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
The idea anybody can rise from humble beginnings to importance is the foundation of the American Dream. Arthur Miller paints a cruel picture of this ideal in the drama Death of a Salesman.
The idea anybody can rise from humble beginnings to importance is the foundation of the American Dream. Arthur Miller paints a cruel picture of this ideal in the drama Death of a Salesman. The main character, Willy Loman, is a complex and tragic figure. He is a man striving to hold onto what dignity he has left in a world that no longer values the beliefs he grew up with. While society can be blamed for much of Willy's bad luck, he must also be blamed for his bad judgement, disloyalty and his foolish pride. Willy Loman's own delusions are a result of his failure to succeed in life. He still believes he is popular, respected and good-looking. But at age sixty-three, he is none of those. When presented with a bill he knows he cannot pay, Willy convinces himself that a sales trip to Hartford will solve his problems. He vows to his wife, "I'll knock 'em dead next week. I'll go to Hartford, I'm very well liked in Hartford" (1809). However, in those moments that he begins to realize the truth, his wife Linda while understanding his situation, supports his delusion. She says to him "...you're the handsomest man in the world" (1809). But the truth is being popular and good looking is not the key to success. Success is achieved through hard work and perseverance. The American Dream has long turned sour for Willy. At the beginning of his life, he remembers travelling in
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
What Makes The Glass menagerie play So Appealing?
What Makes The Glass menagerie play So Appealing? Simply the play was typical of the tragic lives many people led at the time the play was set. Many characteristics of these people's lives allowed Williams to create an appealing play for them to relate to. For individuals who suffered as a result of the "Wall Street Crash" and "The Great Depression" in the 1930s, the play acted as a reflection upon their own lives. The dream of success was carried by everyone and unfortunately very often this remained a dream. Very few people were able to convert their dream into a reality. William's took it upon himself to establish dreams and failure within each character to signify this. The play became appealing because of this as people were able to sympathise and relate with the characters as they had received the same failure and rejection. Jim had a passion for success, back in school he was the most likely to succeed to a high level. "I was bound to succeed in anything I went into." It became clearly evident his dream never became a reality. Williams wanted to emphasise this point to gather interest from those who had received similar disappointment as Jim. However what allows the play to become further appealing is the introduction of hope through the character Tom. Unlike the other characters and many people of the time, Tom fulfils his dream of freedom and total independence.
Aristotle and Tragedy
Aristotle and Tragedy A tragedy is loosely defined as an event which ends in calamity or distress. However, Aristotle's Poetics provided us with a more detailed set of guide lines with which to define the genre of Tragedy. He stated that the real pathos is effected by our awareness of some wasted, admirable quality/ies in the protagonist, the realization of which is invariably obstructed by the pride of that character. Thus the final fall, and subsequent death, of the protagonist is also a form of catharsis, the nemesis which counters the character's misplaced pride. In Greek tragedy and even later imitations the plot would generally revolve around the aristocracy, royalty or important members of state. As a result the impact of the fall would be emphasized. In English literature some of our most poignant tragedies of course come from Shakespeare, and his tragedies too move in these same spheres; King Lear, Macbeth, Hamlet and so on. Shakespeare's use of soliloquy was an integral part in his creation of tragic pathos because it was in soliloquy that we were made privy to the private aspirations and emotions of the central character, ones which would often clash with the public picture we had of these men. For example, Hamlet's mental torment is piercingly transcribed in his soliloquies. As a result we see clearly that his public duty to avenge his father's murder and to
Form and Structure in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Form and Structure in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Structure- Cat on a hot tin roof isn't a very structured play, in this traditional sense. A normal play has scenes, which divided up acts, but since there's usually so much commotion on stage they would be pointless. If you have to analyse it, it probably would be easier to break the acts down. It has acts, but the only other way it can be divided up is by when people enter an act. Another way the play can be divided is by getting the act's and dividing them into three. There is continuous action most of the time, however there are some pauses put in deliberately. The continuous action's probably the best way and only way to compare it to a normal family. It shows that the family, like most real-life families never stop fighting, playing, and being around each other's usually a pain. The best place to compare the action is at the beginning of the two different act three's. The original act three is more relaxed, there's a lot less panic about the conversation. Now look at the Broadway version. . There's more shouting more rushing around; the conversation's fast, as they're all looking for Big Mama. The most important way to show that there's continuous action is that there are no scenes. There are no cuts in acts. There's always something going on on the stage. There's lots of action. Violent action, loving action, sexual action,
Consider Millers use of flashbacks, how, to what Purpose and effect are they used?
