The tragedy of a typical American--a salesman who at the age of 63 is faced with what he cannot face: defeat and disillusionment.
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Nov 17, 2011
Christina
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Jul 10, 2008
Brian
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Its the classical American tragedy...an anthesis to the cliched American dream.
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Jun 18, 2007
RachelAnne
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Hate! Hate! Oh, the hate! Arthur Miller does a beautiful job of conveying the emptiness and meaninglessness of his protagonist's life. It left me wanting to jump off a very tall building if only I could overcome the crushing ennui and the conviction that even ending ones life was too meaningless and futile to contemplate. Maybe that means Miller accomplished what he set out to do, but I don't have to like it.
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Jun 07, 2010
rachel
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Every page of this felt like being hit repeatedly in the face with an anvil reading "FAILURE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM." Got halfway through, but life is too short.
I'll stick with The Crucible and the hilarious memories I have of it. First, of my Dad renting the film version for my babysitter to show me when I was 10, only to have it shut off by her like three minutes in when the naked ladies popped up. Second, when we actually read it in school and the burly, cheerfully dum More...
I'll stick with The Crucible and the hilarious memories I have of it. First, of my Dad renting the film version for my babysitter to show me when I was 10, only to have it shut off by her like three minutes in when the naked ladies popped up. Second, when we actually read it in school and the burly, cheerfully dum More...
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Jul 06, 2008
Mohammed
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“Death of a Salesman” tells the a story of Love, pride, betrayal and friendship. The struggle of William Loman (Willy), an old salesman in the unforgiving world of modern business, and his relation with his loved ones, his wife Linda and his precious sons, Biff and Harold (happy).
The novel is written in an interesting and unique way, as if all the events happened on a theatrical stage with all of the lighting effects, character themes and background . The author wrote the story in great More...
The novel is written in an interesting and unique way, as if all the events happened on a theatrical stage with all of the lighting effects, character themes and background . The author wrote the story in great More...
Feb 24, 2008
"There are some Pulitzer Prize winning novels or plays that are difficult to understand how they garnered such attention and acclaim. Not so, with this drama by Arthur Miller. There are great depths of meaning composed within this drama. While often interpreted as speaking to the myth and oftentimes futility of the American dream, I think the drama speaks to so much more. [return][return]The ghetto of one's own mind and thinking can become a very dark place. In the main character of Willy L
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Jun 05, 2010
علی
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Most of Arthur miller’s theatre works such as A View from the Bridge, The Crucible, All My Sons, Death of a Salesman etc. are categorized as modern tragedies; the struggles of the everyday man; I would say social American tragedies, focusing on the dark side of the American dream.
A classic play, about guilt, responsibility, and the relationship between fathers and sons in the aftermath of a World War II corruption case (All My Sons),
When two brothers come together to dispose of thei More...
A classic play, about guilt, responsibility, and the relationship between fathers and sons in the aftermath of a World War II corruption case (All My Sons),
When two brothers come together to dispose of thei More...
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Apr 04, 2007
Nicci
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In this book, Arthur Miller's masterpiece, one finds the reason that Miller was blacklisted during the Red Scare. His undisguised longing for a break from the class system and his disdain for the so-called "American Dream" are nothing short of remarkable.
Within Willy Lowman resides the typical American Dream with no reality. Overtaken by industrialism and materialism, this character represents the absolute failure of society's promise of economic prosperity. His life e More...
Within Willy Lowman resides the typical American Dream with no reality. Overtaken by industrialism and materialism, this character represents the absolute failure of society's promise of economic prosperity. His life e More...
Aug 02, 2011
Though this two act play is a little dated due to the fact that the image of the itinerant salesman no longer seems to be as recognizable an icon in America today, just like other Miller plays like the Crucible, the character roles and setting are more of a back drop for a larger inner struggle. My misconception upon picking up this book is that it was focused on the dying art and lifestyle of the salesman, but no transactions took place. In fact the selling part didn't really matter. This wa
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Jan 28, 2012
John E.
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When I saw, some years ago now, a production of Sam Shepard's Buried Child, it inspired me with, among other things, the hope that it might culminate and so bring to an end the whole fixation of American playwriting on the family drama, which still seems to me only a niche in the possibilities of the theater. That fixation appeared to be an offshoot of the 19th-century bourgeois drama and of naturalism, especially some aspects of Ibsen, and Shepard had crystallized it, not leaving nothing to be
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Jan 05, 2012
Feerena
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Y'know, we had to read this book for school, in my English class. I don't want to complain, I've read worse books, for sure, but I ain't a big fan of this one either. Of course, the failure of the American Dream is described more than well, but the story really does depress you throughout the process of reading. Maybe I did not understand everything correctly since English is not my native language but I definitely got the characters' attitudes, and they really bothered me. Sometimes I just want
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Dec 29, 2011
Erika
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I vaguely recalled reading the book back in high school and on a whim saw it sitting on the B&N summer reads and decided to grab it. Obviously, I was unable to truly appreciate the play that I was assigned to read and part of that could be is that I've never really cared for assigned reading. I'd much rather have the option of picking my own book/play to read.
