Basics Facts :
Author :
Arthur Miller
Language :
Written and Preformed in the English language, translation not required.
Play Structure :
A play in 2 acts.
Approximate Running Time :
130 Min according to IMBD.com
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089006/
Genre Identification :
Tragedy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_Salesman
Breif Bio :
Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. The play ran for 745 performances, winning both the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The original production was directed by Elia Kazan with Lee J. Cobb starring in the leading role of Willy Loman. The play attempts to raise a counterexample to Aristotle's characterization of tragedy as the downfall of a great man: though Loman certainly has Hamartia, a tragic flaw or error, his downfall is that of an ordinary man. In this sense, Miller's play represents a democratization of the ancient form of tragedy; the play's protagonist is himself obsessed with the question of greatness, and his downfall arises directly from his continued misconception of himself--at age 63--as someone capable of greatness, as well as the unshakable conviction that greatness stems directly from personal charisma or popularity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_Salesman
Publication Info :
Viking Publishing Company
Exegesis :
Yonkers :
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York (behind New York City, Buffalo and Rochester), and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 196,086 (according to the 2000 census), and an estimated 2008 population of 201,588.[3] Yonkers borders the New York City borough of The Bronx and is 2 miles (3 km) north of Manhattan at the city's two respective closest points.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonkers
Crestfallen :
–adjective
1.
dejected; dispirited; discouraged.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crestfallen
Wisteria :
Wisteria (also spelled Wistaria) is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, that includes ten species of woody climbing vines native to the eastern United States and the East Asian states of China, Korea, and Japan. Aquarists refer to the species Hygrophila difformis, in the family Acanthaceae, as Water Wisteria.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisteria
Simonize:
–verb (used with object), -ized, -iz·ing.
to shine or polish to a high sheen, esp. with wax: to simonize an automobile.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/simonize
Approbation:
–noun
1.
approval; commendation.
2.
official approval or sanction.
3.
Obsolete . conclusive proof.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/approbation
Adonis:
Adonis (Greek aδωνις lord), is a figure with West Semitic antecedents, where he is a central cult figure in various mystery religions, who entered Greek mythology. He is closely related to the Cypriot Gauas[1] or Aos, Egyptian Osiris, the Semitic Tammuz and Baal Hadad, the Etruscan Atunis and the Phrygian Attis, all of whom are deities of rebirth and vegetation.[2] His cult belonged to women: the cult of dying Adonis was fully-developed in the circle of young girls around Sappho on Lesbos, about 600 BCE, as a fragment of Sappho reveals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adonis/
Embattled:
adjective
1.
disposed or prepared for battle.
2.
engaged in or beset by conflict or struggle.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/embattled
Gold Coast:
Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Coast_(British_colony)
Valise:
–noun
a small piece of luggage that can be carried by hand, used to hold clothing, toilet articles, etc.; suitcase; traveling bag.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/valise
Watch-Fob:
Watches were also mounted on a short leather strap or fob, when a long chain would have been cumbersome or likely to catch on things. This fob could also provide a protective flap over their face and crystal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_watch
Fable :
Death of a Salesman begins with Willy Lowman an over the hill salesman who has just gotten home from a long business trip, and is upset with his two sons Happy and Biff. Willy thinks that they are lazy boys, and that they need to be productive in life so that they can become better men then he was. Biff and Happy are both very strapping young men with promising futures. Biff is Willy’s crown jewel of a son. He is a football player and Willy is dead set on Biff receiving a scholarship to play football so that he can get out of this town. Sadly Willy is betrayed by a long time co-worker and has become a washed up salesman whom no one wants anything to do with. In Willy’s eyes though he is truly the greatest salesman and in a state of denial refuses to see what is happening around him. Biff and Happy both regrettably do not take their fathers advice, and end up floating from job to job just like Willy has done his entire life. Failure after failure Willy begins to lose his mind retreating inside himself to an imaginary world where both his sons and Willy himself are successful without a care in the world. Appalled by his father’s behavior Biff attempts to confront Willy and open his eyes to the truths around him. Truths that if not acknowledged will send the family into poverty as well as break apart a once loving family. Biffs’ intervention fails miserably with a confused and upset Willy spiraling so deep into his state of denial marking this the pivotal moment that causes Willy to lose all ties to the world of actual reality. With all hope lost the family is torn apart in anguish with Willy gone to forever live in his fantasy world.
