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
To what extent does Arthur Miller's character 'Willy Loman' conform to the conventions of a tragic hero? Discuss with reference to the play "Death Of A Salesman"
To what extent does Arthur Miller's character 'Willy Loman' conform to the conventions of a tragic hero? Discuss with reference to the play "Death Of A Salesman" Arthur Miller is the author of this play (Death of a Salesman) and he has had a difficult life just like Willy Loman. He was born in New York in 1915 and his Austrian father had come to America, "the land of opportunity", where he had made a prosperous living as a clothing manufacturer. Miller could not go to university like he wanted as after the stock market crashed in 1929 Miller's family business was ruined and there was no money to send Miller to university. He paid his own way to university by having different jobs, when at university he studied economics, history and, rather later, journalism and play-writing. Arthur Miller's most successful plays were; All my sons (1947), Death of a salesman (1949), The Crucible (1953) and A View from the Bridge (1955). All my sons (1947) and Death of a salesman (1949) have common themes: an individual in business who is trying to make his way in a society. The protagonists in both plays smash themselves to pieces as a result of their inability to adjust to these changing and declining living standards. Death of a salesman shows a series of chronological events which take place during one evening and
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 Chaucerian Miller: Not the Typical Miller.
Juan Carlos Trujillo Trujillo 1 Professor Miller English 45A 05 May 2003 The Chaucerian Miller: Not the Typical Miller "Now herkneth," quod the Miller, "alle and some! But first I make a protestacioun That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun. And therfore, if that I misspeke or seye, Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I yow preye. (28-32). Most people who have closely read Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales will remember the colorful pilgrims on their way to Canterbury: The courtly Knight, the controlling Host, and of course, the drunk, ignorant Miller and his vulgar tale. Or, is the Miller as drunk and/or ignorant as we are led to believe? The Host sure wants us to believe this when he comments that "Som bettre man shal telle vs first another [tale]" (22) once he sees that the Miller wants to follow the Knight's tale. Another example of the Host's attitude is when the Host sees that the Miller is determined to recite his tale, bitterly remarks, "...Tell on, a deuele wey / Thow art a fool. Thy wit is ouercome" (26-27). However, I believe that actually, Chaucer stands up for the common, working-class society, but does not make that claim explicitly. He wants us to reconsider the way we think about the Miller. However, the reason for doing this is a bit unclear to me. We are first
Death of a Salesman - review
Death of a Salesman Willy Loman Willly Loman is an elderly salesmen lost in false hopes and illusions. The sales firm he works for no longer pays him salary. Working on straight commission, Willy cannot bring home enough money to pay his bills. After thirty-four years with the firm, they have spent his energy and discarded him. Willy's sons, Biff and Hap, are also failures, but Willy doesn't want to believe this. He wants his sons, especially Biff, to succeed where he has not. He believes his boys are great and cannot understand why they are not successful. This is a major source of conflict throughout the play. As Willy has grown older, he has trouble distinguishing between the past and present - between illusion and reality - and is often lost in flashbacks where much of the story is told. These flashbacks are generally during the summer after Biff's senior year of high school when all of the family problems began. Willy has had an affair with a women he meets on sales trips and once caught by Biff. Now, Biff does not respect Willy and they do not get along. Willy eventually commits suicide so that Biff can have the insurance money to become successful with. Linda Loman Linda is Willy's wife and is the arbiter of peace in the family. She is always trying to stand between Willy and her sons to ease the tension. She is protective of Willy. She knows that Willy is
Discuss Miller's presentation of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.
Josh Gunnell September 2003 English Literature Coursework Arthur Miller Death of a Salesman (1949) 'He had all the wrong dreams. All wrong.' Discuss Miller's presentation of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman Willy Loman is the central character in this play of flashbacks and mind tangents set in the New York and Boston of the late 1940's. Miller's intense interest with Willy is in his protagonist attitude and belief in the American Dream, the belief that in America, one man can make it to be somebody and be counted for. Death of a Salesman has frequently been understood as a commentary on the American Dream and whether the dream's economic prosperity is truly available to anyone who works diligently, and the importance the dream places on material wealth invites selfishness and social injustice. Willy is a salesman, husband and a father. Willy has a tendency to lie to his children (just one of Willy's moral lapses), Biff and Happy, about the amount of business he undertakes, as the 'New England Man'. His wife, Linda, is a bit more understanding towards him even though she has knowledge of his lies and unfaithfulness. Her role as a loyal and often shy housewife and mother does not necessarily represent all women's lives in the 1940s, nor does Miller necessarily approve of the role. However, her behaviour does suggest the cultural notions,
Miller, "Death of a Salesman", Through the Cultural Perspective
Miller, "Death of a Salesman" Through the Cultural Perspective By Elizabeth Sandoval Eiland Eng 103 DE March 24, 2006 Paper #2 "Death of a Salesman" written by Arthur Miller is about a man named Willy who has wife and children. He came to America chasing the "American Dream" in search of fortune, respect and happiness. He had high dreams for his children as well but like with most parents he was disappointed by the truth. His failures became too great for him and in the end committed suicide. Through the cultural perspective it is clear to see the differences between those who were born in America and those who come here trying to catch the "American Dream" "Although many critics see Death of a Salesman, first published in 1949, as a socio-psychological observation on the American family system or as a subversive description of free enterprise and religious convictions, playwright Arthur Miller claims that he wrote the play (in two Acts and the Requiem) in a very uncomplicated way. Miller argues that art must strive for equilibrium with truth. It is not a political bias pretending to be art because it includes the whole gamut of life. Without doubt, art holds kernels of the author's values but it must surpass the author's predisposition to attain its total figure as art" (Edwards). Miller's drama can be compared to his real life in some ways. "New York-born Arthur
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
Death of a Salesman.
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
Discuss the view given of the American way of life in 'Death of a Salesman.
Death of a Salesman. Discuss the view given of the American way of life in 'Death of a Salesman. Context. Millers' most famous work deals with the painful conflicts within one family but also relates to American national values. It examines the blind faith of the American dream, a post war tragedy. Miller in 'Death of a Salesman' accuses America of selling a falsehood to the public in the post war economy built around a capitalist materialistic doctrine superseding the original American dream of the country's founders. America, post World War two, faced profound tensions domestically in what became known as 'The Cold War'. The propagation of the myths of a peaceful homogenous America was counter manded by a constant anxiety of the Red Menace of communism and bitter racial conflicts. Most post-war Americans could not join in the affluent dream that the American economy was now making a reality for the conservative rich. However the pursuit of this materialistic dream meant a radical change in the mindset of the American public as they became embroiled in a race for conformity within the material world of keeping up with the trappings of neighbours and peer groups. The accessories of affluence in the form of material possessions such as appliances, cars and television drove the American economy. At the same time the post war generation of writers and artists, influenced by