The slow breakdown of self and family really touched me this go round. Empathizing with Biff in his struggle to find himself, ha More...
The slow breakdown of self and family really touched me this go round. Empathizing with Biff in his struggle to find himself, ha More...
Nov 14, 2011
Lydia
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Never ever ever. Never read this unless forced, which considering it was somehow mistakenly identified as a "classic", you will one day be forced to do. I hated every character in the entire play, save one. The main character is a travelling salesman, on the edge of emotionally abusive to his son, and he cheats on his wife, a fact that in and of itself is impressive considering he was able to obtain a wife AND mistress considering his personality. Cheery, eh? It gets better. He's also
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Nov 02, 2011
Justin
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Oct 17, 2011
Ryan
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Arthur Miller's captivating story of the dramatic life and tragic death of a traveling salesman replicates the trials and tribulations of lower middle class in the 1940s and even today. By moving between reality and Willy's daydreams, this made-for-the-stage drama details two sides of the main character, his vulnerable and poetic side and his ambitious and self-sufficient side, in his two sons and epitomizes a steady, office job. This appears to be Arthur Miller's overall purpose in writing "
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Oct 07, 2011
Miles
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Thought provoking, for sure. If you like tragedy based on the themes of denial, betrayal, self-deception, regret, and so on, this book (or play) is for you.
My basic issue with this story is that I didn't find the main character believable. Willie Loman, the salesman, is so much larger than life, and his character seems so contrived to fit a particular archetype or metaphor for "the American way" that psychologically it did not make sense.
Trying to pinpoint why More...
My basic issue with this story is that I didn't find the main character believable. Willie Loman, the salesman, is so much larger than life, and his character seems so contrived to fit a particular archetype or metaphor for "the American way" that psychologically it did not make sense.
Trying to pinpoint why More...
Sep 08, 2011
Nina
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This book was good. It was about a man named Willy and his wife Linda, living with thier two sons, Happy and Biff. Willy and Biff really didnt get along and Linda and Happy would always have to settle their fights. Willy thought that Biff didnt like him and Biff thought the Willy didnt like him. They would always be arguing about not important little things until one day a big fight arose because of something bad that Willy did. This was a serious situtaion and Biff had a right to get mad at his
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Sep 01, 2011
Molly
rated it: 
**Spoilers**
I believe that the reason this play is so iconic is because it truly deals with the problems of "every man." Willy Loman had no super powers, he wasn't going through headline invoking problems. His issues and those of his family are things that many people seem to cope with in their day to day lives but they tend to turn a blind eye to seeing how it can truly break down someone's character. All of the characters were very intriguing yet there were things left ou More...
I believe that the reason this play is so iconic is because it truly deals with the problems of "every man." Willy Loman had no super powers, he wasn't going through headline invoking problems. His issues and those of his family are things that many people seem to cope with in their day to day lives but they tend to turn a blind eye to seeing how it can truly break down someone's character. All of the characters were very intriguing yet there were things left ou More...
Jan 18, 2011
Bruce
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In the mid-20th century, when this play was first produced, it was probably seen as an indictment of consumerist society and the endless grind for riches. Today some of that seems a bit dated, at least in its details, although to be sure the materialism of our society has not changed, and the pressure for this kind of success still exists, if the expectations may now be dampened. What struck me most in this play were the interactions within the family, the endless miscommunications, the diffic
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Dec 27, 2011
Venus
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ويلی: تو اينجا چكار مي كنی؟
چارلی: خوابم نمي برد. قلبم داشت آتش مي گرفت
ويلی: خوب، معلومه غذا خوردن بلد نيستی! بايد يه چيزی راجع به ويتامين و اين حرفها ياد بگيری.
چارلی: اون ويتامين ها چه فايده ای داره؟
ويلی: اونا استخوناتو درس می كنن.
... چارلی: آره، اما قلب آدم كه استخون نيست...!
چارلی: خوابم نمي برد. قلبم داشت آتش مي گرفت
ويلی: خوب، معلومه غذا خوردن بلد نيستی! بايد يه چيزی راجع به ويتامين و اين حرفها ياد بگيری.
چارلی: اون ويتامين ها چه فايده ای داره؟
ويلی: اونا استخوناتو درس می كنن.
... چارلی: آره، اما قلب آدم كه استخون نيست...!
