THE CRITICAL FORTUNES OF ARTHUR MILLER’S DEATH OF A SALESMAN ____________ A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State University‚ Chico ____________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in English ____________ by Angela M. Metzger Summer 2009 THE CRITICAL FORTUNES OF ARTHUR MILLER’S DEATH OF A SALESMAN A Thesis by Angela M. Metzger Summer 2009 APPROVED BY THE INTERIM DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE‚ INTERNATIONAL‚ AND INTERDISCIPLINARY
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Death of a Salesman Act I - opening stage directions analysis Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ (1949) opens with an extensive description of the Loman house. Miller uses extremely precise and detailed stage directions‚ including prop placement‚ sound and lighting‚ giving heavy significance to each of these elements and painting an unchangeable picture to ensure that it is preserved in every interpretation of his work. Throughout the opening stage directions of Act 1‚ despite the
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Death of a Salesman Essay Betrayal and abandonment are themes that many have encountered within their lives; but nobody can perhaps relate as much to these themes as Willy Loman‚ the main character in Death of a Salesman‚ by Arthur Miller. This play encompasses the life of Willy Loman‚ albeit not in any particular order when reviewing his younger years. The man’s memories are prompted by various seemingly insignificant moments in his life. Willy is a failed salesman‚ clinging onto his fabric of
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Death of a Salesman as a modern tragedy Death of a Salesman as a modern tragedy Death of a Salesman is typically classified as a modern tragedy. This implies that it follows the example of the classic Greek tragedies‚ Roman tragedies and Shakespearian and Jacobean tragedy. There are‚ however‚ subtle but vital differences between these forms. Aristotle’s classic view of tragedy saw the form as one which only properly deals with the fate of gods‚ kings and heroes. In the twentieth century‚ such
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Arthur Miller once spoke the very wise words that "maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets." Words that rang true in most of his plays. ’’Death of a Salesman’’‚ ’’All My Sons’’‚ ’’The Crucible’’‚ besides being personal tragedies are also commentaries on society. Stories that transcended themselves from being personal to being able to speak in one way or form and hit home to all. Arthur Miller didn’t write make believe or fairytales‚ he wrote about reality
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Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” in the Marxist Critical Framework “Death of a Salesman” is the most famous play by the American writer Arthur Miller‚ first performed in 1949. It depicts dramatic life of the American salesman Willy Loman and his sons‚ Biff and Happy. The protagonist aspired to create a happy prosperous life for himself and his family through embodiment of American Dream‚ but failed and ended his life by a suicide. Marxist criticism‚ as a form of historic criticism in literary theory
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Return to the Nature—an Ecocritical Interpretation of Death of a Salesman 1. Introduction 1.1 A Brief Introduction to the Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman‚ the masterpiece of Arthur Miller‚ depicts a story of common American family—Lowman’s family. Willy is a man with hugh ambitious but finally failed in the fierce competition of his business. Linda‚ his wife‚ is a loyal ‚ considerate and strong wife who always takes good care of the whole family and always stands in the back of his
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did not spring out of my head unshaped by any outside force” (“Influences” 50). Miller’s experiences during these times taught him the truths he would present throughout his literary works. From the insecurity of the Great Depression sprang Death of a Salesman and All My Sons‚ which portray the instability of society and the men who tragically attempt to navigate through it. From the paranoia of the McCarthy Era sprang The Crucible‚ the story of a man who must uphold his individual integrity at the
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Criminal Being a salesman has always carried a negative stigma since the early 1900s. Being seen as pushy‚ high pressure‚ deceitful people; the dreaded activity of purchasing some car or new appliance has haunted everyone at some point or another. Many words have come to describe salesman such as “sharks”‚ “cons”‚ “thieves” etc.‚ and these words have stuck with the profession throughout the century. Two very realistic depictions of such phonies can be seen in Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller
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Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman“ is a play illustrating the life of a man wanting success but takes his life for his family to be financially stable. At the story’s heart is a tragic depiction of the protagonist‚ a man who wants to be successful‚ who wants his kids to be successful‚ he wants to live the American dream. Miller balances the literary devices of of flashbacks‚ motifs‚ conflicts and characterization to perceive the cost of the American Dream. Willy Loman’s idea of the American
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