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Introduction. Death of a Salesman An American Tragedy by Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller. Born in New York City on October 17, 1915; he died February 10, 2005. Began as playwright at University of Michigan Pulitzer Prize winner for Death of A Salesman - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Death of a SalesmanAn American Tragedyby Arthur Miller
Introduction
Arthur Miller
Born in New York City on October 17, 1915; he died February 10, 2005.
Began as playwright at University of Michigan Pulitzer Prize winner for Death of A Salesman Double winner of New York Drama Critics Circle Award
Timeline
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/miller_a_timeline_flash.html
Arthur Miller & Marilyn Monroe
http://gallery.future-i.com/celebs/pic:Marilynhusband/full-size
Productions of Death of a Salesman
1950 - first sound recording of Death of a Salesman
1951 - 1st film version1951 - 1952 - US Tour 1954 - 1st radio production1983 - Miller directs Death in China 1985 - film version with Dustin Hoffman
on CBS; 25 million see it!
50th Anniversary of the Play
Brian Dennehy and Arthur Miller, who was presented with a lifetime achievement Tony Award in 1999.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4495305
Miller’s Legal Troubles
Suspected of being a Communist sympathizer Death of a Salesman was seen as un-
American Miller has troubles with the HUAC/McCarthy
panel hearings 1953 - Miller denied a passport 1955 - HUAC pressures NYC not to allow
Miller to make a film for them about juvenile delinquency
The Saga Continued...
1957 - Miller convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to name names. And then...
1958 - US Court of Appeals overturns his contempt conviction.
But all of this could not deter the public from viewing and revering his work for generations!
Audio excerpts from NPR
Arthur Miller's Lasting Impact
The American Dream
People have the right to a decent place to live, a fair reward for hard work and recognition of their worth as human beings. This play is similar to A Raisin in the Sun in that it asks the same basic questions: Has the American Dream become an unkept promise? Is it just a mirage?
The play
…addresses family conflict and ethics in post World War II America
takes a close look at the price paid for the “American Dream.” charges America with creating a capitalist materialism
centered around a postwar economy. This materialism skewed the original view of the “American
Dream” as envisioned by the founding fathers. Original Title – “The Inside of His Head”
Miller’s Assertions
Death of a Salesman is not a “document of pessimism.”
Death of a Salesman is not un-American; it celebrates the life of Willy Loman.
Miller believes that tragedy is “inherently optimistic.”
From Classical Tragedy
Unity of time -- the final 24 hours in Willy’s life
Unity of action - the play is complete unto itself
Unity of place – the stage setting doesn’t change
Also from Classical Tragedy
the hero’s traits being a mixture of good and bad and being of higher moral worth than others in society
the concept of the hero’s flaw the hero’s capacity to willingly endure
sufferingthe catharsis of the audience
The Common Man as Hero
Miller’s thoughts:“Everyone knows Willy Loman.” (allusion
to the morality play, Everyman.)“The common man is suitable for a tragic
hero.”Willy is meant to be seen as greater and
better (at least in potential) than the society.
Miller’s Modern Tragedy
The hero is a common man.The hero struggles against society. The hero meets his downfall.The downfall is a result of an incongruity
between his own perception of the world and reality.
The hero achieves a kind of redemption in his downfall.
Tragic? Yes!
Willy Loman is worthy of being viewed as a tragic hero because he “is ready to sacrifice his life to secure one thing--his sense of personal dignity.”
Arthur Miller
Rose Interview with A. Miller
From Miller’s Essay “Tragedy and the Common Man”
“ the tragic hero is intent upon claiming his whole due as a personality, and if this struggle must be total and without reservation, then it automatically demonstrates the indestructible will of man to achieve his humanity. The possibility of victory must be there in tragedy…
tragedy requires a nicer balance[than pathos] between what is possible and what is impossible. And it is curious, although edifying, that the plays we revere, century after century, are the tragedies. In them and in them alone, lies the belief—optimistic, if you will, in the perfectibility of man.
