Death of a Salesman (Penguin Plays)
by Arthur Miller
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Book Reviews of Death of a Salesman (Penguin Plays)
Book Review: To Be Well-Liked
Summary: 4 Stars
Death of a Salesman is a tragic yet entertaining play that makes an excellent point about several topics. Even though Arthur Miller wrote the play over half a century ago, it still applies to our lives today. The Penguin Plays edition gives you a good idea of what Arthur Miller intended the play to look like. Personally, I enjoyed reading the play, and I learned several good lessons from it.
Death of a Salesman takes place around the late 1940's and the early 1950's in the New England area. Almost the entire play takes place in and around the Loman house. Willy Loman, an aging salesman who has worked all his life and has little to show for it is the main character in this great play. He often has terrible daydreams about the past and is slowly losing it. He is in many senses dying. Many see him as a crazy old fool. His lovely wife Linda Loman however sees him as a poor, misunderstood man who has suffered through much in his life and must be taken care of very carefully. Even though Willy does not treat her with a lot of respect, she still is his greatest support, and is the only person keeping him from falling apart and going completely crazy.
Part of Willy's mental problems comes from his two grown up boys, Biff, and Happy. Biff, the oldest and Willy's favorite, has failed to live up to his father's expectations of becoming successful and well liked. He purposefully hasn't found a well paying job yet, which Willy hates. Willy believes Biff does this to spite him and they are constantly arguing (you will find out exactly why they are constantly arguing later in the play). Happy has always looked up to and respected his dad. When he was younger he was constantly trying to impress him although now he believes Willy is a crazy old fool and a disgrace to the family. Unlike Biff, he dreams of being very successful and living out the American Dream. The play continues on and just when you think things are starting to calm down and to take a turn for the better, everything heats up again. The play quickly builds up to a final great climax, and it ends with the Death of a Salesman.
Arthur Miller probably wrote Death of a Salesman for several reasons. His main reason as I see it was probably to tell people about the dangerous effects of the American dream on a person's life. The American Dream from Arthur Miller's perspective is to make money, be well known and liked. In trying to live the American Dream a person can live their entire lives devoted to making money so they can buy and pay off a car and a house, etc. By the time they have enough money to do so, the kids have already moved out and they don't have much use for a car anymore. This is seen when Linda says "I made the last payment on the house. Today, dear. And there'll be nobody home." In the play (SPOILER ALERT) Willy wasted his entire life trying to be a successful and well liked salesman, but in the end, he loses almost everything including the respect of his sons, his own life, and still has nothing to show for all his hard work.
I personally learned a very valuable lesson from Death of a Salesman. You can try all your life to be successful and well liked, however you might just end up disappointed. Or, you can break free of the American Dream and just try to be happy doing your job instead of trying to get ahead of everyone else in the world. I viewed Death of a Salesman as a conflict of interests. On one side you have Willy who believes success comes with becoming well liked and having money. He is always trying to impress the next guy. Biff on the other hand just wants to be content with his work and to make a living by doing want he wants to do. During the play they both try to convince the other one that their way is the way to be successful and to make a living. What I got from this play is that being successful is not about being well liked, but about being content with what you do. At the beginning, Biff seems somewhat happy with his current job even though he feels like he is failing his dad. Happy has gone out and has started to make a living through the American Dream. He has been somewhat successful in this but when Biff asks him if he is content he says no. Happy doesn't know what he is working for but believes that once he has more money than anyone else, he will be happy (no pun intended). Unfortunately, if you follow that path you will work all your life to achieve a virtually unreachable goal. However, if you just try to be content with what you have, you will be successful in your own right.
I really enjoyed reading this book/play and I got a lot out of it. Overall, Death of a Salesman was a great play. It teaches a great lesson and might just give you a different view on life. Arthur Miller did a great job in writing the play, but be careful of the mild language in this edition. I recommend this book as a must read to everyone teen-aged and up. It has a great story and an interesting view on the idea of the American Dream. I would give this book 9.5 out of 10. This is a play I believe everyone should read at one point in their life.
