1. Mr. Jepsen - AP Lit Period 5
Death of a Salesman
By: Arthur Miller
Kim, Kathy
Ku, Sharon
Sok, Sandra
Tai, Gina
Mr. Jepsen - AP Lit Period 5
November 1, 2010

2. Act I – Linda 6th Edition – Page 1801-1803
This scene portrays how Linda is the foundation for the Loman family.
While Biff and Happy become “evasively” offensive about their father, Linda remains steadfast to Willy, yet motherly to her sons.

3. Act I – Linda 6th Edition – Page 1801-1803
i.e. Biff angrily asks “What the hell is the matter with him?.... He’s got no character.” Linda answers “Don’t go near him!.... a lot of people think he’s lost his balance but you don’t have to be very smart to know what his trouble is. The man is exhausted.”

4. Act II - Charley 6th Edition – Page 1822-1823
This scene portrays Willy and Charley’s relationship.
Charley is perceived as the rational center of the drama.

5. Act II - Charley 6th Edition – Page 1822-1823
He finances much of Willy’s monetary needs.
While Willy gets emotional (i.e. “I don’t want your goddam job!.... That snotnose. Imagine that? I named him.”), Charley remains reasonable.

6. Element: Setting
It occurs over a span of one day in the late 1940s primarily in New York.
The Lomans reside in tenement-like houses:
Symbol of the Lomans’ desire to break free and escape debt.

7. Element: Setting (cont’d)
Willy’s wants freedom
Evident through his opinion of “the way they boxed [him] in here. Bricks and windows, windows and bricks.”
The 1940s reflect the American Dream because World War II had just ended.

8. Element: Setting (cont’d)
America encouraged everyone to have equal economic opportunities.
Example: Happy and Biff reveal the American dream: they want to create a new business to relieve their dependency on Willy.

9. Element: Setting (cont’d)
Setting also involves music
Miller uses the music to transition between scenes
“New music is heard” – a high, rollicking tune
“Music is heard, gay and bright” to transition to Act II as Willy is drinking coffee and the kitchen table.

10. Element: Figurative Language
Purpose: develop scheme and evoke impressions
Example: Willy comes home from his Florida business trip and says he is “tired to the death.”
Our Interpretation: Establishes his tiresome state of mind and foreshadows his death

11. Element: Figurative Language
Willy says that he’ll “knock them dead next week” at his business trip.
After Howard fires Willy, Willy tells himself to “pull….together!” 

12. Our Interpretations
“Knock them dead…”:He didn’t mean he’ll kill his clients. Rather, he means he hopes for success.
“Pull…together”: Willy doesn’t literally mean to pull himself together, but he means he will look toward the next time as a chance to do better.

13. Biographical Criticism
Purpose: The author’s biography impacts what he writes into his literary works.
Miller was born in New York City, which is also where Death of a Salesman takes place.
Miller’s father was a rich businessman which is Charley’s job.

14. Biographical Criticism (cont’d)
Miller’s family was originally rich until the Wall Street Stock Crash in
Miller was able to experience lives of the upper class elite and lower class.
This influenced the social statuses of the Lomans and Charley’s family.

15. Biographical Criticism (cont’d)
Miller’s father-in-law and Willy are insurance salesmen.
Miller and his wife raised two children – Willy and Linda raises Biff and Happy.
In high school, Miller was a football player.
Young Biff is a football player.

16. Feminist Criticism
Purpose: to reveal women’s roles in the society at the time of publication
Linda’s role in her marriage – separate spheres
Willy tells Linda to “shut up” and stop interrupting him repeatedly.
Willy earns money while Linda stays home – housewife.

17. Fin
Thanks for listening!