willy wishes he had taken advantage of his youth in ways similar to his brother so that he too could be living the American Dream. Ben is given an elevated status for his achievements in fulfilling the American Dream, and he is a guiding point for the Loman family.

The American Dream In the end, Willy does not understand that he should be proud of the fact that he has lived and worked in American and raised two sons. He has done his best, but the idea of the American Dream has prevented him from enjoying his life in America because he is too busy trying to attain the impossible dream, by looking to others and being overly hard on himself. Miller suggests that the idea of the American Dream inhibits people from enjoying the success they have found in America.

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

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

Add: Themes Abandonment: The not-so-positive transient nature of mankind Gender Relations Betrayal: Willy’s primary obsession (Biff) Madness Perills of modernity (Growth) Nostalgia/Regret Opportunity

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

Symbols Falling/Down: failure of family and work and life Stealing: stealing (fiancés or objects) represents the boys true identities and how they have been stolen by lying and the pursuit of unachievable dreams. The jungle/woods: symbols of life. Ben is not afraid to take risks in life. He took control. He tells Willy “the jungle is dark but you must walk in to it.” encouraging suicide as a form of taking control.

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.

Key Traits of the Tragic Hero 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…

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.

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.

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Father/Son Dynamic Willy has infused his sons with the same fundamentally wrong sense of morality and of what is important in life that has hindered his own success and happiness; the sons find themselves equally trapped and suspended in time without the ability to succeed

The Father/Son Dynamic Blatantly preferring his older son Biff, Willy put not only his hopes but also immense pressure on him from an early age Once aware of the affair, the son’s godlike reverence of Willy was shattered and Biff wondered around devoid of any sense of purpose, a bum surviving through low-wage labor and stealing.

The Father/Son Dynamic When the family is reunited once again under one roof, the father’s pressure on and control over his sons, especially Biff, once again refuel the old conflicts between them and ultimately lead to Biff’s decision to leave and never come back.

The Father/Son Dynamic Torn between what he knows he must do and the love he feels for his father, Biff hugs Willy one last time. It is at that moment that Willy becomes aware of Biff’s love for him. It is a textbook example of the human affection exchange theory of male behavior, which finds that fathers and sons very seldom express their affection for each other directly through verbal statements or direct non-verbal gestures.

The Father/Son Dynamic This, together with the loss of his job, prompts Willy to finally commit a long considered suicide in order to bequeath twenty thousand dollars of life insurance money to Biff

The Father/Son Dynamic Happy was always considered second. This has left him with an even stronger desire to please his father in any way he can. His function within the story is an important one as he acts as a buffer between Biff and Willy. He eventually becomes the next generation of the tragic hero that was Willy Loman.

The Message It is not only one of the limits of the American Dream and that it cannot apply to everyone, but of the necessity of the sons outgrowing their fathers, of the importance and value of the next generation to break loose from their forbears.