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Death of a Salesman

3.42 of 5 stars 3.42 · rating details · 79,253 ratings · 1,629 reviews

Ever since it was first performed in 1949, Death of a Salesman has been recognized as a milestone of the American theater. In the person of Willy Loman, the aging, failing salesman who makes his living riding on a smile and a shoeshine, Arthur Miller redefined the tragic hero as a man whose dreams are at once insupportably vast and dangerously insubstantial. He has given u...more

Paperback, Penguin Plays, 144 pages

Published October 28th 1976 by Penguin USA (first published 1940)

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Jul 10, 2008 Brian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Its the classical American tragedy...an anthesis to the cliched American dream.

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May 28, 2007 علی rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: plays, great-ones, modern-classic-drama

مرگ فروشنده مشهورترین و به اعتبار بسیاری از منتقدان، شاهکار نمایش نامه نویسی آرتور میللر است که بارها در آمریکا و کشورهای دیگر به روی صحنه آمده و از آن (دست کم تا آنجا که من به یاد دارم) سه فیلم سینمایی مشهور هم ساخته شده که آخرینشان با بازی "داستین هوفمن" در نقش "ویلی نومان"، بهترینشان بود. جالب آن که "هوفمن" چند سال پیش از آن، در اقتباس دیگری از این نمایش نامه، نقش پسر "ویلی نومان" را بازی می کرد. این نمایش نامه به اسامی مختلف و توسط مترجمان مختلف به فارسی برگردانده شده و چند کارگردان هم آن را...more مرگ فروشنده مشهورترین و به اعتبار بسیاری از منتقدان، شاهکار نمایش نامه نویسی آرتور میللر است که بارها در آمریکا و کشورهای دیگر به روی صحنه آمده و از آن (دست کم تا آنجا که من به یاد دارم) سه فیلم سینمایی مشهور هم ساخته شده که آخرینشان با بازی "داستین هوفمن" در نقش "ویلی نومان"، بهترینشان بود. جالب آن که "هوفمن" چند سال پیش از آن، در اقتباس دیگری از این نمایش نامه، نقش پسر "ویلی نومان" را بازی می کرد. این نمایش نامه به اسامی مختلف و توسط مترجمان مختلف به فارسی برگردانده شده و چند کارگردان هم آن را روی صحنه برده اند؛ "مرگ فروشنده" با ترجمه ی عطاء الله نوریان در 1351، و "مرگ پیله ور" با ترجمه ی علی اصغر بهرام بیگی در 1363 منتشر شده اند.

Most of Arthur miller’s plays 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; social American tragedies, focusing on the dark side of the American dream. “All my Sons” is a classic play, about guilt, responsibility, and the relationship between fathers and sons in the aftermath of a World War II corruption case, when two brothers come together to dispose of their parents' estate, their divergent attitudes and dispositions become increasingly accentuated: “Price”. Exploring the intersection between one man's self-delusion and the brutal trajectory of fate: “A View from the Bridge”. Revealing the Salem witch trials of the late seventeenth century and the problem of guilt by association, but placed the outrage of McCarthyism in historical perspective: “The crucible”. An anguished consideration of mortality and the gulf between men and women: “Elegy for a lady”. Re-creating Dante's hell inside the gaping pit that is our history and populates it with sinners whose crimes are all the more fearful because they are so recognizable: “Incident at Vichy”. A darkly comic satirical allegory that poses the question; What would happen if Christ were to appear in the world today: “Resurrection blues”. A casual, warm-spirited and innocuous musical chalk talk whose future is likely to reside with amateur church and synagogue theater groups: “Up from Paradise”. So simple in style and so inevitable in theme, where Miller has looked with compassion into the hearts of some ordinary Americans and quietly transferred their hope and anguish to the theatre: “Death of Salesman”. A superb drama though Miller says; "…a love story between a man and his son, and... between both of them and America"!
Though Miller’s works have always some social-political back ground in one or another way, but plays such as; “The archbishop’s ceiling” are referring directly to political issues (political situation in East Block in 1950’s and 60’s.) He has also plays which are less interesting; “A Memory of Two Mondays”, Danger: Memory; “I can’t remember anything”, “Clara”, “After the fall”, “Some kind of love story”, “The Last Yankee”, “Broken Glass”, “The Creation of the World and Other Business”, “The Ride Down Mount Morgan”, “American Clock”, etc.
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Jun 18, 2007 RachelAnne rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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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Jul 20, 2012 Fahad rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

موت بائع متجول

يبدو أنني حصرت نفسي في شكل وحيد من أشكال الأدب وهو الرواية، لا أدري كيف؟ ولا لماذا؟ ولكني أعرف أن قراءاتي في الرواية تفوق قراءاتي في الشعر والقصص القصيرة والمسرح.

