Death of a SalesmanAn American Tragedyby Arthur Miller

Introduction

Arthur Miller

Born in New York City on October 17, 1915; he died February 10, 2005.

Began as playwright at University of Michigan Pulitzer Prize winner for Death of A Salesman Double winner of New York Drama Critics Circle Award

Timeline

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/miller_a_timeline_flash.html

Arthur Miller & Marilyn Monroe

http://gallery.future-i.com/celebs/pic:Marilynhusband/full-size

Productions of Death of a Salesman

1950 - first sound recording of Death of a Salesman

1951 - 1st film version1951 - 1952 - US Tour 1954 - 1st radio production1983 - Miller directs Death in China 1985 - film version with Dustin Hoffman

on CBS; 25 million see it!

50th Anniversary of the Play

Brian Dennehy and Arthur Miller, who was presented with a lifetime achievement Tony Award in 1999.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4495305

Miller’s Legal Troubles

Suspected of being a Communist sympathizer Death of a Salesman was seen as un-

American Miller has troubles with the HUAC/McCarthy

panel hearings 1953 - Miller denied a passport 1955 - HUAC pressures NYC not to allow

Miller to make a film for them about juvenile delinquency

The Saga Continued...

1957 - Miller convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to name names. And then...

1958 - US Court of Appeals overturns his contempt conviction.

But all of this could not deter the public from viewing and revering his work for generations!

Audio excerpts from NPR

Arthur Miller's Lasting Impact

The American Dream

People have the right to a decent place to live, a fair reward for hard work and recognition of their worth as human beings. This play is similar to A Raisin in the Sun in that it asks the same basic questions: Has the American Dream become an unkept promise? Is it just a mirage?

The play

…addresses family conflict and ethics 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. Original Title – “The Inside of His Head”

Miller’s Assertions

Death of a Salesman is not a “document of pessimism.”

Death of a Salesman 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

Unity of place – the stage setting doesn’t change

Also from Classical Tragedy

the hero’s traits 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

sufferingthe catharsis of the audience

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 the 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.

Tragic? Yes!

Willy Loman is worthy of being viewed as a tragic hero because he “is ready to sacrifice his life to secure one thing--his sense of personal dignity.”

Arthur Miller

Rose Interview with A. Miller

From Miller’s Essay “Tragedy and the Common Man”

“ the tragic hero is intent upon claiming his whole due as a personality, and if this struggle must be total and without reservation, then it automatically demonstrates the indestructible will of man to achieve his humanity. The possibility of victory must be there in tragedy…

tragedy requires a nicer balance[than pathos] between what is possible and what is impossible. And it is curious, although edifying, that the plays we revere, century after century, are the tragedies. In them and in them alone, lies the belief—optimistic, if you will, in the perfectibility of man.

It is time, I think, that we who are without kings, took up this bright thread of our history and followed it to the only place it can possibly lead in our time—the heart and the spirit of the average man.”

Arthur Miller 1949

Dramatis Personae

Willy Loman Biff Loman Linda Loman Happy Loman Charley Bernard Ben

The Woman Howard Wagner Stanley Jenny Miss Forsythe and

Letta

Willy Loman

Father, Husband Traveling salesman Believes in chasing the American Dream

although he never achieves it Idolizes his brother, Ben Puts Biff on a pedestal because of his success

in high school sports Becomes mentally ill when pressure of reality

crushes his illusions

Linda Loman

Loving, devoted wifeNaïve and realistic of Willy’s hopesEmotionally supportive of WillyTurns a “blind eye” to Willy’s infidelityVerbally abused by her husbandWilly’s strength until his tragic death

Biff Loman

Elder son, 34 years oldHigh school standout-football star, many

male friends and female admirersAcademic failures lead to a life of

kleptomaniaIdeal career- to work outside w/handsFails to reconcile his father’s

expectations

Happy Loman

Younger son, 32 years oldIn Biff’s shadow all his lifeRelentless sex driveRepresents Willy’s sense of self

importance and ambitionOften engages in bad business ethicsDishonest

Charley

The Lomans’ next door neighborSuccessful businessmanOften gives Willy financial supportDescribed sadly as Willy’s only friend

although Willy is jealous of Charley’s success

Bernard

Charley’s sonSuccessful Often mocked by Willy for being studiousHe cares more about Biff’s academic

success than Willy doesCompared to Loman sons by Willy; they

do not measure up to his success

Ben Loman

Willy’s deceased older brotherIndependently wealthyAppears to Willy in daydreams—but

never gives Willy the answers to his questions about what it takes to become successful in life

Willy’s symbol of success that he desperately wants for his sons

The Woman

Willy’s mistressHer admiration for Willy is an ego boost

for him.She makes Willy feel as though he is

special when she says, “I picked you…” when the truth is that she probably picked up a lot of men along the way.

Howard Wagner

President of the Wagner CompanySuccessor to his father, FrankNot sympathetic to the aging Willy

Loman and his problems with mental health

Wrapped up in himself and his success, even though he never personally achieved it; he inherited his position with the company

Types of Sales Positions and Duties

Duties/Responsibilities: selling, service, prospecting, presentations, pricing quotes, terms, expediting, orders, marketing research, advising, study, travel, meetings, paperwork.

Sales Positions: route salesperson; retail sales; account rep; business sales rep; sales engineer; manufacturer’s rep; inside sales

Administrative Tasks

16%

TelephoneSelling

25.1%

Waiting/ Traveling

17.4%

Service Calls12.7%

Face-to-Face Selling

28.8%

Companies look for ways to increase the amount of time salespeople spend selling.

How Salesmen Spend Their Time

Inside SalesForce

Inside SalesForce

Outside Sales Force

Outside Sales Force

Travel to Call on Customers

Travel to Call on Customers

Sells to MajorAccounts

Sells to MajorAccounts

Finds MajorNew

Prospects

Finds MajorNew

Prospects

Conduct Business From Their Offices Via Phone or Buyer VisitsConduct Business From Their

Offices Via Phone or Buyer Visits

TechnicalSupportPeople

TechnicalSupportPeople

Tele-Marketing

OrInternet

Tele-Marketing

OrInternet

Where Typical Salesmen Work

SalesAssistants

SalesAssistants

Traits of Good Salespeople

As we read the play…

look for these traits in Willy, Happy and Biff Loman and you will see why they have problems succeeding in the business world. They want to live the American Dream, but look what they sacrifice in order to do so.

Look for similarities/differences between Willy Loman & Oedipus Rex, the tragic heroes. Would Aristotle believe that this play is a tragedy?