Death of a Salesman: Not an American Tragedy In broad terms‚ a “tragedy” is a work in which the main character‚ who is highly renowned and prosperous‚ is brought to ruin as a consequence of a predominating weakness or tragic flaw. According to Aristotle‚ the fall of the protagonist creates pity and fear in the audience‚ thus evoking catharsis. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman does not‚ in full‚ fit Aristotle’s definition of tragedy; therefore the play should not be classified as a tragedy
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DEATH OF A SALESMAN Study Guide for Teachers World-Class Theatre in the Heart of Vermont 703 Main Stre e t ‚ W eston‚ V T 05161 www.westonplayhouse.o rg The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company The 2010 WPTC Teacher’s Workshop and the School Matinee and Touring Production is made possible in part by grants from: The Bay and Paul Foundations Mountain Room Foundation National Endowment for the Arts The Shubert Foundation The Vermont Country Store and The Orton Family Vermont Humanities Council
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One of the main themes in the play Death of a Salesman is the American Dream. The philosophy of the American Dream originated in the early twentieth century when many immigrants came to America in search of economic opportunities and a better life. The protagonist‚ Willy thinks that to achieve the American Dream‚ one needs to be likeable and have a good personality. In reality‚ the keys to success in America are hard work and diligence. Willy however‚ fails to see this‚ thus leading him up to fail
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“A narrow-mind and a wide mouth usually go together‚” (Green). In the play “The Death of a Salesman”‚ Arthur Miller illustrates a narrow-minded man who believes one’s popularity is the path to success. This man’s insight fuels the theme of loss that is embedded throughout this play. Willy Lowman loses himself both literally and figuratively trying to find his idea of success for himself and his family. Miller had to take caution when creating the structure of the events that occur in this play because
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in ‘Death of a Salesman’ written my Arthur Miller. The smart person knows how to accept change in stride by adjusting. Doing so‚ can reap many benefits and make life much easier. However‚ if one cannot accept change‚ disaster may strike his/her life. This is especially true for the character of Willy Loman as his failure to accept change leads to the end of his relationship with Biff‚ the loss of his job/financial issues‚ the ruining of his reputation‚ and his suicide. In the play‚ ‘Death of a
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pervades his dialogue. Throughout his career‚ Miller often was subject to reviews in which critics mostly excoriated him for what they judged as a failed use of language in his plays. For example‚ in the Nation review of the original production of Death of a Salesman in 1949‚ Joseph Wood Krutch criticized the play for "its failure to go beyond literal meaning and its undistinguished dialogue. Unlike Tennessee Williams‚ Miller does not have a unique sensibility‚ new insight‚ fresh imagination or a gift for
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In Author Miller’s play‚ Death of a Salesman‚ there is a reoccurring topic of the “American Dream”. Willy‚ a traveling salesman‚ constantly desires to live his idea of the American dream. Willy not only desires to live the American dream‚ but he also wants the same happiness for his wife‚ Linda‚ and his son’s Biff and Happy. The reality for Willy‚ however‚ is that the more he reaches for the American dream‚ the further back he pushes himself and his family. Like most‚ Willy’s ideas of the American
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how he could have killed himself when they were so close to paying off all of their bills. Biff recalls that Willy seemed happier working on the house than he did as a salesman. He states that Willy had all the wrong dreams and that he didn’t know who he was in the way that Biff now knows who he is. Charley replies that a salesman has to dream or he is lost‚ and he explains the salesman’s undaunted optimism in the face of certain defeat as a function of his irrepressible dreams of selling himself
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14 Pall Mart Belgravia London SW10 Pier 4 Hickson Road Walsh Bay NSW 2000 I write to you to propose the production of Arthur Miller’s classic “Death of a Salesman.” As the title suggests‚ the book is about the death of a salesman named Willy Loman. However‚ through my production‚ it is not the inevitable ending that will be remembered by the audience. It will be the processes that led to Willy’s conflicted mind that will resonate in the audience’s mind. The underlying values of blind
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Danielle Altamuro Ms. Coyle Hnrs English 10‚ Period 8 3/31/14 Death of a Salesman Expository Essay Thomas Edison once said‚ “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”. Every day‚ opportunities are present in the lives of society. However‚ it is society’s choice of whether or not to take these opportunities and run with them. Often‚ people resist change and avoid situations rather than taking advantage of new opportunities. The decision of evading
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