بعدما قرأت هذه المسرحية، وضعت يدي على إجابة ترضيني، في جزء من السؤال، وهو لمَ لا اقرأ في المسرح؟ لأن قراءته بكل بساطة ناقصة، لقد كتبت المسرحية لتمثل، فلذا قراءتها ستكون ناقصة دائماً.

هذه المسرحية صعبة القراءة، يتداخل فيها الماضي والحاضر، لنعيش مأساة ويللي لومان، البائع المتجول، وهو شخصية أبدع آرثر ميلر في صياغتها، كما أب...more

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Jul 06, 2008 Mohammed Bantan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“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 detail...more

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Feb 24, 2008 Christopher added it

"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 Loman,...more "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 Loman, MIller illustrates how retreating into one's own mind can be a very limiting and treacherous existence. Loman has created for himself a world and an opinion of himself that does not exist. He is also stuck in the past, governed by illusions of the past that were inconsistent with reality. [return][return]The whole of this family's existence was based upon the refusal to see life as it really was. They were content to live in deception, unwilling to face the world honestly. This unwillingness to embrace reality eventually led to Loman's demise, not able to see and be content with life as it really was. [return][return]There are so many points that are borne out in this drama that one could concentrate upon. Since this is a short review, I do not have the time to dwell upon all of them. Two things, however, do come to mind and I will briefly point them out. [return][return]One, as seen in the relationship between Loman and his son Biff, it is plainly obvious that one can not always live up to the expectations of others. By all accounts, Loman was a good father; Biff was a good son. Both had a respect and love for the other that fueled admiration, which, unfortunately, led to unrealistic expectations. Due to this, Biff was forever changed by the confrontation of his father's humanity. This destroyed Biff's belief in the goodness and immutability of his father, which ultimately colored Biff's world. Putting people on pedal-stools never ends well. Realizing that the people around us are human and capable of moral turpitude will go a long way towards warding off disillusionment. [return][return]Second, the only successful character in the story is Uncle Ben. His ""...when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. And by God I was rich."" indicated that life requires risk. Being unwilling of taking such risk in life can be stifling. Loman remained in the confines of what he considered safe, and in the end, he led a very unfulfilling life. Not going with Ben, or taking the many chances he was offered to go to Alaska, was something Loman regretted his entire life. [return][return]Lastly, Death of a Salesman possesses the quality that makes literature and the classics live. The ability to speak to multiple layers of life, remaining relevant in any age or climate, will sustain these as priceless treasures. This is a drama that I will read again and again. I can only hope that by listening to its message, I can avoid some of the pitfalls that made this drama tragic."(less)

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Apr 04, 2007 Nicci rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 ends in the most tragic and...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Laura Jean rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: america

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 28, 2013 Dan Crist rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really did not enjoy this book. It was pretty difficult for me to follow. For example: when Biff can't make up his mind, he keeps deciding between things and that gets very confusing. I would recommend this book for anyone that is looking for an uplifting story and can follow confusing events. The main character, Happy, accomplishes what he sets out to in life.

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May 06, 2013 Sammi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-school

I'm split on my opinion of this play. The first act was almost painful to read. Arthur Miller begs for you to pity the characters, but they're all terrible people. Willy is blind to his own mistakes and those of his sons, Linda is a doormat, Biff is a failure, and Happy...don't even get me started on Happy. But as bad as the first half of the play was, the second half is really powerful. When I finished the play I was left wondering what I could possibly do next.

