'Death of a Salesman' is about characters that lie to themselves as well as others. How does Arthur Miller present the theme of dishonesty within the play?
'Death of a Salesman' is about characters that lie to themselves as well as others. How does Arthur Miller present the theme of dishonesty within the play? The play 'Death of a Salesman' was written in 1949 by a famous playwrite named Arthur Miller. He is famous for such plays as "The Crucible" and "A View from a Bridge". 'Death of a Salesman', is regarded as one of the great American plays and even won a Pulitzer price. Miller began writing plays while a student at the University of Michigan, where several of his dramatic efforts were rewarded with prizes. The "Wall Street crash" occurred at this time of the play. It was also known as "The Great Depression". It followed the conclusion of the First World War and just before the outbreak of the Second World War. At this time of havoc, thousands of Americans saw their destinies vanish. The depression jolted many out of the American dream, the pattern of unemployment, frustration, and anguish was neither a worldwide nor identical condition but a reality. The American dream was a vision that some people from America were said to have. It would consist of being wealthy with the perfect life. This may have been to be well-off enough to get food on the table night after night. Also, it would consist of having a good job; one that paid well; one that was of great importance; one that everyone could be proud of.
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller - To what extent can Willy Loman be considered a tragic hero?
Essay Assessment: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller * To what extent can Willy Loman be considered a tragic hero? Death of a Salesman is the story of Willy Loman, a middle-class salesman who, in the course of a single day, comes to realize that the American Dream, which he has pursued for 40 years, has failed him. Willy's relentless, but naive pursuit of success has not only affected his sense of his own worth but has dominated the lives of his wife Linda and his sons Biff and Happy. In the course of the play he realizes that his true wealth lies in being appreciated and respected by his family, and in one final attempt to secure his personal dignity and provide a future for his sons through his life insurance, he commits suicide. In my opinion, Willy Loman can be considered a tragic hero but in answering whether or not Willy Loman fits the description of a tragic hero, it is essential to examine the concept of the tragic hero in modern and traditional opinion. In the first B.C, a Greek dramatist known as Aristotle started to write a series of plays called the tragedies. The plays revolved around a great man, such as a king or war hero, who had a tragic flaw. This flaw would eventually become his downfall and he would fall from his glory. Through out the play the hero has many opportunities to overcome his mistakes, but he does not follow these opportunities and this
Caplan is a theatre critic. She argued that "The Crucible" is sexist in its portrayal of women. Consider Miller's presentation of female characters. How far do you agree with Caplan's view?
Caplan is a theatre critic. She argued that "The Crucible" is sexist in its portrayal of women. Consider Miller's presentation of female characters. How far do you agree with Caplan's view? I am of the opinion that Miller's portrayal of women is sexist but not to the same extent as Betty Caplan because I am also of the opinion that Miller grants abstract authority to women, their power is entirely un-tangible it lies at the heart of every mans desire. In The Crucible it is the men of the court who are given actual power and authority i.e. they sentence suspected witches to be hung. As Caplan says, "The battle in Salem was about a petrified male theocracy which felt threatened by women." What they were in fact afraid of was the persistent denial of their own sexual feelings towards women. Caplan also goes on to state that the authors of Malleus Maleficarium noted, "These men were extremely agitated at the prospect that witches may work some Prestidigitatory illusion so that the male organ appears to be entirely removed and separate from the body". If that is not granting women power what is. The ability to strip mans identity from him is what constitutes the bulk of Puritan fears. Parris and proctor alike feel that if they were to surrender their feelings to women they would also be surrendering a part of themselves, which they did not want to give up. Miller's presentation
Death of a Salesman - the American Dream
Death of a Salesman 'The American Dream´ is based on the 'Declaration of Independence´: 'We believe that all men are born with these inalienable rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.´ (Thomas Jefferson, 1776). This 'dream´ consists of a genuine and determined belief that in America, all things are possible to all men, regardless of birth or wealth; you work hard enough you will achieve anything. However, Miller says people have been 'ultimately misguided´. The origins of the American Dream seem to have been rooted in the pioneering mentality of the 18th and 19th century immigrants, most of whom came to America because of a promise of a new and better life. In particular, the opportunity to own one´s land. But land 'ran out´ and so cities developed and massive variations arose in wealth, which meant that this 'American Dream´ changed from being a potential reality, into being a dream, like the name implies. Most of Miller´s plays are directly or indirectly about the American Dream, because ultimately this dream wasn´t going to succeed as lots of people wished. 'Death of a Salesman´ written in 1949, is a moving destruction of the whole myth. To be hard working, honest and have ambition were the ways of the American Dream. This lead onto success, wealth and in due time - power. But this dream for everyone developed, and encouraged greed, selfish
Evans-Pritchard's Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic among the Azande tells us little about the occult but a great deal about common sense and morality in close personal relationships. Do you agree?
