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Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman is a play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It premiered on Broadway in 1949 and has been revived on Broadway four times. It is also widely performed in theaters around the world. The play is required reading for many high school English and drama classes.
475 Questions
Why did Willy Loman reject Charley's job offer in Death of a Salesman?
Two reasons: 1) He is too proud and still believes he can make it on his own, he still has great dreams for himself and his family. He fails to understand and accept the harsh reality that he is a failure and that he cannot face the truth.
2)He considers himself superior to Charley. To him Charley is not well-liked, he does not stand for what is desirable in a character. He is convinced Charley is inferior to him.
Who may have influenced the writing of Death of a Salesman?
Miller's father's economic ruin during the Great Depression
What was millers approach to mainstream ideas of the American dream in death of salesman?
He questioned their valdity
Why does happy deny that willy is his father in Death of a Salesman?
Happy wants to pick up the women, and acknowledging Willy might block his attempt.
Why is Linda angry with her sons in Death of a Salesman?
It is because she realizes that her sons aren't doing anything right and that they aren't connecting with their father. Buff is still being arrogant and doesn't seem to be trying to make an effort. As well as this, he always seems to be messing up every plan that his father comes up with for Buff to become successful.
Describe an antecedent action in the play Death of a Salesman?
Charley warns Willy about letting his sons steal lumber.
Why is carpentry important in Death of a Salesman?
miller shows that willy is a low man through his second name and the fact he is a salesman but cannot sell, however willy is skilled with tools and this is his saving grace, sadly there is an irony as willy could make lots of money in construction but still believes selling is "the greatest job a man could want" even those close to willy aknowledge his prowess, "there was more of him in that front stoop than in all the sales he ever made"
also, miller himself was an acomplished cabinet maker and carpenter so this could be an allusion.
What happens to Willy Loman in the antecedent action of Death of a Salesman Act I?
"The story 'Johnson and the Cascadura' gives an over-romantic almost sentimental view of peasant life." In light of the above statement, analyse Selvon's flaws in developing the story, 'Johnson and the Cascadura' in the novel Ways of Sunlight.
The story 'Johnson and the Cascadura' talks of a native legend that Selvon forms the basis of his story in the novel Those Who Eat the Cascadura (1972). This legend binds a strong superstitious belief held by the native Indian peasants that has embodied itself into the lives of the people who have become the core of the Trinidad people. As this becomes the centre of the story, Selvon tries to prove the legend by giving an exaggerated view of native life resulting in the story having flaws such as an over-romanticised master-servant relationship, Urmilla's priceless beauty, contrived ending among other flaws that weakens the plot development. This presentation therefore discusses the flaws made by the writer in developing the story 'Johnson and the Cascadura' in Ways of Sunlight (1957) by Samuel Selvon.
To commence, the watertight relationship between Franklin- a white English master- plantation owner and Sam- an Indian native- the voice in the story is over embroidered. Selvon strengthens the relationship to the extent of imbibing together as "drinking rum punches on the verandah was a usual thing" p3. The norm created by the writer portrays an impermeable rapport that curbs the universally known master-servant relationship that sets boundaries that restricts it to strictly business given the capitalistic nature of the employer. The impervious connexion created by the writer here creates suspicion in the reader's mind as narrator earned himself the title 'boss' and proudly says, "They all called me 'boss'" p6. Though this association and empowering Sam to narrate the story helps to authenticate the legend, it broadcasts Selvon's quest to prove the legend and generates reservation in the story and its development.
The presentation of a possible suitor's feelings makes the development of the story highly debatable. The writer plays around with the readers' mind about Sam's feelings towards "the most beautiful Indian girl he had ever seen" p6. The writer made the reader to think that at the snap of a finger any man would rush to marry Urmilla without hesitation. The writer tempers with Sam's feeling as he is declined the opportunity to woo the girl of his dreams failing to catch a sleep at night after he caught Urmilla and Johnson red-handed by the riverside. His reaction of biting his lips clearly exposes how he intended not to give up his undying love for Urmilla. The writer used apt verbs to describe Sam's pain and wrath with words and phrases like "stumble, numb mind, dry throat, numb pain running all over the body…" The resultant events lives the reader dump folded as the narrator "just waited, shutting his mind from the picture on the bank of the river" p11 when he was asked by Franklin about Johnson's whereabouts and the rumours circulating around the village and plantation area. Obviously the reader would expect Sam to betray Johnson and report him to Franklin and anticipate the reaction he did when Sookdeo came complaining about the rumours later in the story.
The presentation of a priceless most beautiful, exquisite character also makes the story lack the down-to-earth, realistic quality of persuasive and convincing tales. Urmilla is presented as a priceless jewel and the narrator confessed that,
Urmilla was the most beautiful Indian girl I had ever seen. It was a withdrawn sort of beauty, you only saw it when she was disturbed…
Although this description helps to propel and make the legend hold more water, Urmilla could have used this to her advantage and alleviate her family's poverty but rather her beauty is bound with a battalion of sadness which leads to a suspicious plot. The wooing of Urmilla by different suitors and her insolence of her father dying wish myth also arouses the readers' curiosity on how an Englishman on just a half month's visit easily win the heart of a girl he barely knew. This suggests an over-spoken story leading to yet another flaw in Selvon's development of the legend.