If nothing else, Death of a Sales...more

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Jul 06, 2012 míol mór rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finished, in, nov, 2005, jew, theatre, anglo-america, new, york, 900, modernism, movies, suicide

If you want money in your pocket
And a top hat on your head
A hot meal on your table
And a blanket on your bed

Well today is grey skies
Tomorrow is tears
You'll have to wait til yesterday is here

Well I'm going to New York City
And I'm leaving on a train
And if you want to stay behind
And wait til I come back again

Well today is grey skies
Tomorrow is tears
You'll have to wait til yesterday is here

If you want to go where the rainbows end
You'll have to say goodbye
All our dreams come true baby up ahead
And it'...more

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Jun 15, 2013 Momina Masood rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: plays-drama, favorites

Some great stuff. I'm beginning to love how Miller is so perfectly acquainted with his characters; how painfully real he makes them, as if they are fictional renditions of people he knew in real life. What the Arthur Miller play gives you is a memorable process - in the first few acts these men are introduced as whatever they think themselves to be, and the last few acts leave them stripped away of all illusions, as what they actually are. Human vulnerability and weakness seems one theme. I like...more

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May 13, 2013 Kasi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: death-of-asalesman

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May 03, 2013 Nicholas Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Death of a Salesman, Miller brings to the attention of the people of the time the truth about the "American Dream" and even about its possible non-existence. At the time of its writing, the culture in America was shifting to focus more on material wealth and using it as a measure of success, rather than on personal fulfillment and happiness. It was written after the end of World War II, a time of great prosperity in the nation due to the stimulated economy and America's sense of accomplishmen...more In Death of a Salesman, Miller brings to the attention of the people of the time the truth about the "American Dream" and even about its possible non-existence. At the time of its writing, the culture in America was shifting to focus more on material wealth and using it as a measure of success, rather than on personal fulfillment and happiness. It was written after the end of World War II, a time of great prosperity in the nation due to the stimulated economy and America's sense of accomplishment. People felt that they deserved to buy whatever they wanted, so the social focus shifted towards what things one had and how fancy and new they were. Miller felt that people were overlooking the fact that the world was creating a false and mostly unobtainable ideal for success, which he exemplified in the failure of Willy Lohman to become "successful."

The theme of the book closely follows the purpose of the book. While there are many themes, including death, opportunity, family, and appearances, the main theme presented would have to be success. Miller was trying to show, using Willy's story, to show how ridiculous the American Dream had become and what it was doing to people who felt that they were unsuccessful, at least according to the definition that society had presented him with. Another character in the play important to Miller's view of success in America was Charley. Charley was a successful, kind, practical person, and his son, Bernard, also became successful as an adult. Throughout the play though, Willy and his sons ridicule and tease Bernard because he is "nerdy" and Willy claims he will not be successful because he is not "well liked." Willy also is very ungrateful to Charley, even though he is helping him with his bills and even tried to offer him a well-paying job so that he didn't have to travel anymore and could support his family. Miller uses this looking-down upon of Charley and Bernard to represent how the old American Dream and its view of success has changed and how the new view of success thinks the old version ridiculous. They also show that Miller believes that these old ways of kindness and intelligence over appearances and material wealth were better because of the success of Charley and Bernard rather than Willy and his sons' success.

This book was written in the style of a narration because the story was told through a series of chronological events. While some parts were depictions of the past, they were just figments of Willy's imagination and were transposed over reality, they were not true flashbacks. In most cases where he had conversations with his brother Ben, they were complete fabrications, just made up by Willy seeking advice from his now dead brother. The style was very effective because it followed the events leading to Willy's suicide. Because the events were ordered, the reader was allowed to tread through and experience the hopefulness of success for Biff and Happy, and the resulting sense of failure when their plans fall through, and also the desperation of Willy as he loses his job right before his sons told them that he had failed. All of these events in the giving up of hope of Willy, and the style helped construct it the ending.