7th of November 2003 Evans-Pritchard's Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic among the Azande tells us little about the occult but a great deal about common sense and morality in close personal relationships. Do you agree? Support your opinion by discussing some of Evans - Pritchard's main arguments about Azande witchcraft. By Edward Skinner Word Count: 1868 To answer an essay like this, it is first important to understand the term 'witchcraft' in the same way as the Azande people of Southern Sudan. Witchcraft to the Azande is a physical substance that is found in the stomachs of witches (page 2). Evans - Pritchard explains that he believes this 'substance' is simply the small intestine during certain stages of digestion. Witches do not show any external signs that they are indeed witches. More than simply being a physical trait, witchcraft is inherited (page 2). It is handed down in families from father to son, and from mother to daughter. The witchcraft a witch possess grows as the individual grows (page 7), that is to say the son of a male witch, whilst containing this witchcraft substance, will not contain enough to be of threat to an adult. It is only when they get older, and when the witchcraft substance they contain begins to grow that they can become a possible threat to other adults. It is important to note that to the Azande a witch is an unremarkable agent. Referring
Death of a salesman - What are the dramatical devices that miller uses to show the disintegration of wily Loman?
Death of a salesman What are the dramatical devices that miller uses to show the disintegration of wily Loman? Death of a sales man is a satire about the "American dream" and it's flaws and prejudice nature to the people who have surpassed their point of usefulness to the American system. The people who have passed their sell by date. Wily Loman is an image of the failures of the American dream as he is not a success and yet he has lived his life by the rules of it. Miller shows Willy's disintegration in numerous ways using sound and most of the other dramatical devices. 'The American Dream' is based on the 'Declaration of Independence': 'We believe that all men are born with these inalienable rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' (Thomas Jefferson, 1776). This 'dream' consists of a genuine and determined belief that in America, all things are possible to all men, regardless of birth or wealth; you work hard enough you will achieve anything. However, Miller says people have been 'ultimately misguided'. The origins of the American Dream seem to have been rooted in the pioneering mentality of the 18th and 19th century immigrants, most of whom came to America because of a promise of a new and better life. In particular, the opportunity to own one's land. Nevertheless, land 'ran out' and so cities developed and massive variations arose in wealth, which meant
Consider how one character other than Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and one character (including the chorus) other than Oedipus in King Oedipus contribute to the 'action' of each of these plays.
