Death of a Salesman Essay

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‘Death of a Salesman’ - The Card-Game Scene.

 

  Evidently, the stage layout of Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ is open and unfinished. Similarly in the film starring Dustin Hoffman, there are gaps in the walls and even no ceilings. Whilst talking with Charley, Willy refers to the fact that he has put up a ceiling, ‘Did you see the ceiling I put up in the living room’. Miller has used gaps in Willy’s home, to suggest that his life is not quite complete. Willy had hoped he would fulfil a successful life as a salesman, but he hasn’t quite made it. He is an incomplete man. Likewise, his house is incomplete, either because he has never earned enough money to pay for the repairs; or it is solely for dramatic effect to portray how his life is not quite finished or how it should be. ‘In the scenes of the past these boundaries are broken’ Miller has decided to do this because it is an emphatic method of showing the audience how scenes in the past are different from scenes in the present. Also, because the characters in the play, in particular Willy and Biff, are strongly affected by their past; it is necessary for the audience to understand what has happened previously in their lives.

  Another way, in which Miller has allowed the audience to understand what time sequence the scene is in, is to use alternative props. For example, in the past Willy owns a red Chevrolet, whereas in the present he is shown to own a cheaper truck.

  In addition, the kitchen is unfinished and shabby; the Lomans use the bare minimum of appliances. The fridge is almost constantly broken and Willy isn’t bringing in enough money to pay for its upkeep. ‘I told you we should have bought a well-advertised machine. Charley bought a General Electric and it’s twenty years old and still good, that son of a bitch.’ Miller is contrasting Charley’s life with Willy’s to show that Charley can afford premium appliances, whereas Willy has to make-do with what he already has. Miller has shown Willy to be materialistic. As a salesman, he believes that owning expensive, classy and admired items, makes you a better respected person. ‘… when I had that red Chevvy –‘ He is always referring to the past, he is never content with what he has but always wanting to have the best.

  What’s more he displays how Willy gets exasperated by Charley always being better off, ‘son of a bitch’.  The use of the swear word emphasises how much the matter means to Willy.

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  Furthermore, on the set there are grotesque, towering buildings surrounding the Lomans' house and ‘an angry glow of orange’ filling the skyline. Miller has used the tall buildings to show how trapped Willy is in his life. Everything is above him and he is made to appear insignificant. The colour orange is used because it is associated with flames and more importantly, hell. By using this colour, Miller is conveying how Willy has an unfortunate life and is heading nowhere good.

  On the other hand, Miller could have been subtly informing the audience about the fact that ...

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