Death of A Salesman

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                                      ‘Death of a salesman’ coursework

Introduction

In ‘In death of a salesman’ we see an optimistic salesman, Willy Loman, in the last 48 hours of his life. The play has frequent flashbacks to Willy’s past that are representative of how Willy is having a nervous breakdown and later commits suicide. We see Willy as a broken man under the cutthroat capitalist system he has so loyally served and supported all his working live trying to make the best for his family and trying unsuccessfully to become a successful salesman.

Arthur Miller, the author, wants to show Willy as another victim of capitalism and makes us sympathise at how Willy and the people around him act. He shows us a man disillusioned by the world around him and confused by his sons who he wants to follow the same career as him. His sons, Biff and Happy are also unsuccessful or just not motivated. Biff wants to get out the city and live a laid back lifestyle where Happy tries in vain to be like his father but can not face the fact that he is also unsuccessful.

Another aspect of the play is that Miller comments on the fake American Dream and measures of social status are made by the commodities or job that one has. He criticised capitalism at a time when the communist witch-hunts were carried out in America and he was arrested for sympathising with communists. It is obvious this play is an attack on the American social values of which he disapproves.

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The Set

There are many stage directions throughout the play, to increase the dramatic impact, but the longest is at the start, it details the various lighting, music and stagecraft that must be used to make the play have an effect on the audience.

Another feature of the set is the fact that there are many imaginary wall lines around the set. In the past these wall lines are ignored and the actors can pass freely through the boundaries. In the present ‘the actors observe the imaginary wall lines, entering the house only through its door at the left. ...

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