Book Review: A Salesman's Suicide
Summary: 5 Stars
When Arthur Miller wrote his play, Death of a Salesman, he knew that he was creating a story that would be applied to every generation. In reading a tragedy drama like, Death of a Salesman, life is put into a tense perspective where the reader may eventually and subconsciously come to evaluate their own past. The story plot deals with issues that many Americans face every day. Issues like: adultery, and stealing, lying, debt, promiscuous behavior, depression and suicide. Miller's play is meant to keep the audience on an emotional roller coaster while following salesman, Willy Lowman, through "the best of times" and "the worst of times" (Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities).Miller plays out the story of a typical New York salesman, through a character called Willy Lowman. Mr. Lowman travels all over New England, trying very diligently to sell his products. He seems to have the perfect American life. He has a house, a working automobile, two healthy sons and a gentle-spirited wife. Yet, when you look closer into the life of Willy Lowman, you can see that he had past hurts that he never dealt with in childhood, and as a result, his life at present is falling apart.
Willy was the son of a flute maker who had gone to Africa to exhume diamonds. He had been too young to go along then, but his brother, Ben, had gone. Willy grows up and his father dies, but his brother offers him a job in an auspicious diamond mine. Being offended that his father and brother had left him behind, Willy resumes his post as a salesman. All through his later life, Willy Lowman lies to himself and everyone he loves. He goes from place to place, trying to convince the buyers to purchase his products, while being careful to be friendly and amiable.
Willy begins to age and starts to feel that he is worthless and unloved by friends and family. This prompts an affair with "the woman", who seduces him with words of admiration and devotion. Knowing he has a wife at home, Willy feels a bit suspicious one day when a knock comes to the door of his Boston hotel room. He opens the door to his eldest son, Biff, who then finds out about his father's affair and his life of lies. This causes Biff not to pursue any career, but to essentially quite life. Feeling quite hopeless in his future, Willy turns to the past to supply him with joy. He reenacts scenes from his "golden days" aloud in public places without realization of it.
Willy Lowman then becomes incompetent as a salesman, so he borrows fifty dollars from his neighbor, Charley, every week, which puts him into an extreme debt, both literally and emotionally. As Willy ages, he sees that his sons are now in their mid-thirties and still living at home with deadly habits of promiscuity and stealing. He becomes angry and acts out his memory plays even more frequently.
When his sons try to make good by selling an idea to an important sportsman, Willy goes into an emotional high. However, he the comes crashing down into a deeper depression when it doesn't work out and he feels Biff doesn't love him and never did. He plans out his suicide so that a 20,000 insurance policy would go to Biff and that he could see that millions of people adored him by coming to his funeral. The funeral day comes and only five people attend his funeral. Willy Lowman dies the death of a Salesman, alone and essentially forgotten.
To the reader, Death of a Salesman, is a form of parable that serves to remind them of their unresolved pasts and their debt to all of the people who have genuinely loved them in their lifetime. In essence, the character of Willy Lowman, shows Miller's audience that family is the most important thing that one can possibly own. Wealth, possessions, worldly success, and social importance are only a whisking wind that passes faster than they can blink. Family is what gives love, support and importance when life is at it's worst. Yet, family members will disappoint you because they are not perfect. However, God "will never leave you nor forsake you", He will be there when times are good and when times are bad. He will never let His children die...the spiritual death of a salesman.
I recommend this play highly for two specific reasons. First, it fills the reader with emotion. What that emotion may be it based upon the reader. It could be anger at Willy for not raising his children well, it may be joy in the possibility that Biff and Harold are going to make their parents wealthy, or it may even be sorrow after Willy commits suicide. Still, whatever the feeling might be, it will be present in every reader. Secondly, the story guides the reader into seeing what is really important in life. It shows that material things pass away and that a "good name is better than riches", which Willy did not try to obtain in his lifetime. Over all, Death of a Salesman, remains one of my personal favorites.
Book Review: hidden issues and unspoken problems
Summary: 5 Stars
Although Arthur Miller's drama, Death of a Salesman, is regarded by many to be depressing and tragic, its message has a positive effect when put to use by the reader. The play deals blatantly with many of America's unspoken problems and shows the typical American family as they many times truly are, rather than how they wish themselves to be perceived. The primary family portrayed, the Lomans, have developed the lifestyle of many people that we see everyday: one tangled with lies, regardless of whether they are directed toward themselves or to those around them. These lies lead to another issue discussed throughout the plot: the attempt of many people to be something they are not for the sole sake of another person. As seen in the script, this tactic only brings failure and unhappiness. Because Miller was able to incorporate these issues within the story, along with many others, the play, however pessimistic it may seem, is positive in its overall outcome.
