Death Of A Salesman
Karen Miller
Intro. Theatre 1122
Inst. Valeria Rios Giermakowski
Script Analysis Paper: Death of a Salesman
This play Death of a Salesman is based in the early twentieth century and takes place in New York City/Brooklyn with some brief parts in Boston. Throughout the play it seems that the economy is in hardship. Good jobs were few and far between. Arthur Miller’s play is a collection of memories displayed in a montage from the life of salesman Willy Loman. As each memory unfolds it is apparent that Willy Loman has made poor choices and has had difficulty accepting them as well as finding a strong identity for himself. This is reflected onto his wife Linda and sons Biff and Happy. Willy’s professional life is also greatly …show more content…
All the characters are connected to Willy and their actions reflect to Willy’s interactions. His life engulfs the entire performance. He is the salesman and driven by desires of wealth, success and respect from his family and peers. Willy yearns for attention and respect but never earns it. Much like his attitude, the play revolves around him. He has one friend and a poor relationship with his wife and two sons. Linda is the sad wife, mother and woman living in anguish and fear, which she chooses never to get away from. She is a good companion and dedicated wife undeservingly to Willy, and a mediocre mom at best. Linda is aware her husband is depressed and suicidal but allows herself to stay in a constant state of denial to cope. Biff is the oldest son and golden child to Willy. He is the spark that ignites Willy’s excitement for life. The majority of Willy’s flashbacks and memories are of Biff. Young Biff respects and adores his father until this image is horribly crushed and destroyed when Biff finds out about Willy’s affair. Biff goes form idealizing his father to despising him. All of which dramatically changes Willy and Biffs lives. Happy is a young cookie cut version of his father, but lives in the shadow of his older brother. Happy, like Willy, lives in a constant state of fabricated illusions. He always tends to make something out of nothing and in doing so exaggerates …show more content…
After this incident is shown the play takes a dramatic domino affect with the rest of Willy’s memories. You start to really see the downfall of Willy and Biffs’ relationship, hopes, and dreams as well as the disarray of the Loman family. It then eventually leads up to the climax when Biff finally confronts Willy with the rubber hose and then tells Willy he will not have any pity, and goes onto confront the entire family about living in denial. The only resolution that comes from all of this that Biff finally comes to terms with whom he really is and where he wants to
Intro. Theatre 1122
Inst. Valeria Rios Giermakowski
Script Analysis Paper: Death of a Salesman
This play Death of a Salesman is based in the early twentieth century and takes place in New York City/Brooklyn with some brief parts in Boston. Throughout the play it seems that the economy is in hardship. Good jobs were few and far between. Arthur Miller’s play is a collection of memories displayed in a montage from the life of salesman Willy Loman. As each memory unfolds it is apparent that Willy Loman has made poor choices and has had difficulty accepting them as well as finding a strong identity for himself. This is reflected onto his wife Linda and sons Biff and Happy. Willy’s professional life is also greatly …show more content…
All the characters are connected to Willy and their actions reflect to Willy’s interactions. His life engulfs the entire performance. He is the salesman and driven by desires of wealth, success and respect from his family and peers. Willy yearns for attention and respect but never earns it. Much like his attitude, the play revolves around him. He has one friend and a poor relationship with his wife and two sons. Linda is the sad wife, mother and woman living in anguish and fear, which she chooses never to get away from. She is a good companion and dedicated wife undeservingly to Willy, and a mediocre mom at best. Linda is aware her husband is depressed and suicidal but allows herself to stay in a constant state of denial to cope. Biff is the oldest son and golden child to Willy. He is the spark that ignites Willy’s excitement for life. The majority of Willy’s flashbacks and memories are of Biff. Young Biff respects and adores his father until this image is horribly crushed and destroyed when Biff finds out about Willy’s affair. Biff goes form idealizing his father to despising him. All of which dramatically changes Willy and Biffs lives. Happy is a young cookie cut version of his father, but lives in the shadow of his older brother. Happy, like Willy, lives in a constant state of fabricated illusions. He always tends to make something out of nothing and in doing so exaggerates …show more content…
After this incident is shown the play takes a dramatic domino affect with the rest of Willy’s memories. You start to really see the downfall of Willy and Biffs’ relationship, hopes, and dreams as well as the disarray of the Loman family. It then eventually leads up to the climax when Biff finally confronts Willy with the rubber hose and then tells Willy he will not have any pity, and goes onto confront the entire family about living in denial. The only resolution that comes from all of this that Biff finally comes to terms with whom he really is and where he wants to