I thought that the play was very good; I would definitely recommend it to anyone. The reason that I like it is because it can still be relatable to this day, a sign that a work is truly great. This book's message can relate to today, maybe even more so because today's culture values material wealth even more than the time that this play takes place and the attainability of the "American Dream" has become more elusive than ever. I don't think I would change anything about this play because I feel that if one thing were changed, it would not be the same play altogether. I found myself relating this play closely with the messages and themes found in The Great Gatsby because they take place in America at a time of drastically changing values and a man's pursuit, and ultimate failure to obtain, success.
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Mar 22, 2013 Andriana Sakka rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ένα υπέροχο έργο απο τον Άρθουρ Μίλλερ όπου πραγματεύεται την διάψευση του αμερικανικού ονείρου, την ηθική και τη σχέση της οικογένειας.
Ο Γουίλυ ( ο εμποράκος) είναι ένας οικογενειάρχης μικροπωλητής που ξαφνικά μένει χωρίς δουλειά, με δυο γιους, όπου ο ένας συνσφέρει οικονομικά στην οικογένεια όποτε έχει και ο μεγαλύτερος γιος είναι εξαφανισμένος.Κάποια στιγμή ο μεγάλος γιος επιστρέφει και τότε αρχίζει να ξετυλίγεται μπροστά μας το παρελθόν.
Για τον Γουίλυ και την οικογένειά του δημιουργείται...more Ένα υπέροχο έργο απο τον Άρθουρ Μίλλερ όπου πραγματεύεται την διάψευση του αμερικανικού ονείρου, την ηθική και τη σχέση της οικογένειας.
Ο Γουίλυ ( ο εμποράκος) είναι ένας οικογενειάρχης μικροπωλητής που ξαφνικά μένει χωρίς δουλειά, με δυο γιους, όπου ο ένας συνσφέρει οικονομικά στην οικογένεια όποτε έχει και ο μεγαλύτερος γιος είναι εξαφανισμένος.Κάποια στιγμή ο μεγάλος γιος επιστρέφει και τότε αρχίζει να ξετυλίγεται μπροστά μας το παρελθόν.
Για τον Γουίλυ και την οικογένειά του δημιουργείται μια ευκαιρία να ξεκαθαριστούν τα πράγματα μεταξύ τους, ιδίως γιού-πατέρα, να ειπωθούν αλήθειες.
Ο Γουίλυ αρνούμενος να πιστέψει ότι έχει διωχθεί απο τη δουλειά του, χωρίς καμία αναγνώριση για την πολυετή προσφορά του αρνείται το χέρι βοηθείας του φίλου του Τσάρλυ απο ντροπή; απο μη συναίσθηση του τι του γίνεται;Ψάχνει διαρκώς στο παρελθόν του, αλλά και στο φίλο του μεγάλου γιού,για ποιο λόγο ο γιός του ή και ο ίδιος δεν πέτυχαν αυτό που οι άλλοιπέτυχαν. Αναρωτιέται τι πήγε στραβά, ποιές επιλογές δεν έπραξε σωστά. Με τον ερχομό του γιού του εθελοτυφλεί και πιστεύει ότι κάτι θα αλλάξει, ότι ακόμα και την τελευταία στιγμή ο γιός του θα πετύχει αυτό που πέτυχαν τόσοι άλλοι, αλλά όχι ο ίδιος.
Τέλος, ο γιός σε ένα ξέσπασμα αλήθειας τού φανερώνει την πικρή αλήθεια: ότι και αυτός αλλά και ο Γουίλυ είναι μηδενικά, ότι δεν έχουν καταφέρει τίποτα στη ζωή τους και ότι εθελοτυφλούν, υποκρίνονται ότι είναι κάτι που ποτέ δεν ήταν και δε θα γίνουν. Ο πατέρας μη αντέχοντας την αλήθεια αλλά προσπαθώντας να διαφυλάξει την προσωπική του αξιοπρέπεια και θέλοντας η οικογένειά του να πάρει τα λεφτά της ασφάλειας αποφασίζει να αυτοκτονήσει με το αυτοκίνητο.

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Mar 11, 2013 Tristram rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: plays, contemporary-literature

The Importance of Being Well-Liked

Arthur Miller’s play „Death of a Salesman“ (1949) is probably one of the most popular fables of modern times, considering that the Lomans have even made their way into well-known shows such as “Seinfeld”, where “Biff” was used as a cognomen for George Constanza once in a while, or “The Simpsons”, where Willy Loman himself seems to have been the inspiration for the hapless salesman Gil Gunderson, admittedly one of the more annoying denizens of Springfield.

