1. Death of a Salesman By Arthur Miller

2. Background of Play
Common man defeated by a society which drains him of his energy and then drops him.
Arthur Miller believed the common man is a fit subject for tragedy.

3. Plot Summary Willy Loman, protagonist,
a traveling salesman for Wagner Company for 34 years, thinks he’s vital to their New England territory; he is not
Willy arrives back home the same day he leaves on a sales trip because he can no longer function

4. Plot Summary
Tension exists between Willy and his son, Biff, who has just arrived for a visit after a long absence.
The play defines Willy’s collapse as a man and Biff’s final stages of becoming a man.

5. Play’s Structure
The story is told partly through the mind and memory of Willy Loman
Set in Brooklyn, New York
Action (24 hours in present) fluctuates between:1942 & 1928

6. Play’s Structure Shift in time is flowing and convincing: Staging- Set
Present: characters observe wall and door lines
Past: characters ignore walls, walk through them
Play shows the pleasures, dreams, and hopes of the past and how they contribute to the agony of the present.

7. Play’s Structure Lights Music Present: normal lighting
Past: lights dim, focus on Willy, apartments fade and dead leaves appear
Music
Present: Flute music suggests dreamy, faraway “other world” existence of Willy, agony of situation
Past: Music is joyous to show the happiness and dreams of the past

8. Characters Biff Happy Oldest son Former football star
Has been trying to find himself for 14 years
Happy
Younger son
Works in department store
Has own an apartment

9. Characters Willy Loman: Linda Loman 63 years old
Recently taken off salary
Put on straight commission
“Low man” on the totem pole
Linda Loman
Concerned and caring
Enabler
Unwilling to face truth

10. Minor Characters Charley Bernard Ben Willy’s life-long friend Neighbor
Lends money to Willy
Bernard
Charley’s son
Biff’s childhood friend
Successful lawyer
Ben
Willy’s older brother
Highly successful
Dead
Appears only in Willy’s daydreams

11. Death of a Salesman 1949 Won Pulitzer Prize
Theme ”society drains the common man and then drops him.”
Miller, advocate for the underprivileged man, was accused of communism, investigated by House Un-American Activities Committee - cleared
Wrote The Crucible in 1953 about the HU-AAC

12. Arthur Miller- 1915-2004 Born 1915, New York City, middle class family
Mediocre high school student
Worked a variety of jobs (shipping clerk, dock worker)
Graduated from U of MI 1938
Wrote radio, stage plays

13. Arthur Miller

14. Cartoons