It is time, I think, that we who are without kings, took up this bright thread of our history and followed it to the only place it can possibly lead in our time—the heart and the spirit of the average man.”
Arthur Miller 1949
Dramatis Personae
Willy Loman Biff Loman Linda Loman Happy Loman Charley Bernard Ben
The Woman Howard Wagner Stanley Jenny Miss Forsythe and
Letta
Willy Loman
Father, Husband Traveling salesman Believes in chasing the American Dream
although he never achieves it Idolizes his brother, Ben Puts Biff on a pedestal because of his success
in high school sports Becomes mentally ill when pressure of reality
crushes his illusions
Linda Loman
Loving, devoted wifeNaïve and realistic of Willy’s hopesEmotionally supportive of WillyTurns a “blind eye” to Willy’s infidelityVerbally abused by her husbandWilly’s strength until his tragic death
Biff Loman
Elder son, 34 years oldHigh school standout-football star, many
male friends and female admirersAcademic failures lead to a life of
kleptomaniaIdeal career- to work outside w/handsFails to reconcile his father’s
expectations
Happy Loman
Younger son, 32 years oldIn Biff’s shadow all his lifeRelentless sex driveRepresents Willy’s sense of self
importance and ambitionOften engages in bad business ethicsDishonest
Charley
The Lomans’ next door neighborSuccessful businessmanOften gives Willy financial supportDescribed sadly as Willy’s only friend
although Willy is jealous of Charley’s success
Bernard
Charley’s sonSuccessful Often mocked by Willy for being studiousHe cares more about Biff’s academic
success than Willy doesCompared to Loman sons by Willy; they
do not measure up to his success
Ben Loman
Willy’s deceased older brotherIndependently wealthyAppears to Willy in daydreams—but
never gives Willy the answers to his questions about what it takes to become successful in life
Willy’s symbol of success that he desperately wants for his sons
The Woman
Willy’s mistressHer admiration for Willy is an ego boost
for him.She makes Willy feel as though he is
special when she says, “I picked you…” when the truth is that she probably picked up a lot of men along the way.
Howard Wagner
President of the Wagner CompanySuccessor to his father, FrankNot sympathetic to the aging Willy
Loman and his problems with mental health
Wrapped up in himself and his success, even though he never personally achieved it; he inherited his position with the company
Types of Sales Positions and Duties
Duties/Responsibilities: selling, service, prospecting, presentations, pricing quotes, terms, expediting, orders, marketing research, advising, study, travel, meetings, paperwork.
Sales Positions: route salesperson; retail sales; account rep; business sales rep; sales engineer; manufacturer’s rep; inside sales
Administrative Tasks
16%
TelephoneSelling
25.1%
Waiting/ Traveling
17.4%
Service Calls12.7%
Face-to-Face Selling
28.8%
Companies look for ways to increase the amount of time salespeople spend selling.
How Salesmen Spend Their Time
Inside SalesForce
Inside SalesForce
Outside Sales Force
Outside Sales Force
Travel to Call on Customers
Travel to Call on Customers
Sells to MajorAccounts
Sells to MajorAccounts
Finds MajorNew
Prospects
Finds MajorNew
Prospects
Conduct Business From Their Offices Via Phone or Buyer VisitsConduct Business From Their
Offices Via Phone or Buyer Visits
TechnicalSupportPeople
TechnicalSupportPeople
Tele-Marketing
OrInternet
Tele-Marketing
OrInternet
Where Typical Salesmen Work
SalesAssistants
SalesAssistants
Traits of Good Salespeople
As we read the play…
look for these traits in Willy, Happy and Biff Loman and you will see why they have problems succeeding in the business world. They want to live the American Dream, but look what they sacrifice in order to do so.
Look for similarities/differences between Willy Loman & Oedipus Rex, the tragic heroes. Would Aristotle believe that this play is a tragedy?
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