Death of a Salesman Discussion

Have I understood the ending of Miller's play?

At the graveside, Charlie says of Willie, “a salesman is got to dream” though his life had “no rock bottom”. Linda understands this and more.

In death, Willie came closest to his dream. He died elated and Linda, who wishes the best for Willie, knows it. He sees life after the suicide: for “Biff and I”. Thus Willie achieves success in the end!

Linda "can’t cry", since for Willie, it’s the best result possible in the circumstances. As Willie didn’t see suicide as final, she keeps expecting him but struggles to understand the cruel paradox: success through suicide, life within death. Hence her wistful repetition of “We’ve free…”

I think that perhaps, Willie's suicide came as a solution for Biff's situation. I agree with you. The insurance money would be a good start for his son, and perhaps Linda sees things through her late husband's spectrum, as well.

What I've always been wondering is whether Biff regarded this end as a solution. I think not.

This is puzzling since I though insurance companies do not pay out for suicide; but maybe they did back then. Willie has been beat up by life in so many ways that they just mount up and he seems to have nothing to live for. His self-image looks to be shot. Also, very lonely; no human connection. He forgets to be grateful for the things he has: a family, a house that's paid, a very modest but active business life, Linda's forgiveness. He hasn't mastered his temper and irritability, which can take many a man down.

For Willy, suicide becomes an upbeat solution to a shattered life. But solving life problems was never his forte! Instead of unlikely insurance money, Biff needs a dad; Linda, a husband; and Happy, a dream.

So nobody benefits from the suicide. Except maybe Willy himself, for which Linda seems grateful.

Hello.

I've been given an essay to write on Arthur Miller's "Death of A Salesman", but I'm a bit (well, a lot) stuck.

The question is:
Charley [of Willy Loman]: "Nobody dast blame this man." How far is it possible to agree with Charley?

I really can't think what to say.. any ideas?

Thanks :)

You can't blame him because he is everyone. He is every American, every would-be parvenu, every person who tries to own his house. You cannot blame him, because you are him. He is everyone.

I disagree. Loman's downfall is a result of his inability to accept his limitations and the limitations of those around him. He views any disagreement of opinion or piece of advice as an insult and refuses to recognize the love that people around him try to give. While I also disagree that Loman represents everyman, I agree that he represents the common man who has struggled for success and failed to find it and in that respect, it seems that Arthur Miller is making a commentary on those that narcissisticly impose their value system on others while refusing to accept the failures of that value system and accept responsibilty for their own self destruction.

Hello ya i'm new here
im not really big on liturature so you probably won't see me around.
Ok so for my english class, I have to debate a topic for death of a salesman
the topic is "Biff is the product of his fathers influence." I am against this.
I have few points that I cna use so i need your help with that
thanks

I'm supposed to write a research essay on the play and I need a few more ideas. Here's the prompt:

Quote:

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While many plays are relevant only for the time and place in which they are produced, Death of a Salesman has a universal appeal that transcends time and place. Identify those qualities in this play that give it is universality.

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Also I'm looking for good papers relevant to this topic for citation so if anyone has any, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

-v.b.

This is great stuff. Thanks a lot man.

Hello guys,i need help...
I need to do a theatre poster for death of a salesman play
so i suppose to create a. a different but appropiate title
b. a symbol or image that captures the heart of the play
c. An effective slogan (6wordsmaximum) that connects to an essential theme or features

so i have thought the title: Pride,Caution!!
slogan: pride goes before a fall
image is falling leaves on autumn

what do you guys think of my title, appropiate?slogan,effective?and the image?i need a suggestion to improve on it...pls help me!!

thanks!!

Welcome to the forum, gloew!

As for your slogan/title:
I don't think Death of a Salesman is basically about pride that leads to your downfall. That sounds much too moralistic. It is rather about the American Dream gone wrong. Willy Loman firmly believes in the American Dream, especially in the Protestant work ethic: If you work hard, you will be successful. As he works hard and is not successful he has to live a lie - pretending things (for the benefit of his family) which must be true although they are not because otherwise his system of values and beliefs would be shattered.

Of course there is more to the play, I just tried to express the essentials in a simple way. Hope it helps. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gloew

Hello guys,i need help...
I need to do a theatre poster for death of a salesman play
so i suppose to create a. a different but appropiate title
b. a symbol or image that captures the heart of the play
c. An effective slogan (6wordsmaximum) that connects to an essential theme or features

so i have thought the title: Pride,Caution!!
slogan: pride goes before a fall
image is falling leaves on autumn

what do you guys think of my title, appropiate?slogan,effective?and the image?i need a suggestion to improve on it...pls help me!!

thanks!!

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You probably want a slogan about delusion and age. use the passage where willy's talking about the guy who died 'the death of a salesman'. or:

A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory.

He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine.

These are quotes from the play.

I dunno about a title but you could do a silhouette of willy for the poster.

Hard Deal?
Final Deal?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kelby_lake

You probably want a slogan about delusion and age. use the passage where willy's talking about the guy who died 'the death of a salesman'. or:

A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory.

He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine.

These are quotes from the play.

I dunno about a title but you could do a silhouette of willy for the poster.

Hard Deal?
Final Deal?

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I would also include Willy in the poster, probably a combination of the two ideas. Willy's silhouette with falling leaves all around probably.

As for the slogan what about "when dreams go bad, what is left for a salesman to sell?" Too melodramatic or resembling a cliche? I think it's what a slogan is about, though. Kelby lake's ideas and quotations from the play seem quite interesting, too.

Good Luck ;)

Thanks for u guys' help
btw,kelby_lake,, i have thought of using ur suggestion-final deal?
but how abt slogan?a nightmare of american dream or The american dream pursuits turned nightmare?

can the title go along with the slogan? as for the play's characters,should i use casting or starring better?

Hello Chester,

can u help me with my slogan?im urgently need the slogan?a nightmare of american dream or American dream pursuit turns to nightmare,is it suitable?

maybe just 'the american nightmare'. because willy gets dementia and can't work etc...

How about: "American dream achieved...at a cost"?

but did he ever achieve it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kelby_lake

but did he ever achieve it?

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Absolutely. Why else doesn’t Linda cry?

Willie sees life and success after the suicide - for “Biff and I”. An elated Willy dies setting Biff up for life, achieving at last ‘The Dream’, for which an intuitive Linda is thankful. Since Willy couldn’t see suicide as final, Linda keeps expecting him home but struggles with the cruel paradox: success through suicide, life inside death...and so cannot cry. Hence her wistful repetition of “We’ve free…”. Willie is free in every sense.

Sadly, Willie is the only winner because Biff needs a dad; Linda, a husband; and Happy, a dream.

A great play.