Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman

Introduction

Arthur Miller was an American playwright, essayist, and activist. He is best known for his plays Death of a Salesman (1949), The Crucible (1953), and A View from the Bridge (1955). Miller’s work often explores the themes of social justice, the American Dream, and the individual’s place in society.

Death of a Salesman is a play about Willy Loman, a traveling salesman who is struggling to make ends meet. Willy is a failure by the standards of the American Dream, and he is haunted by his own sense of inadequacy. The play explores the cost of blind faith in the American Dream, and it offers a critical appraisal of the values that lie at the heart of American society.

Background on Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller was born in Harlem, New York, on October 17, 1915. His parents were Polish immigrants, and Miller’s childhood was marked by financial hardship. Miller attended the University of Michigan, where he studied English and drama. After graduating, he worked as a scriptwriter for radio and television.

Miller’s first play, No Villain (1936), was produced in New York City. The play was a critical and commercial failure, but it helped to launch Miller’s career as a playwright. In 1947, Miller’s play All My Sons won the Pulitzer Prize. Death of a Salesman followed two years later, and it was an even greater success. The play won the Pulitzer Prize, the Tony Award, and the Drama Critics’ Circle Award.

Miller continued to write plays throughout his career. His other notable works include The Crucible (1953), A View from the Bridge (1955), After the Fall (1964), and The Price (1968). Miller also wrote essays, short stories, and screenplays.

Miller was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War, and he was blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1956. However, he continued to write and speak out against social injustice. Miller died in 2005 at the age of 89.

Analysis of Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman is a play about the American Dream and the cost of its pursuit. Willy Loman is a traveling salesman who has been chasing the American Dream for his entire life. However, he has never been able to achieve the success that he has always wanted. Willy is a failure by the standards of the American Dream, and he is haunted by his own sense of inadequacy.

The play explores the ways in which the American Dream can be destructive. Willy has sacrificed his family, his health, and his happiness in his pursuit of success. He has also lied and cheated to get ahead. In the end, Willy’s pursuit of the American Dream leads to his suicide.

Death of a Salesman is a powerful play that offers a critical appraisal of the American Dream. The play shows how the American Dream can be a trap, and it suggests that there are more important things in life than material success.

Literary Techniques in Death of a Salesman

Miller uses a variety of literary techniques in Death of a Salesman. One of the most notable techniques is the use of flashbacks. The play is structured as a series of flashbacks, which allow us to see Willy’s life from different perspectives. The flashbacks also help to create a sense of nostalgia, and they show how Willy’s dreams of the past have become distorted by his present reality.

Another important literary technique in Death of a Salesman is the use of symbolism. The play is full of symbols, such as the car, the baseball, and the house. These symbols represent different aspects of Willy’s life, and they help to deepen our understanding of his character.

The play also uses a variety of other literary techniques, such as foreshadowing, irony, and dramatic irony. These techniques help to create suspense and to highlight the themes of the play.

Conclusion

Death of a Salesman is a powerful and complex play that explores the themes of the American Dream, the individual’s place in society, and the cost of blind faith. The play is a critical appraisal of the American Dream, and it suggests that there are more important things in life than material success. Miller uses a variety of literary techniques to create a rich and complex work of art.

Works Cited

• Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Penguin Books, 1976.
• “Arthur Miller.” The Arthur Miller Society, www.arthurmiller.net/.