In every piece of literature, an author has many purposes and points they wish to communicate. In Death of a Salesman, Miller purposes to display an average man struggling to achieve the American dream among the business world that can never be obtained. Unfortunately, this failure is a picture of the lifestyle that was extremely common during the 1940s and 1950s. Men lost jobs quickly, and salesmen were plentiful, but only as good as their merchandise. This fact is plainly shown in the scene with Willy and Howard, and described in Charley's last monologue during Willy's funeral. Men's identities were wrapped up in their occupations and when those didn't succeed, many people were forced to live among dreams, for that's all that was truly left of them. However, it is when those dreams become confused with realities, as seen in Willy's case, that danger becomes existent.
Though there are multiple lessons found in Death of a Salesman, one stands out among the others. Miller effectively communicates the fact that pretending or attempting to be something we are not fools no one for long and eventually brings only personal unhappiness. For example, Biff strives to fit the mold that his father has created, but fails and is miserable because he's not living his own life and is attempting instead to do things that he was not meant to do. Willy, on the other hand, confuses his own true failures with his imagined successes invented merely to impress others. The constant lie lived by Willy not only affects his lifestyle, but is one of the causes of the deterioration of his mind. Happy as well seeks approval by doing all that he believes his father desires, but the end of the play leaves him still striving with no glimpse of a hopeful result.
By taking the three previous examples into consideration, it can be concluded that the ability to live one's own life and to be one's own person is essential. Others' input and advice certainly hold an important place within my life. However, I am the one who has to wake up each morning and live the life I have developed for myself. It is as impossible for me to be happy living another's dream just as it was for Biff to live out Willy's. Therefore, making personal values and decisions and facing personal consequences are imperative; otherwise an individual's existence is that of a puppet: constantly held back by strings.
The controversial topics brought to light throughout this drama are enough to support a strong recommendation. I believe that it is essential for teenagers and adults alike to face not only the problems outside of our country, but within it as well. Death of a Salesman communicates the unspoken fact of where the root of America's problems lies: not within her government, economy, or media, but within her own homes and families. The Loman family is a perfect picture of how messed up many relationships are, and how people would rather tuck this embarrassing problem away. Most individuals deal with situations outside of their own because they're uncomfortable with the trouble staring them right in the face. The denial of this mental insecurity is why I believe that Death of a Salesman should be an addition to every individual's personal library, for Linda's words apply not only to her opinion about how Willy should be treated but to how the crucial elements of the play must be acknowledged and learned from: "Attention must be paid."
Book Review: Another Man with Another Dream...
Summary: 5 Stars
As Arthur Miller intertwines his creative dialogue with the realistic lifestyle of Americans, he easily captivates the heart and mind into the story of The Death of a Salesman. The plot of this play revolves around the perspective on life held by a simple salesman. We are introduced to Willy Loman as a man consumed by the powerful dreams of success and honor. He has a caring wife, Linda, and two sons Biff and Happy. Willy seems continually haunted by his and Biffs previous close relationship and is unable to interpret Biffs current resentment towards him. Contrasting Willy's dedication to Biff, Happy is ignored and considered unimportant. Because of Willy's careless nature, Linda follows the example, leaving Happy left in the trail of Biffs glory.
The reason this play hit the hearts of so many Americans was how it explored the questions and doubts of life's purpose. It revealed the different opinions that post war was bringing to a hurt land. Miller intended to strike the people by delving deeper into the fear of a purposeless life. The uniqueness of his writing was in the way he portrayed both the wrong and right aspect of a salesman
Looking at Willy's faults only, it's easy to judge him as the cause of all the problems. Willy made many foolish choices that brought on consequences. He told small lies to make believe his dream was true. However, they soon grew larger then expected and caused damage to both Biff and Happy. Willy refuses to believe the truth because it is the only hope he has. When Biff confronts Willy with the truth he turns to anger and begins to push the blame to his son, refusing to admit to the responsibility. Willy bases success on being well liked and is so consumed with the idea that he convinces himself its true in his own life. While time goes on and the lies grow stronger in his mind, Willy is so consumed with the goal of being successful that he becomes blinded from the constant compassion of his wife, who attempts to save him from self-destruction. Although in his mind he is well liked, inside he recognizes his unimportance. Regardless of how hard he tries to ignore and cover the truth with lies, he can't escape the worlds rejection of who he is, of what he hasn't lived up to be.
