Criticism of Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Essay

Criticism of Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman I found Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman, while a definite classic, not as interesting as other Miller plays. For example, ‘All my Sons is a story about an unscrupulous businessman who lies in court to save himself from certain imprisonment, sends his business partner to prison, and eventually commits suicide once one of his sons uncovers his devious plot. The intrigue, excitement, and setting were easy to follow, enjoyable and riveting. Conversely, I found Death of a Salesman to be slow at times (particularly the first act), difficult to follow (i.e., when Willy Loman was thinking to himself or reminiscing from memory), and overall less enjoyable. This analysis will cover the six†¦show more content†¦You see, making people believe you are something you are not when you operate from a distance is very easy; the closer to home your actions are, the easier it is to discover your weaknesses. And this becomes quite evident when Willy says to his sons that someday he will take them to New England and show them how important he really is. Willy never does take them because he knows his children are too close to him and they would surely reveal him for the fake that he is. As the play begins, Willy has just come home from New England. The audience believes Willy must have had a tiring day, presumably from the long drive, since he is physically exhausted (carrying those two heavy suitcases I felt as though Willys life was in each of them, a very heavy and burdensome life). Soon we discover that Willy is physically drained because he was driving aimlessly with no sense of direction; this is the first example of how this play is set partly from the mind and memory of Willy Loman. The difficulty that arises is because the plot fluctuates between the 1940s and 1928. The audience must follow carefully from the past to the present, and I found this to be easiest by watching the interaction between Willy and si gnificant life events (e.g., theShow MoreRelatedArthur Miller: The Family Man1129 Words   |  5 Pagesto the right choices, and a need to provide for them. Arthur Miller a father of three children himself, has this deeply rooted into his mind and within his literary works. (Abbotson) Arthur Asher Miller a man of many very high esteemed novels was born in New York City on October 17, 1915. (Hadomi) A man who saw all the harshness of the Great Depression, and had many jobs including a clerk, and a delivery boy for a bakery before school. Arthur Miller began writing in 1934 while he attended MichiganRead MoreEssay about Linda Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman585 Words   |  3 PagesLinda Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman      Ã‚  Ã‚   Linda Loman is the heart and soul of the Loman household.   She loves her family, even though she is all too aware of husbands faults and her sons characters. She provides a sharp contrast to the seamy underbelly of the world of sex, symbolized by the Woman and the prostitutes.   They operate in the real world as part of the impersonal forces that corrupt.   Happy equates his unhealthy relationships with women to taking manufacturersRead More The Character of Linda Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman524 Words   |  3 PagesThe Character of Linda Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Linda is the heart of the Loman family in Arthur Millers play, Death of a Salesman.   She is wise, warm, and sympathetic.   She knows her husbands faults and her sons characters.   For all her frank appraisals, she loves them.   She is contrasted with the promiscuous sex symbolized by the Woman and the prostitutes.   They operate in the world outside as part of the impersonal forces that corrupt.   Happy equates his promiscuityRead More Importance of Ben Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman690 Words   |  3 PagesThe Importance of Ben Loman in in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman      Ã‚   Ben Loman is an important character in Death of a Salesman but he is quite unusual.   The audience encounters Uncle Ben during Willy Lomans hallucinations of the past and as a result, it is tempting to disregard his character as just another creation of Willys delusional mind.   However, Ben is much more than that.   His character is representative of Willys unrealistic dreams as well as the realty of his life.   Read More Willy Loman, Redefining the Tragic Hero in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman1065 Words   |  5 PagesWilly Loman, Redefining the Tragic Hero in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman      Ã‚  Ã‚   The events in the life of Willy Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman are no doubt tragic, yet whether or not he can be considered a tragic hero in a traditional sense is a topic requiring some discussion. Aristotle set the criteria for qualities a character must possess in order to be considered a tragic hero. In order to reach a conclusion on this matter, all six criteria must be examined to determineRead MoreAnalysis Of Arthur Miller s Death Of A Salesman 1136 Words   |  5 PagesTHE2000 2 August 2, 2016 Arthur Miller’s Impact Arthur Miller was born in 1915, and he died in 2005. He is possibly the most well-known and influential American playwright. He grew up during the Great Depression, so many of his plays deal with the American middleclass lifestyle. His two most influential works are Death of a Salesman and The Crucible. Death of a Salesman is about the tragic white collar worker, Willy Loman, while The Crucible is about the Salem witch trials. Miller’s first Broadway playRead More Death of a Salesman is a Tragedy as Defined in Millers Tragedy and the Common Man1046 Words   |  5 PagesDeath of a Salesman is a Tragedy as Defined in Millers Tragedy and the Common Man In Tragedy and the Common Man, Arthur Miller discusses his definition and criteria for tragedy as they apply to the common man. The criteria and standards proposed by Miller may be used to evaluate his timeless work, Death of A Salesman. The first major standard of tragedy set forth is:   â€Å"...if the exaltation of tragic action were truly a property of the high-bred character alone, it is inconceivable thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Arthur Miller s Life1268 Words   |  6 Pagesslim few have succeeded. Arthur Miller was an inventive, determined playwright who made a lasting impression on theatre in the 20th century. He was a head-strong, willful individual who conquered obstacles when they presented themselves. Through a brief examination of Arthur Miller’s personal life, career as a playwright, and influence on theatre, it is clear to see that he was a very innovative and impactful individual whose effects can still be seen today. Arthur Miller’s life began on OctoberRead MoreMarxism In Arthur Millers Death Of A Salesman1465 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Willy Lowman sought to attain the American Dream, but his distorted view of Marxist control ultimately provoked his physical, material, and mental destruction. Lowman, a middle-class salesman, husband, and father of two shared the ideology of many American’s, an ideology that hard work, dedication, and likeability was attainable regardless of social class, or life circumstances. Yet, the multiple distortions Willy associated with this dream combinedRead More The Selfish Linda Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman1089 Words   |  5 PagesThe Selfish Linda Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman      Ã‚  Ã‚   Linda, a character from Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman is a selfish housewife. She pretends to care about her husband, but in reality, prefers that he kill himself so that she can live an easier life. Linda is given nothing but motive for wanting her husband, Willy, to die because of the ways he mistreats her. For example, during a family conversation in Act I, Linda, trying to put in a few words, says, Maybe things