Death of a Salesman

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It's a hit!

Death of a Salesman has been called boring and dull. I can see were that comes from. It is simply the story of a man who realized that he's done no... (show more)

Death of a Salesman has been called boring and dull. I can see were that comes from. It is simply the story of a man who realized that he's done nothing in life and that he cannot do anything to change that. But it's the characters that suffer through this, the absolute, uncomfortable truth in what Miller says and the way he says it that makes this so extraordinary. The story follows Willy Loman's attempts to foist importance on his sons in order to make his life more meaningful, but this invariably fails. He recalls the chances he'd had to make it big and become rich, but these are long gone and left only in his memory (if in fact, they existed at all.) He's a hopeless man, a desperate man, and most poignantly, the everyman. We all will be Willy Loman too soon, stuck in the past and unable to accept what we are-- Nothing, as Biff eventually cries. It is a simple story, and we sympathize and root for these characters that are so normal it hurts. Arthur Miller makes such great drama, whether it be in the Crucible or this. The ending scene with Biff and Willy will have your heart racing and your eyes flooding with tears. There are so many great tragedies of this play- whether you count it as Willy not heading out to Alaska or his life-changing decision in Boston- but one of the greatest is you can practically taste the reality of Miller's situations and conversations in the middle of this desperate and completely desolate world. It is life, not some Englishman sacrificing himself for religion or a prince killing for his dead father. This is an average man in an average situation-- an average crisis, if you will, that every human will experience. Miller just makes it an art, and what great art he makes. (show less)

 

 

by Kelsey Hamilton

No, it's a flop!

A friend of mine was recently in an Arthur Miller play, so that inspired me to read some of Miller's work. It was interesting to read a play consi... (show more)

A friend of mine was recently in an Arthur Miller play, so that inspired me to read some of Miller's work. It was interesting to read a play considering that it's very easy to visualize what is going on in stage, and it's a lot easier to use daydreams and symbolism in a play and get away with it. Yes, the anti-hero is pathetic, normal, and oh-so-common. Consumerism is a major aspect of the story, and it just goes to show that "getting ahead" is a lie that we as humans have created. No other animal has contrived such an idiotic sphere. It's a good and quick read. (show less)

 

 

by Ashley Booth

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  Though this two act play is a little dated due to the fact that the image of the itinerant salesman no longer seems to be as recognizable an icon in America today, just like other Miller plays like the Crucible, the character roles and setting are more of a back drop for a larger inner struggle. My misconception upon picking up this book is that it was focused on the dying art and lifestyle of the salesman, but no transactions took place. In fact the selling part didn't really matter. This... (show more)

  Though this two act play is a little dated due to the fact that the image of the itinerant salesman no longer seems to be as recognizable an icon in America today, just like other Miller plays like the Crucible, the character roles and setting are more of a back drop for a larger inner struggle. My misconception upon picking up this book is that it was focused on the dying art and lifestyle of the salesman, but no transactions took place. In fact the selling part didn't really matter. This was more a tale of the relationship between a father and a favorite son, where over the years the father put way too much stock and mental energy into the favorite son and the son did not live up to those great expectations. Even more interesting was the plot twist that showed the reason why and the fact that like the father had high hopes for the son, the son had too high an opinion of the dad. All in all this was a good telling of how the American dream is not all that it is cracked up to be and a focus on dreaming a little dream, enjoying the simple pleasures in life, and the love of your family is worth more than making it to the top. If you like reading plays or want an exploration of the false idol of the American dream, than this is a good one for you. (show less)

   

   

  by Scot Quaranda on May 16, 2009 at 04:14PM

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  I went into this expecting it change my life. By the end of act one I could care less. I found myself trying to find other things to do to avoid having to continue reading it. I think it was because the character of Linda annoyed me, but particularly the character of Willy.
  I finally picked the book up again and read act two, and to my delight it was much better than the first.

  "Death of a Salesman" is compelling, emotional, and honest. I came out of this books depressed and anno... (show more)

  I went into this expecting it change my life. By the end of act one I could care less. I found myself trying to find other things to do to avoid having to continue reading it. I think it was because the character of Linda annoyed me, but particularly the character of Willy.
  I finally picked the book up again and read act two, and to my delight it was much better than the first.

  "Death of a Salesman" is compelling, emotional, and honest. I came out of this books depressed and annoyed at life. All we can do is our best and try to be the best and, and what? And nothing. I wish Willy could have been happy. I wish that our ghosts didn't haunt us and tear us apart. But they do, and we are Willy and now I am depressed, "Hello Real World, what is in store today? (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Feb 19, 2009 at 03:48AM

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