1. Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller
The American Dream:
At what cost?

2. THE PLAY
Death of a Salesman,Miller’s most famous work, addresses the painful conflicts within one family, but it also tackles larger issues regarding American national values. The play examines the cost of blind faith in the American Dream, that success and status are rights, not earned privileges.

3. 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

4. Miller’s Legal Troubles
Suspected of being a Communist sympathizer
Death seen as un-American
Miller has troubles with the House of Unamerican Activity/McCarthy
Miller denied a passport
HUAC pressures NYC not to allow Miller to make a film for them on juvenile delinquency

5. The Saga Continues...
Miller convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to name names And then...
US Court of Appeals overturns his contempt conviction

6. ARTHUR MILLER
He published The Crucible in 1953, a searing indictment of the anti-Communist hysteria that pervaded 1950s America, which is set during the Salem Witch Trials of Miller is also famous for having been one of Marilyn Monroe’s husbands! He died in 2005.

7. AMERICAN DREAM
It is a play viewed by many as a scathing attack on the American Dream of achieving wealth and success without regard for principle or morals

8. AMERICAN DREAM
The American Dream is a belief that in the United States of America, hard work and determination can lead to a better life, usually through the earning of money. These were values held by many early European settlers, and have been passed on to the newer generations.

9. AMERICAN DREAM
Traditionally, Americans have sought to realize the American dream of success, fame and wealth through thrift and hard work. However, the industrialization of the 20th centuries began to erode the dream, replacing it with a philosophy of "get rich quick".
A variety of seductive strategies have evolved, and today the three leading ways to instant wealth are
large-prize television game shows,
big-jackpot state lotteries
compensation lawsuits.

10. The American Dream
The American Dream that anyone can achieve financial success and material comfort lies in the heart of Death of a Salesman.
Willy Loman’s
Over the course of his lifetime, Willy and his sons fall short of the impossible standards of this dream. But the real tragedy of the play is not that Willy fails to achieve the financial success promised in this American dream, but rather that he buys into the dreams so thoroughly that he ignores the tangible things around him such as the love of his family, while pursuing the success he hopes will bring his family security. By sacrificing himself at the end of the play in order to get his family the life insurance policy, Willy literally kills himself for money. In the process he demonstrates that the American dream while powerful vehicle of aspiration can also turn a human being into a product or commodity whose sole value is his financial worth.

11. The play centers on Willy Loman, an aging salesman who is beginning to lose his grip on reality. Willy places great emphasis on his supposed native charm and ability to make friends;

12. TRAGIC FLAW IN A TRAGIC HERO.
Tragic Flaw: a flaw in character that brings about the downfall of the hero of a tragedy;
excessive pride financial greed).
Willy’s tragic flaw is in
failing to question whether the
dream is valid

13. A few key traits of the Tragic Hero
Usually evokes sympathy…
Has a weakness, usually pride
Something has gone awry in his/her life
Usually faced with a very serious decision he must make
Must understand his mistakes…
Likely doomed from the start…

14. Initial Themes
Addresses family conflict in post World War II America (1949)
Takes a close look at the price paid for the “American Dream”
Charges America with creating a capitalist materialism centered around a postwar economy

15. 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

16. 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 problem of communication
Abandonment

17. Add: Themes
Abandonment: The not-so-positive transient nature of mankind
Betrayal: Willy’s primary obsession (Biff)

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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?

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

23. 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

24. 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

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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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