"Linda is in Action, she's not just sitting around" (Arthur Miller). Consider how one character other than Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and one character (including the chorus) other than Oedipus in King Oedipus contribute to the 'action' of each of these plays. Before looking at any individual characters or even plays, one must first look at the term 'action' and the different meanings or connotations it can have or suggest. In theatrical terms, there is a huge difference between plays that portray their action through physical action and plays that portray their action through the spoken word. Both types of play could be said to be 'action packed' but they convey their action in very different ways. Some people argue that 'actions speak louder than words', this was certainly true in the theatre of the nineteenth century, though that is only one period of theatre history. There are periods in theatre, both before and after the age of melodrama, that did not place such importance on the use of physical action. In Greek Theatre, tragedies such as 'Oedipus the King' were performed in huge amphitheatres, playing to audiences of thousands. This made it hard to include much physical action as it simply would not be seen by the audience unless it was a huge physical spectacle which would have been expensive and difficult to produce. Therefore, Greek Theatre laid more
Examine how Arthur Miller creates a sense of dramatic tension in the final scene
Examine how Arthur Miller creates a sense of dramatic tension in the final scene As an American playwright, Miller bases his play; 'View from a Bridge', in the working class docks of slum New York in the 1950s. During World War Two Miller worked as a ship fitter for two years in the Brooklyn Navy shipyard, where a 'near majority of the workers were Italian' and where he 'made connections with their family concerns...(which were) full of Sicilian dramas.' Thus, he derived a wealth of inspiration from his experiences and cultural surroundings. Among the issues Miller addressed in this piece of drama were the social changes that erupted over this period of time, construing a growing conflict between old established ideals and the new. Eddie, a character whom holds to a former position of undisputed head, as the family breadwinner, cannot grasp or prevent the increasing independence that women, previous shadows "of subservience and exclusive domesticity, were beginning to experience. This newfound female autonomy is reflected in the character of Catherine, as throughout the play she begins to'" direct her own life and break away from the conformity of Eddie's control. The dramatist also covers the political topic, or in his eyes governmental failure, of the problem of illegal immigrants and "the underlying causes of general inequality. Through Marco's character Miller portrays
The Choosing By Liz Lochhead - review
The Choosing By Liz Lochhead "The Choosing" by Liz Lochhead is a poem which presents a very common situation and makes you consider deeper issues. The content depicts two girls who unwittingly make choices in school, unaware of consequences, and, because of them, end up drifting off their separate ways because of such choices, and the choices made for them by their families. Both girls were clever, but only one was allowed to stay on at school. Their paths cross ten years later, their lives totally different. Verse one describes the two girls, who were best friends and intellectual equals: "First equal, equally proud". "Equal" is mentioned twice in the first paragraph, to show that the two girls were equal in every way, except arithmetic, where Mary led. They both won book prizes. In the second verse we find out that Mary's family have eventually moved to a house with a cheaper rent. Mary would not be going to a senior school, as her father did not "believe" in educating girls, uniforms, or any of that "nonsense". In the third verse we find out the two girls stayed in the "same houses, different homes", suggesting that they lived in the same kind of house but their home lives were vastly different. Home was where the choices were being made: Mary's father didn't believe in High school education, "especially for girls," or in "forking out for uniforms". So her father
In All my sons, characters often invoke money as a reason for relinquishing ideals or hopes. Comment
In All my sons, characters often invoke money as a reason for relinquishing ideals or hopes. Comment on this statement with reference to the play. All My Sons was Arthur Miller's first commercially successful play, and opened at the Coronet Theatre in New York on January, 29 1947. It ran for 328 performances and garnered important critical acclaim for the dramatist, winning him the prestigious New York Drama Critics' Circle Award." Through All my Sons, the playwright suggests the ethnical failings of the 'American dream'. He indicates the flaw with a merely economic interpretation of the American Dream as business success alone. Miller's play also represents the failings of a capitalist society, who are willing to sacrifice idealism for economic stability. Miller not only critiques the inability of humans to make moral decisions, but a system that would encourage profit and greed at the expense of human life and happiness. Joe Keller, the protagonist of the play, is a character that has strived to achieve the American dream, and the material comforts offered by modern American life. He interprets the American Dream as merely business success alone, and in his pursuit of it, relinquishes other parts of the so-called Dream. He sacrifices his human decency and a successful family life when he issues the order for the sale of sub-standard cylinder heads. However Keller can