The natives of Trinidad seem to uphold strong cultural values and norms which make the writer form the basis of his story with a native legend that binds a strong superstitious belief held by the native Indian peasants that has embodied itself into the lives of the inhabitants. Having laid a convincing background about natives with robust cultural values, the writer betrays himself when the rumour about Urmilla spread like veld fire. The day after Sam caught Urmilla and Johnson at "a trysting place", Sookdeo came to see Franklin. Disappointingly Sookdeo informed Franklin to the christening of Doolsie child and requested him to stand as a godfather. As if the customs and values of their culture was unimportant, Sookdeo on second thoughts ejaculated his concern about the interracial relationship between his daughter and the Whiteman- Johnson. Sam later on wonders how on earth Urmilla could believe anything Johnson says. Humorously, the narrator said that the natives should never trust the white people from England because when it comes to serious matter they always felt themselves superior. The way the writer brings out the issue as a minor concern and prioritise the christianing of Doolsie child makes one to accuse Selvon for creating a self-pitying view of peasant life so that the legend is satisfied.
Ascertaining one's commitment in any relationship helps to cement it. The writer made Johnson do the impossible so as to substantiate his commitment to Urmilla that he could do anything to win her hand in marriage. Climbing an immortelle tree with trunk which is so stout, wide, rough that it sometimes takes three men with outstretched arms to encircle it and no braches growing on it for about twelve to eighteen feet off the ground makes the Whiteman- Johnson- a hero. However, his heroic act plummeted when he failed to descent the immortelle tree. Sarcastically, Johnson did not want to risk further damage coming down but had risked his hands and knees ascending the immortelle tree. Yes! Humans can do anything to ascertain commitment to any relationship but what Selvon made Johnson do in the story 'Johnson and the Cascadura' is far-fetched given that he was an immigrant in Sangre Grande, Trinidad.
Lastly, the contrived ending is a further weakness in the story. Towards the ending the writer deliberately created an opportune environment for Sam to win Urmilla's heart and hand in marriage. He removes Johnson out of the question and made Sookdeo make a death wish on his death bed. The narrator said he knew that Sookdeo was after Urmilla marrying him and "before he died he made her promise to marry" Sam. However, Sam delays the marriage and spontaneously Johnson's mysterious illness forced him to come back to the tropics. This artificial ending is mindboggling and implausible as the reader is arm-twisted to believe that the native legend in Trinidad which says that those who consumes the Cascadura will certainly end their days in the island no matter where they wander is spot-on. There is a happy ending to Johnson and Urmilla who later married each other and settle down on the estate living the reader to wonder why Franklin and Sam did not seize the opportunity to marry Urmilla regardless of all the clues from Sookdeo.
In a nutshell, the writer clearly brought out a passionately biased view towards the natives in the development of the story to bring out his undying quest for making the native legend of Trinidad a convincing on to the inhabitants and even beyond. However in doing so his presentation is implausible with a lot flaws that further weakens the story.
Feel free to make fruitful comments. Adieu!
By Cassim Silumba
cassimsilumba@gmail.com
What is one of the central tensions in Death of a Salesman?
self-knowledge vs. inherited notions of identity
Biffs job in death of a salesman?
Biff is currently unemployed, but his previous job was working on a ranch in Texas.
Where does willy loman live in the play Death of a Salesman?
In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," Willy Loman lives in Brooklyn, New York. His home is described as a small, modest house surrounded by the encroaching development of the city, symbolizing the changing American landscape and Willy's struggles. The setting reflects his precarious financial situation and the weight of his unfulfilled dreams.
Did Arthur Miller name his play Death of a Salesman or The Death of a Salesman?
'Death of a Salesman'
Where you find quotes with page numbers for Death of a Salesman?
http://www.bookrags.com/notes/das/QUO.htm
Foreshadowing in death of a salesman?
The title is foreshadowing. The play leads up to the death of the salesman, willy loman.
Who Wrote Death of a Salesman?
Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play by Arthur Miller and is considered a classic of American theater. Viewed by many as a caustic attack on the American Dream of achieving wealth and success without regard for principle, Death of a Salesman made both Arthur Miller and the character Willy Loman household names. The play raises a counterexample to Aristotle's characterization of tragedy as the downfall of a great man, whether through (depending on the translator) a flaw in his character or a mistake he has made.
It was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949, the 1949 Tony Award for Best Play, as well as the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play. Death of a Salesman was the first play to win these three major awards, helping to establish Miller as an internationally known playwright.
Is not a reflection but is instead a reaction?
reading Death of a Salesman made me angry at willy loman