Plot Summary :
Act 1
Willy Loman has been a traveling salesman for the Wagner Company for thirty-four years. He likes to think of himself as being vital to the New England territory. As the play opens, Willy has just come back home
after having left New England earlier that morning. He tells his wife Linda that he has returned unexpectedly because he cannot seem to keep his mind on driving anymore. Linda thinks that he needs a long rest. He asks about his sons, who are home for the first time in years. Willy has trouble understanding why Biff, his thirty-four year old son, cannot find a job and keep it. After all, Biff is attractive and was a star football player in high school with several scholarships; however, he could not finish his education, for he flunked math. When Biff went to Boston to find his father and explain the failure to him, he found Willy in his hotel room having an affair with a strange woman. Afterwards, Biff held a grudge against his father, never trusting him again. Biff and his brother Happy try to think of some job that Biff could get that would allow him to settle down in New York. Biff thinks of a man named Bill Oliver, for whom he was worked; Biff believes he can get a loan of ten thousand dollars from Oliver in order to begin a business of his own. Biff and Happy tell Willy about their plans. Willy explains to his sons that the important things in life are to be well liked and to be attractive. Willy assures Biff that he is attractive and that Oliver has always liked him.
Act 2
The next day, Willy is to meet his sons for dinner at a restaurant to hear how Oliver has reacted to Biff’s request for a loan. Willy himself goes to young Howard Wagner, the present owner of the firm for which he works, and asks for a transfer to New York City. Howard tells him there is no room for him in New York and then explains to Willy that he cannot even represent the firm in New England any more. This news turns Willy's life upside-down. Suddenly unemployed, he feels frightened and worthless. He goes to Charley, an old friend, to borrow money to pay his insurance premium. After Charley lends him the money, Willy goes to the restaurant to meet his sons. Before Willy arrives, Biff tells Happy that Oliver did not even recognize him. He admits that he is tired of living a life filled with illusion and plans to tell his father not to expect anything from him anymore. When Willy arrives, he tells Biff and Happy that he has been fired. He also refuses to listen to Biff's story and simply believes that Biff will have another appointment the following day. Out of frustration, Biff leaves the restaurant. Happy, who has picked up two women, follows him, leaving Willy alone. Later that night, Biff comes home and finds Willy planting seeds in the backyard and "talking" to a long dead brother, Ben. Biff again tries to explain to Willy that he has no real skills and no leadership ability. In order to save his father from disappointment, he suggests that they never see one another again. Willy still refuses to listen to what Biff is saying; he tells Biff how great he is and how successful he can become. Biff is frustrated because Willy refuses to face the truth. In anger, Biff breaks down and sobs, telling Willy just to forget about him. Willy decides to kill himself, for Biff would get twenty thousand dollars of insurance money. Then Biff could start his own business and make it a decent living. At Willy’s funeral, no one is present. He dies a pathetic, neglected, and forgotten man.
http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Death_Of_A_Salesman_Summary/Death_Of_A_Salesman_Miller03.html
Characters :
Willy Loman
A traveling salesman who has worked for the Wagner firm for thirty-four years. He is now sixty-one years old and has been cruelly taken off salary and put on straight commission. At the end of the play, he is fired from his job.
Linda Loman
Willy Loman's wife, who truly loves her husband. She is a mother figure in the play, though more to her husband than to her sons.
Biff Loman
The eldest son of Willy Loman. He was a star football player in high school with several scholarships, but for the last fourteen years, he has been moving from one job to another "unable to find himself." He has just returned home. Willy Loman's hopes are centered on Biff.
Happy Loman
The younger son of Willy Loman. He works in a department store and has his own apartment and car.
Charley
A life-long acquaintance of the Lomans. He is a sincere, hard worker and a good friend to Willy Loman.
Bernard
Charley's son who has become a very successful lawyer. He was a childhood friend of Biff.
Uncle Ben
Willy's dead brother who left home early and became tremendously rich. He appears only in Willy's dreams or illusions.
http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Death_Of_A_Salesman_Summary/Death_Of_A_Salesman_Miller02.html
Characters and Casting :
The casting of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is extremely age specific. Even with working with non-traditional casting, it would be very difficult to cast the role of Willy Lowman using a man around the age of 21. It simply would not work with the mind set of the writing itself. Willy Lowman for example is a man who has gone through many hardships and has allot of wisdom and experience with day to day tasks. Where a young man would not have be able to experience the joys and sorrows of have children of his own, or know the hardships of going through a time of poverty when you have a family that is counting on you to bring home enough money to support the family properly. Also I feel like when dealing with the casting of this production race is very important, providing yet another situation where non-traditional casting would no be able to come into to play. The reasoning behind race specificity is that this is a production about the hardships of am elderly white man who has big dreams for his family while living in a war time America. Not only in the case of casting Willy, but also age is important when casting Mrs. Lowman as well as their sons Biff and Happy. Mrs. Lowman must be played as an elderly woman, with the issues of experiences coming into play once again. Where when we are casting Happy and Biff we will have a little more room for the use of non-traditional casting in reference to age, but not to race. Arthur Miller I believe had a very specific idea of what his characters would be like, so as a director that is very limiting when it comes to casting. Death of a Salesman has so many issues if non-traditional casting is used when approaching this play. Making it an extremely changeling piece to undertake when one strays from the original vision of Miller in the casting of his characters.