However, Miller doesn't portray Willy in a negative way only. Miller places much concern and empathy towards Willy, and in a way defends the hopeless cause that Willy has fallen into. The habit of being fixated in the past goes beyond the poor relationship that he has with Biff. As a young boy, Willy's father and brother deserted him without even considering the family they left behind. Hurt and confused, Willy was discarded; left alone trying to learn how to be the man he never knew, how to love a woman without a role model to exemplify and how to cherish his children having no idea of what a true father is. Alone, without a strong love behind him, he became a salesman. While ambitious and young, he pursued the American dream of success. Encouraged by companion buyers to go beyond, he instilled himself into the life of a salesman. After years of dedication, Willy is fired and his hope for reaching the top became unaccomplished. With nothing to give, he has become worthless and dispensable, just another man with another dream. Willy's goal of being well liked crashes as he is removed from all that he is known and hoped to become. Loyally, Linda defends Willy to the last, knowing his heartache, his childhood fear of worthlessness, has left him a broken man.
The depth that is inside this play shows me many valuable life lessons. A prominent teaching is the importance of choices. Choices in life, from the largest down to the small insignificant decision, affect more then we usually consider. Willy chose to lie occasionally but the fabrication grew to change his and his family's perspective on their entire lives. There is importance in choosing to appreciate all the blessings that life gives. When Willy focused on the past, it resulted in both the present and the future becoming blurred.
I earnestly recommend this play not only to become perceptive and knowledgeable but also to be able to personally interpret the meaning and see the expression that Miller presents in his work. This tragedy shows the minds and hearts of Americans after the war and has valuable insight that goes beyond simple words and pages.
Book Review: Bliss
Summary: 4 Stars
The Death of a Salesman is one of my favorite plays that I have read. I think that this was a positive reading because it taught me that we all should be thankful for what we have and not stress on things that are not important in life.
I think that Arthur Miller's main purpose in writing The Death of a Salesman is to show us that God gave us everything we could ever what right in our hands. I think that when Arthur Miller was Writing this play, he was thinking about how many people stress and want what they can't have. They are not thankful for what God gave them. In the play The Death of a Salesman Willy tried to commit suicide, he was only doing this because the thought that his sons did not love him, I like he wanted to be loved. Willy had a great job and a wonderful wife Linda, and two great sons Biff and Happy. Linda was always there for Willy and she did everything Willy wanted, she was very caring, but Willy just didn't think that it was enough to make him happy. So he had an affair, which was not the right decision. Willy wanted only the best for Biff, so Willy wanted Biff to be a Salesman. Biff didn't want to be that, he wanted to be a football player. He didn't want to disappoint his dad, but Biff wanted to be happy, and he wouldn't be happy if he was a Salesman, because he saw how it put so much stress on his dad and he didn't want to go through that. Willy was more focused on his dreams, and it made him loose his mind He was going crazy, and he was not thinking right, which made him commit suicide.
I have personally learned from this reading is, that you cant try to live life by your dreams, meaning you cant try to make life just like your dreams, I think that God wants us to live life day by day. We should be happy for what He gave us and not want something else, because God does and has made everything for a purpose. I don't think Willy quite understood that, he was more focused on his dreams than what was really going through in his life. I have learned to be thankful for what I have and I thank God everyday for the life that he has given me. If only Willy could have lived his life the way he was supposed to instead of concentrating on his dreams, and trying to make his dreams come true. I have also learned that its not a good idea to commit suicide. God wants you to life a great life with him, and worship him. I have also learned that even is your surrounded by bricks, buildings, and windows that we should try to make the best out of it, because this is the life that God wants you to live if u follow God. I have also learned that its not a good thing to go crazy and cheat on your husband or wife, because by doing that you are disobeying God.
In conclusion I would defiantly recommend this play The Death of a Salesman because, it makes you realize that we should all be thankful for what we have and not want what's always in our dreams.
Also I would recommend this play because it makes u realize how great your life is with God. The Death of a Salesman tells you how Willy is not happy with what he has and how he only wants to live life according to his dreams. God doesn't want that, He wants us to follow him and live the life He wants us to have with him.
I think that this play is a great play to read for a drama class, because it makes you have a great outlook on life and realize that you could have everything you could ever what right there in front of you. But in this play Willy didn't even realize it until he died. Neither did his wife or sons, Willy's death was I think mainly because of Biff. I think that it was mainly Biff's fault because he didn't really love his father, Biff just did not listen to him. Since Biff didn't love of care for his father, Willy committed suicide just to show Biff that a lot of people would be at his funeral. And actually no one really showed up except for Happy, Biff, Linda, and the Pastor. So its not a good idea to kill yourself just to prove someone wrong, because it makes other hurt inside and all you can do is watch them hurt because of your mistakes.
So in the end I recommend this play, I think that all drama students should read it and realize how good they really have it.