Consider Millers use of flashbacks, how, to what Purpose and effect are they used? Within "Death of a Salesman" the use of flashbacks is continually used to show the audience the problems that have arisen in Willy's life and also how Willy believed his life was like in the past. The characters take on an almost opposite personality within the flashbacks, due to their different perspectives on life and their family. The flashbacks themselves create their own stories and examine the contributing factors, which have guided Willy Loman in his thinking and ultimately caused the ruin of himself and his family. The flashbacks give us kind of a telescope back in time to figure out why the relationship between Willy and other characters are the way they are. In the play we see that in the current time Willy likes Biff better than his other son Happy. We see this from a flashback that shows Biff being very popular and doing the things that made his dad proud. I believe that this is what Miller intended the audience to understand, due to it shows them why Willy and his family lived the way they did and why it all came to an end. Miller creates his flashbacks by the use of numerous effects and techniques, allowing for the audience to understand the changes and situations. Due to the flashbacks been acted out in another area, Millers changes the set to show the area that they are in.
Essay on George W. Crandell, "echo spring"
George W. Crandell in his essay entitled "echo spring": Reflecting the gaze of Narcissus in Tennessee William's 'Cat on a hot tin roof' claims that Bricks problem is psychological, whereas Charles E. May in his essay entitled "Brick Pollit as Homo Ludens: 'Three players of a summers game' and 'Cat on a hot tin roof' affirms that his problem is not psychological but metaphysical. After careful consideration of these two viewpoints (A04) consider what you believe to be Bricks essential problem and discuss whether or not Tennessee Williams allows him to resolve it. In your answer consider the methods Williams uses to present Brick's dilemma (A03) and examine the contemporary influences working upon him (A05i). George W Crandells mentions the idea that T.W draws upon mythological analogues to highlight his characters .He goes on to compare Bricks problem to be similar to that of mythological character Narcissus, who was so good-looking that he fell in love with his own reflection and who's name now denotes a psychological disorder and believes that his problem is psychological and can be cured. This would have been particularly appealing to Tennessee Williams as his plays have often been commended for their psychological realism. The similarities between Brick and Narcissus are suggested mainly by Bricks favourite alcoholic beverage (Echo spring) and by Bricks consistent self
Oleanna, written by David Mamet.
Oleanna In Oleanna, written by David Mamet, the problems that arise between John and Carol are the result of lack of communication. John's phone calls, as well as the conversation with Carol are a great example of the John and Carol's inability to carry on discussions. By failing to effectively communicate, the relationship between student and teacher collapses. Constant interruption, either by the characters or by the phone, contributes to communication problems. Carol's questions are often interrupted by John's response. These breaks and omissions occur through the repeated disruption of one character's lines by the other character. For example: Carol: ...I come from a different social... John: ...ev... Carol: A different economic... John: ...Look: Carol: No. I: when I came to this school: John: Yes Quite... (1.1798). The words "different", "social", and "economic" suggest that Carol feels she is disadvantaged due to her past circumstances. When Carol asserts that she is the one speaking, John continues to interrupt her with apologies for interrupting. Ironically, he repeatedly says he wishes to level with her. Carol's lack of understanding also causes interruptions in the flow of conversation. When she does not know what a word means she interrupts John to ask for simpler terminology. When he gives her a synonym for the word in question Carol replies, "Then why
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