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Nov 03, 2009
The play Death of a Salesman is written by Arthur Miller. This play is about a man in his mid to late 40s and is a salesman. This man's name is Willy Loman. Willy is the main character and the play goes through Willy's life and depicts how strange his life really is. In his life he is living two lives. One life is the life that he has in the real world. The other life is the life that he wants to live, when everything is perfect. The second life is also about the life that he already had and eve
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Oct 19, 2009
Billie
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Death of a Salesman is a play about the fall of Willy Loman, a traveling salesman who in the eyes of his company is growing more insignificant with age. He has a difficult time aligning his public persona and private self. He exudes a public character that is largely BS--that is, he embellishes his abilities and his son's abilities so that he always appears to people as confident. However, he privately knows that he is not as great as he makes himself out to be, and other people know it well, to
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Jan 08, 2012
Charlotte
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“Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He’s not the finest character that ever lived. But he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him.”
When I first approached Death of a Salesman, I did have slight reservations. I wasn’t sure whether or not the story would have much premise, or if it would just be a channel to reflect on how consumerism affected life in America in the 1940s. It does achieve the latter, but it manages to do it via More...
When I first approached Death of a Salesman, I did have slight reservations. I wasn’t sure whether or not the story would have much premise, or if it would just be a channel to reflect on how consumerism affected life in America in the 1940s. It does achieve the latter, but it manages to do it via More...
Oct 03, 2011
David
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PLAYWRIGHT, Arthur Miller, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949 for DEATH OF A SALESMAN. It was a pivotal time for America. On one hand, the country was brimming with confidence and financial prosperity after World War II. The American Dream was alive and well. On the other hand, the war had forced changes at home and in domestic life. Real war was replaced by the Cold War, causing national tension. Miller would explore both this tension and the American Dream in DEATH OF A SAL
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Jun 02, 2009
Lavinia
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I wonder whether it's fair or not to enjoy other people's family dramas, but I really did enjoy this one. :confused: Or rather I should put it like this: (20th century) American family dramas are the best. They have like the weirdest, most complicated lives and the family members are not afraid to confront each other. And Willy Loman, (Miller plays a bit with his name: Low-man) is the total opposite of the classical hero, ending his American Dream in a total failure, due to his misunderstanding
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Jul 28, 2011
Sunshine
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Random fact: Arthur Miller was once married to Marilyn Monroe. Like the theme of the American Dream, it didn't last.
This is one of my favorite plays of all time. Yes, it's very maudlin to the point of depressing. Yes, there's lots of shouting and bitterness. Yes, it's emblematic of my own family at past points, plus steamed broccoli in the food fight. Just Kidding. We just threw popcorn.
Seriously, I think Miller gives a fascinating depiction of not only American ideali More...
This is one of my favorite plays of all time. Yes, it's very maudlin to the point of depressing. Yes, there's lots of shouting and bitterness. Yes, it's emblematic of my own family at past points, plus steamed broccoli in the food fight. Just Kidding. We just threw popcorn.
Seriously, I think Miller gives a fascinating depiction of not only American ideali More...
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May 23, 2011
Jason
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In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, the author completely eschews with subtlety and is adamant to emphasize the failure of the American Dream. Nonetheless, the didacticism of the narrative does not mitigate Miller’s social, political and economic ideologies or the play’s core emotional resonance for that matter. The evil of capitalism and the blind pursuit of financial success as a meaningless endeavor capable of destroying lives are made abundantly clear.
Having read the play at t More...
Having read the play at t More...
Oct 24, 2010
Emily
rated it:
So I took an optional course at college on American Theater from the XXth century and I'm not regretting it at all, the readings we get are soo cool!
I had never rad anything by Miller and I have to say I loved it! The characters are so well drawn, and through very little (as opposite to O'Neill) stage directions he says so much! I love the whole plot, the flash-backs thing to reveal some small things important to the plot (very modern for his time, right? Quite a bit experimental. So More...
I had never rad anything by Miller and I have to say I loved it! The characters are so well drawn, and through very little (as opposite to O'Neill) stage directions he says so much! I love the whole plot, the flash-backs thing to reveal some small things important to the plot (very modern for his time, right? Quite a bit experimental. So More...
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May 17, 2009
3Zoeyf
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Should books be banned? Should one decide upon what is right for another person to read, or even more importantly should the importance of a book be kept away from readers because of the content? Well I say no book should have the right to live no matter what. Now there are books that are about sex, violence, racism and even homosexuality but these are topics that are happening today and realistic to many. However I do understand that there should be some kind of age limit reading when t More...
Aug 15, 2011
Michi
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The deconstruction of the American Dream seems to be one of the most common themes in American literature. American intellectuals in general and particularly writers seem to be obsessed with a kind of cultural criticism that is only formally concealed in subtexts, usually easily accessible via relatively straight forward metaphors and symbolism. As a result there are numerous short stories and novels but also films, and in this case a play that offer the casual reader an entertaining story but a
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