Of cour...more The Importance of Being Well-Liked

Arthur Miller’s play „Death of a Salesman“ (1949) is probably one of the most popular fables of modern times, considering that the Lomans have even made their way into well-known shows such as “Seinfeld”, where “Biff” was used as a cognomen for George Constanza once in a while, or “The Simpsons”, where Willy Loman himself seems to have been the inspiration for the hapless salesman Gil Gunderson, admittedly one of the more annoying denizens of Springfield.

Of course, these appearances in popular culture tell us more about the ken of the scriptwriters of these shows and do not really prove that Willy Loman and his sons are well-known to the respective audiences. And yet – so much of what the play is about still touches us today that I strongly hope people might find some time to take a first, or maybe a second, look at Miller’s grand play again.

The plot focusus on Willy Loman, who used to be quite a successful salesman in his prime, but whose fortune has been waning lately so that now he and his wife Linda have problems in making ends meet at the end of a month. Neither of his sons, for all the high hopes he had for them, has really succeeded in life. Whereas his youngest, Happy, leads a meagre existence as an assistant’s assistant in a firm, things are even worse as far as the eldest son is concerned: Biff has never been able to hold on to a job for a longer time, and there seems to be some kind of grudge he harbours against his father, a grudge probably born out of a disappointment in the past. Incited by Linda and Hap, who tell him that it is important for his father’s mere will to live to see Biff set up successfully in some kind of important business, however, Biff tries to mend his ways and win over an old employer for a “brilliant” business idea. All of a sudden, though, a simple truth dawns upon him …

It happens very rarely to me that I actually enjoy reading the naked text of a drama, without all the life and passion added to it by reading it aloud or even watching it staged – but Miller is such a master with words and carefully mingles the different levels of Willy’s consciousness, as in the latter’s addled brain voices from the past interfere in present-day conversations, thus luring him – to his family’s dismay – into talking to himself, – that I really had the impression of seeing it all in front of me. Okay, maybe knowing the film starring Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich helped at little.

It is difficult to classify Miller’s play as a denunciation of the callous rules of capitalism and their dehumanizing effect on society – this would lend the play a great degree of topicality – or as the psychological study of a man who clings to the past, feeding on false hopes and ideals and grandiloquently trying to lie to himself and others, without acknowleding that the world has changed. “Death of a Salesman” is both, and above all, a sombre comment on the American Dream and its basic tenet that an individual’s attitude is the key to success and that, with a little bit of practice, you can, as the old Hamlet-inspired Dale Carnegie myth goes, win friends, influence people and really be happy by just forcing yourself to wear a happy face. It is the credo of the importance of being well-liked, Willy’s mantra, the credo of trimming your personality in order to smooth all edges, the credo of selling yourself at top-price to a world dealing in casual relationships, this all-American motto that even makes teenagers sicken of their lives, that Miller scathingly calls into question. Doing this, he abstains so much from melodrama and presumptuous moralizing that his characters convince as three-dimensional beings. You will not only feel pity for Willy Loman, but you will definitely also despise him or feel annoyed by him at times. And maybe, you will even like him … a bit.
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Mar 10, 2013 Cameron Chesnut rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller is about the value of success. Willy Loman is determined to be successful in life however, he breaks all his relationships in the process. As he hears the inner voices of his brother Ben, who is Willy's definition of successful, Willy does all that he can to follow in his brother's footsteps. Through this journey, Willy turns crazy and ruins his whole life. Linda, Willy's wife, attempts to save Willy but ultimately there is nothing she can do because Willy is t...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Mitch rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mitchel Vaninger
Geth of a Salesman
Mr. Miller may have written “Death of a Salesman for many reasons, none of which I’m sure of. Do not fret for as always I have convoluted theories and ideals. Firstly he probably hated life in general and wanted to show us that no matter how big you are, you undoubtedly will fall. He probably saw the futility in our money based economy in that we are too dependent on it and so he wrote a play in order to raise revenue because he too is dependent on the money.
Th...more Mitchel Vaninger
Geth of a Salesman
Mr. Miller may have written “Death of a Salesman for many reasons, none of which I’m sure of. Do not fret for as always I have convoluted theories and ideals. Firstly he probably hated life in general and wanted to show us that no matter how big you are, you undoubtedly will fall. He probably saw the futility in our money based economy in that we are too dependent on it and so he wrote a play in order to raise revenue because he too is dependent on the money.
Themes are a bit more defined for me. The big one here is society’s overdependence on money and possessions, as seen in the book play thing. Willy is consistently concerned with how much money the kids are making, how much his bills set him back, and is constantly equating a successful life as one that ensures quantities of monetary value. A dependence on the stuff is seen as potentially life ruining as the flashbacks slowly deteriorate from happy go lucky family bonding to everyone at each other’s throats so to speak, as the pressure to achieve high status rips the kids apart.
To answer the first question I will claim that this is a narration. More importantly I would state that the best word to describe the style of this work would be hectic. Everything just seems to be mushed into as little space as possible. They will be talking in the present time and other people will walk in from another time and suddenly the present has been transitioned out well after the past came in. There is also a lot of yelling and interruptions. The thing is crammed into two basic chunks or acts, but no scenes. It feels like there should be scenes, but no scenes are present. It’s just haphazardly crammed together. This indeed turns out to be rather effective in making the book interesting, as I did find myself enjoying it.
Overall I would claim that this book is quite good overall. I enjoyed reading it and I feel like a worse person because of it. It kept me entertained with all the drama and such, and I really can’t place my finger on anything I didn’t. The characters were very few in number and each had a purpose, which I find quite rare in literature. Typically there is always some useless character whose only purpose is to make everyone else seem better, but this one didn’t do that. I found the flashbacks very interesting, and really they were the only properly used ones that I have seen in a long time. To conclude this rant of death and such it will be stated that this book is indeed worth reading.
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Dec 04, 2012 Felicia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, I must start off with the fact that this book was a required reading book for school. I am a senior in high school and I read this play for my AP literature and composition class. It's one of the better books that I have read for school. It's has a very nice plot structure and the words just flow. The things that the characters say are pretty realistic and I liked the ending, although I would have much rather read about Willy continuing life (but it was forshadowed in the title, so I can't...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Alex rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Alex by: I had to read it for my AP English class

