Death Of A Salesman American Dream
Death of A Salesman
Introduction
American is a capitalist society in which everyone is dispensable, where new is seen as being better: A place where people are valued by material things and not by their personality. The American dream rules America, believing that with hard work and a belief in yourself you can achieve your goals in life, money and many friends. Many people have tried to live the dream, but few have achieved it after all a dream is only a dream.
Death of a Salesman is a play about one man of the many who chased the dream' but after 34 years with no success at the age of 60 is cast out from the company he works for, abandoned like an orange peel once the fruit's heart has been devoured. His lack of success in life …show more content…
had caused him to wish to relive his life through his sons, mainly Biff; he wishes them to succeed where he has failed.
The restaurant scene is a powerful where everyone shows their real colours, Willy finally admits that he is a failure, and Biff tries to explain to his father about his career, whilst Happy is being a compulsive liar and holds Biff back from telling the truth.
In this scene Biff tries to explain that he has not got the money they need to start the new family business and that he had been kidding himself that he was a salesman like his father when he is only a clerk.
Characters
Willy Lomas - Main character Biff and Happy's father.
Willy has spent most of his life chasing the dream, this was his main goal but as his dreams fade, he begins to lose touch with reality, confusing the present day with memories of when he was more successful and people looked up to him - especially Biff. He suffers from depression and anxiety and he places his dreams upon his sons shoulders and pressurizes them to succeed where he has failed.
Biff - Willy's son - the older by 2 years.
Biff has had it easy in life; he was a high school football player but has spent his adult years drifting from one job to another. He doesn't know really what he wants in life, he has always admired his father, but since he learned of his father's affair and attempts at suicide he can now see his father for what he is.
Happy - Willy's youngest …show more content…
son.
Happy is practically a clone of Willy, he lies to everyone to please them. He is a womanizer and tells them what they want to hear just to succeed with them. He doesn't really care for his father. He exaggerates about his position and authority.
Stanley - waiter - knows Happy.
Stanley is depressed by the overpowering society, he wishes he had joined the army as he believes that he would be dead by know.
Miss Forsythe - a prostitute.
Scene
There will be two entrances, one on left and one on the right. The one on the left which comes in from the road outside the restaurant is shown below as D1. The right one which leads to the restaurant kitchen is D2.
The three tables are labelled T1, T2, and T3.
All these will be referred as they are shown below and by using the diagram you can follow the stage directions.
Movements / Position
The scene will start with a completely black scene, no light what so ever. D2 will open and a bright light will shine through it. Out of the light, Happy and Stanley will enter onto the stage Happy and Stanley will be caring a table and two chairs. Stanley puts down T3 and Happy places the two chairs around it.
Happy then looks around with a smile on this face, "Oh this is better."
As the conversation between Stanley and Happy takes place
Stanley, will be talking and generally tiding up the tables, moving chairs etc.
Just before the woman enters Happy will wave to Stanley and then speak. The woman will enter from the left side through D1 she will then walk around T3 and sit facing the audience (this gives the audience and Stanley and Happy time to watch her and discuss her)
Stanley will then move to the table to wait on her as instructed by Happy. Happy will then stand up and move towards her and talk and offer her champagne. He sits facing her, turns to wave to Stanley to come over as he talks to her.
Stanley will then bring the champagne out to the woman; she sips it while they converse.
Props
Three tables, one left, one centre (main) and one at right.
Biff, Happy and Willy sit at the centre table. There will be flowers wilting on the table (not a high class restaurant but tries hard, rather like Happy and Willy).
The table and chairs are functional, but don't match and are well used.
Lighting
The lighting is kept dim, some of the lights in the restaurant aren't working but the light above the centre table works well and focuses the audience upon the action.
Gestures
Biff will look nervous of telling his family of his failure. He will fidget and lack concentration when Happy talks to him.
Biff has lost his confidence and gets drunk in order to be able to confront his father. He will slur some of his words and stumble to convey this to the audience. Props may also help.
Happy has great confidence as he seems to believe in his lies and he unlike Biff will carry himself straight and talk confidently and clearly.
Due to his disinterest in Willy he doesn't concentrate whilst Willy is talking only joining in to persuade Biff to lie by coercion.
Willy wants only to hear good news, to counteract him being fired. He wants something positive to give to Linda to comfort her. He probably believes that this business plan with his sons will be his only opportunity to finally be a success.
When Biff tries to explain to him the truth of his meeting with Bill Oliver, he refuses to listen, talking above Biff and listening to Happy as he will tell him what he wants to hear.
Clothing
Happy will be well dressed in order to impress people (although not expensively so).
Biff is dressed in the blue suit he wore for his interview, though his tie is loose and his shirt wrinkled.
Stanley is dressed as a traditional waiter in black pants and a white shirt. Although he wears his sleeves rolled up and his shoes don't match.
Willy too wears a suit but his cuffs are long and the jacket and pants are baggy. Looking too big for him and symbolizing that his is growing less significant as in his world.
Miss Forsythe will be dressed as directed by Miller, as a lavishly dressed woman, in a fur jacket. Her dress underneath is red which symbolizes danger.
