Death of a Salesman (Penguin Plays)
by Arthur Miller
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Book Reviews of Death of a Salesman (Penguin Plays)
Book Review: Death of a Salesman (Josh S)
Summary: 5 Stars
Arthur Miller, a profound playwright who truly shows his amazing talent when he wrote Death of a Salesman. The story shows the depression that most Americans faced after World War 2 as they searched for their purpose in life. He paints a grey picture of life that we even still face today.
As a student in High School I am searching far and wide to find out what I want to do with my life. In his story he shows how we are all so caught up in the American dream to become rich and famous but when we finally realize that life isn't always going to be that way it tears us apart. The main character, Willy Loman, is an old salesman and realizes that everything he has worked so hard for has never amounted to any of his expectations. He says "I have worked all my life paying for a house that nobody lives in anymore" and this is saying that he works to keep up a house that when all is said and done the kids are moved out and you miss out on the most wonderful part of your life. Miller was also letting us know that every decision in life is important in the molding of our character. Willy states he once knew a salesman who became so famous that he worked from his home and when he died had a huge funeral with all his buyers and everyone attended his funeral these statements show why he decided to become a salesman. The reason for his unhappiness was because he received his happiness when people knew him and gave him a simple smile as he walked into the room. You cannot look for other people to make you happy because people will fail you at some time and you will be forgotten.
Death of a Salesman has taught me to enjoy every aspect of life because, it is short and precious. Life is not to be taken for granted and neither is anyone in your life. The people around you will come and go but your family will always be there for you. The one thing Willy did have was a loving wife that cared so much for him but he overlooked her kind, gentle, and compassionate heart. I recommend this play to anyone from High School and older because it is very easy to read and comprehend. The book will give you a newfound appreciation for everything around you. One of the most important things to remember is that you have one life to live and every decision you make has a consequence whether it will be good or bad you must think before you act on it.
Book Review: A Picture of the New America
Summary: 4 Stars
Arthur Miller, one of American's greatest modern playwrights, wrote Death of a Salesman during the 40s. The play turned heads upon its first production in 1949 and has continued to be read and preformed ever since. Through Miller's many characters, he captured the heart and soul of many post-World War II Americans.Miller constantly paints a picture of a new era, the business era. He openly portrays the business world as mean and ruthless. His character, Willy Loman, accurately represents many of the people who face hardships in the name of business. Willy's depressing home life is a result of his pursuit of success in the business world.
Miller's ideas of the American dream abound throughout the play. He demonstrates this through his character: Happy. Happy is a carefree young man whose only desire is to please his father, Willy. His idea of the ideal American dream is the typical 9 to 5 job with the perfect house and family. While he may desire these goals, his main objective is his father's approval.
Throughout the play, Miller constantly reverberates different ideas and values. For instance, he shows the negativity of parents who live their lives through their children. This philosophy can be seen through the character of Biff, who constantly is straining to be free from his oppressive father, Willy. While Biff wishes to please his father, he doesn't want to be the man his father wants him to become. His dreams are different from that of his fathers, yet Willy disregards his son's dreams.
Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is unique and groundbreaking for his time period. I honestly enjoyed the play despite the depressing plot. I don't recommend that u read, but rather see it or perform it. In straight lines, the play makes no sense, but with the added lighting and acting, it comes alive in a way that makes u enjoy the story.
By studying this classic play, I have come to realize that life is what you make it to be, not what is handed to you. If you really want something, you have to work for it. Nothing is free, and everything comes with a price. No one can tell you how to live your life. Your ideas and desires are what counts, not the ideas and desires of another person. You have to live with yourself, so fill your life with happiness and joy. We only live once, so live it to the fullest.
Book Review: Profound Depth, Simple Facade
Summary: 5 Stars
It is about 1:40 a.m., and I just finished Arthur Miller's DEATH OF A SALESMAN. I am writing because I sincerely hope that the reader of this review will take the time to read this work of art. I wish I would have read this play earlier, and I hope to see it performed, as the many issues covered are so important for families, professionals, and so-forth. I would encourage the reader of this not to "put off" reading this play, and I also encourage the reader to NOT take my word for it; this seemingly simple, modern play has profound depth and covers, I believe, many of the themes and challenges we encounter in our lives.
