Author's Argument (Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller)

Précis

In Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman (1949), the characters explore what is commonly referred to as the “American Dream” as well as who is able to attain the “American Dream.” Soon after the start of the play the reader is introduced to the main character Willy Loman, the salesman after whom the book is titled.  Willy is an aging salesman who appears to be in declining health, mentally, as he often becomes immersed in daydreams and also partakes in conversations with himself.  His mental stability, or lack thereof will ultimately lead to his demise.  Willy has two sons, Biff and Happy, both of which he is disappointed in, as he believes that they have done nothing to further themselves.  Both Will and his sons embark on a journey in hopes of “bettering themselves.”  Willy is convinced that his boss will graciously allow him to work closer to home while Biff and Happy are hoping that a childhood friend will provide them with the opportunity to become businessman.  Both are turned down.  Willy unfortunately gets fired in the midst of asking his boss to allow him to work closer to home.  Biff, Happy, and Willy meet up for dinner where they all attempt to discuss the failures of they day.  Willy will have none of it and embarks on a daydream.  Biff and Happy storm out of the restaurant, with two women in tow, leaving Biff to his daydream.  Once Biff and Happy return home their mother questions them as to why they have abandoned their father.  Once Willy returns home Biff tries to apologize to his father but an argument erupts.  Biff tells his father that he is not meant to be anything great but his father is still under the impression that he has finally agreed to become a successful businessman.  In the end Willy kills himself by crashing his car so that Biff can take the life insurance money and begin his business.  Luckily Biff was able to reconcile with his father before he was tragically killed.  In the end, Biff remains against pursuing a career in business while Happy decides to pursue a career in business just as his father had.

Vocabulary

·      Befuddle- to confuse

·      Taciturn- inclined to silence

·      Crestfallen- dejected or discouraged

·      Trepidation- fear or alarm

·      Laconic- using few words

Tone

·      Assertive

·      Honest

·      Genuine

Rhetorical Strategies

·      Telegraphic Sentence- “Wonderful coffee.  Meal in itself” (page 71).

·      Simile- “Like a young god.  Hercules – something like that” (page 54).

·      Rhetorical Question- “Where are the rest of your pants” (page 51)?

·      Dashes Within A Sentence- “I’m-I’m overjoyed to see how you made the
      grade, Bernard, overjoyed.  It’s an encouraging thing to see a young man
      really-really— Looks very good for Biff- very” (Page 92).

·      Symbolism- “The jungle is dark, but full of diamonds” (Page 106).

Discussion Questions

1.  Throughout the play Biff and Happy are referred to as “boys.”  Do you believe that by the end of the title they are worthy of being called “men?”

2.  How would the play have been different had Willy not been as confused as he appeared throughout the play?

3. Is Willy’s gesture of planting seeds symbolic?  If so, what is it symbolic of?

Important Quotation

"He's liked, but he's not well liked" (page 20).