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  Wrote Death of a Salesman and The Crucible  Pulitzer Prize winner for Death of A Salesman  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

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. 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.

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  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

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  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

Themes  Willy Loman – A modern tragic hero  Biff Loman - the search for meaning and purpose in life  Pursuit of success, consequence of failing.  Man’s need to “leave a thumbprint somewhere in the world.”  An examination of the materialistic values of society  Willy Loman – A modern tragic hero  Biff Loman - the search for meaning and purpose in life  Pursuit of success, consequence of failing.  Man’s need to “leave a thumbprint somewhere in the world.”  An examination of the materialistic values of society

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. 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.

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.  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.

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  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

Setting  Year: 1949  Place: New York City  Story takes place in past and present. Past scenes occur through Willy’s 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.  Year: 1949  Place: New York City  Story takes place in past and present. Past scenes occur through Willy’s 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.

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

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 father’s expectations  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 father’s expectations

Linda Loman  Loving, devoted wife  Naïve and realistic of Willy’s hopes  Emotionally supportive of Willy  Loving, devoted wife  Naïve and realistic of Willy’s hopes  Emotionally supportive of Willy

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

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.”  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.”

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  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  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  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  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