I would like to just touch on a few aspects of the play:
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Characters
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The characters in the play have such depth and complexity. I believe, although I have not conducted advance research, the playwright created characters that represented certain personalities. Furthermore, I think each person can see something of one's self in each character, and that is one reason (among many) the playwright was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
I particularly enjoyed the characters of Willy Loman and Biff. I think Willy Loman represents the aspiring, ambitious us; we in many senses do not live in reality. Biff, however, respresents another side insofar that he does not want to dream.
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Theme: Love, Success
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How do we define love and success? I think a question the play raises is, what is love among family members and acceptance? Will our family members love just for who we are? Will we love our family members for who they are? In today's world, perhaps, do we prefer to love those that are successful? Does a family member have to become successful before we love, admire them?
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Conclusion
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In closing, I would like to shout out in stating that this play is very relevant. Many of us are obsessed with our careers, our success, financial goals, and so-forth. Will that make us happy? Will that make us loved? Will that make us better able to love? I sometimes think one must first love and be happy with one's self before one can be a success. In fact, isn't that success?
Thank you,
Clovis
Book Review: Death of a Salesman
Summary: 4 Stars
Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman offers a tragic yet realistic view on society of the 1950's. Willy Loman's distorted outlook on life, success, and happiness is perhaps the cause of his downfall. This is truly a disheartening play, and has a bleak outlook on the life of an unnoticed, unsuccessful man searching to be great. Although this play was not one to be taken lightly I enjoyed reading about the Loman family and Willy's pursuit to become liked. Arthur Miller had many lessons in this play, and I believe the one lesson in Death of a Salesman that has the greatest effect on myself and other students my age deals with abandonment. The issue of abandonment and letting our pasts haunt us in the future is an important aspect in this play. Willy's abandonment started at an early age, His father left him and his brother Ben with neither tangible nor intangible heritage. Shortly after Ben left Willy for Alaska on a search for great riches. When Willy has a family of his own he has a distorted view of the American Dream and wishes for his family to conform to it. He strives to be well liked at his job, a wonderfully father to perfect sons, and to be happy, yet his inability to understand reality interferes with the boy's upbringing. Willy believes Biff to be on the verge of greatness and when at the restaurant Biff destroy Willy's view of him and with Happy abandons Willy in a bathroom.
While some may argue that the past will mainly control your actions in the future, I on the other hand disagree. I believe you can change your future and life is what you make of it. We all go through trials and make bad decisions but that is when you must learn from your mistakes and carry one. Willy Loman through no fault of his own had a difficult childhood; it was his fault however that he took out his feelings on his family. Through this play I have been reminded that life can become a tragic waste if focused on the wrong things. Willy's goals in life were focused on the material things; he also searched to be a likeable man in his workplace. Willy was not a great man but his family loved him and in his search for greatness he became blind to their love.
I would recommend this play, although a tragic play it reminds the reader of what is truly important in life.
Book Review: IS MONEY REALLY THE KEY TO HAPPINESS
Summary: 4 Stars
Last semester I read Death Of A Salesman for my high school, Expository Composition class. At first I did not find it interesting but when I started reading at home and during my free time, I began to understand the conflict between Willy and his vision of the American dream. This it one of my favorite play because it's very realistic to life. It also gave us a good message that I think every young adult should learn; Not to be an overly materialistic person. I believe that our society is overly materialistic and that's what affects our ideas about working. Some people, like Willy Loman, live in a fragile world of elaborate excuses, adultery and daydreams. Another lesson that we could learn a good message about is from Buff Loran, the oldest son of Willy. Biff was a student, like any other young adult, but he have some school problems. He asked his Dad to talk to his teacher so he could graduate, but when he found out that the Dad was unfaithful to his wife he thought this was a good opportunity for him to drop out of school. He was angry at this father but harmed himself for life out of spite. Overall the play I believe this play help us realize that our society is more focused on materialistic things that things that really matter in life. Will thought that money was more important. So he killed himself so his family could have the insurance money. He thought that by living the insurance money to this family they were going to live well and rich, but he did not realized that his family did not care for the insurance money. The only thing they cared and wanted was their father. This teaches us all that our society have a great influences in they way we live by judging a person for want they own and for how much money they have. I think we need to understand that being a materialistic person is not bad because every body likes to have nice things, but when we go over board that's the problem because we are putting more attention to money then to other things that really matter. For example all the chillers that die of hunger and all the wars that goes around the world. So I would recommend this book to people who thing that money is everything in life to have happiness' and I also recommend this book to people that knows want is realistic and what is fantasies.