Introduction
American is a capitalist society in which everyone is dispensable, where new is seen as being better: A place where people are valued by material things and not by their personality. The American dream rules America, believing that with hard work and a belief in yourself you can achieve your goals in life, money and many friends. Many people have tried to live the dream, but few have achieved it after all a dream is only a dream.
Death of a Salesman is a play about one man of the many who chased the dream' but after 34 years with no success at the age of 60 is cast out from the company he works for, abandoned like an orange peel once the fruit's heart has been devoured. His lack of success in life …show more content…
had caused him to wish to relive his life through his sons, mainly Biff; he wishes them to succeed where he has failed.
The restaurant scene is a powerful where everyone shows their real colours, Willy finally admits that he is a failure, and Biff tries to explain to his father about his career, whilst Happy is being a compulsive liar and holds Biff back from telling the truth.
In this scene Biff tries to explain that he has not got the money they need to start the new family business and that he had been kidding himself that he was a salesman like his father when he is only a clerk.
Characters
Willy Lomas - Main character Biff and Happy's father.
Willy has spent most of his life chasing the dream, this was his main goal but as his dreams fade, he begins to lose touch with reality, confusing the present day with memories of when he was more successful and people looked up to him - especially Biff. He suffers from depression and anxiety and he places his dreams upon his sons shoulders and pressurizes them to succeed where he has failed.
Biff - Willy's son - the older by 2 years.
Biff has had it easy in life; he was a high school football player but has spent his adult years drifting from one job to another. He doesn't know really what he wants in life, he has always admired his father, but since he learned of his father's affair and attempts at suicide he can now see his father for what he is.
Happy - Willy's youngest …show more content…
son.
Happy is practically a clone of Willy, he lies to everyone to please them. He is a womanizer and tells them what they want to hear just to succeed with them. He doesn't really care for his father. He exaggerates about his position and authority.
Stanley - waiter - knows Happy.
Stanley is depressed by the overpowering society, he wishes he had joined the army as he believes that he would be dead by know.
Miss Forsythe - a prostitute.
Scene
There will be two entrances, one on left and one on the right. The one on the left which comes in from the road outside the restaurant is shown below as D1. The right one which leads to the restaurant kitchen is D2.
The three tables are labelled T1, T2, and T3.
All these will be referred as they are shown below and by using the diagram you can follow the stage directions.
Movements / Position
The scene will start with a completely black scene, no light what so ever. D2 will open and a bright light will shine through it. Out of the light, Happy and Stanley will enter onto the stage Happy and Stanley will be caring a table and two chairs. Stanley puts down T3 and Happy places the two chairs around it.
Happy then looks around with a smile on this face, "Oh this is better."
As the conversation between Stanley and Happy takes place
Stanley, will be talking and generally tiding up the tables, moving chairs etc.
Just before the woman enters Happy will wave to Stanley and then speak. The woman will enter from the left side through D1 she will then walk around T3 and sit facing the audience (this gives the audience and Stanley and Happy time to watch her and discuss her)
Stanley will then move to the table to wait on her as instructed by Happy. Happy will then stand up and move towards her and talk and offer her champagne. He sits facing her, turns to wave to Stanley to come over as he talks to her.
Stanley will then bring the champagne out to the woman; she sips it while they converse.
Props
Three tables, one left, one centre (main) and one at right.
Biff, Happy and Willy sit at the centre table. There will be flowers wilting on the table (not a high class restaurant but tries hard, rather like Happy and Willy).
The table and chairs are functional, but don't match and are well used.
Lighting
The lighting is kept dim, some of the lights in the restaurant aren't working but the light above the centre table works well and focuses the audience upon the action.
Gestures
Biff will look nervous of telling his family of his failure. He will fidget and lack concentration when Happy talks to him.
Biff has lost his confidence and gets drunk in order to be able to confront his father. He will slur some of his words and stumble to convey this to the audience. Props may also help.
Happy has great confidence as he seems to believe in his lies and he unlike Biff will carry himself straight and talk confidently and clearly.
Due to his disinterest in Willy he doesn't concentrate whilst Willy is talking only joining in to persuade Biff to lie by coercion.
Willy wants only to hear good news, to counteract him being fired. He wants something positive to give to Linda to comfort her. He probably believes that this business plan with his sons will be his only opportunity to finally be a success.
When Biff tries to explain to him the truth of his meeting with Bill Oliver, he refuses to listen, talking above Biff and listening to Happy as he will tell him what he wants to hear.
Clothing
Happy will be well dressed in order to impress people (although not expensively so).
Biff is dressed in the blue suit he wore for his interview, though his tie is loose and his shirt wrinkled.
Stanley is dressed as a traditional waiter in black pants and a white shirt. Although he wears his sleeves rolled up and his shoes don't match.
Willy too wears a suit but his cuffs are long and the jacket and pants are baggy. Looking too big for him and symbolizing that his is growing less significant as in his world.
Miss Forsythe will be dressed as directed by Miller, as a lavishly dressed woman, in a fur jacket. Her dress underneath is red which symbolizes danger.