Death of a Salesman. The only thing about the title that is somewhat appealing to me is my wish to know how exactly the said salesman dies. Even after I read the summary, I really only wanted to know how it is that the salesman meets his death. Of course, in order to discover that, I have to read the play.

I had to read Death of a Salesman for my AP English class. I didn't really want to (especially considering my teacher's somewhat iffy taste in literature) but, since I have to read many books...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Zoey Hardy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wily Loman is considered a tragic hero, but he is not heroic at all. He's a failure, but never accepts that fact. Even at the end, he never has any realization of why his life turned out the way it did. He raises two boys who are just like him. He was a bad example and gave bad advice. Biff's life started to unravel after he caught his dad cheating on his mother. But Biff and Happy's foundation was messed up due to Willy's philosophy on life. He felt that to succeed in life, a person must not ju...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Bob rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's an important play because it's one of the most important plays in that period of history. Americans today spend huge amounts of their time selling things to one another and yet, "getting and spending we lay waste our powers". There are formal problems with the play- a play about a salesman that makes no mention of products or services sold is a kind of philosophical dialogue, not really a drama. Compare Glengarry Glen Rossor even the jokes in King of the Hill about how important and charmin...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Raymond Hu rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall this book i had to say was so so because it didn't really spark my nerves to read about it. It had some enjoyable arguments but i dislike the book because it was about family. Family troubles to be more specific which i hate. It's emotional but like i can't stand those types of stories. But i have to say Arthur miller did make one great play. The characters really related to life and back to the time period of immigration and the age where everyone thought america was the land where drea...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Cassidy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classical-reading, plays

I really liked this play. Let me tell you why!

First off, the characters are incredibly human. I felt each of them were real people and I was getting a glimpse into their very dysfunctional lives. The father blindly admires his son to the point of idolization. But the problem is, his son is nowhere close to the person he dreams of. This, inversely, leaves a feeling of disappointment in the man who had so much potential.

Maybe I'm a biased reviewer, because I strongly related to Biff's character....more

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May 10, 2012 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review originally posted at Books Worth Remembering

Well I read this play for my English Literature class. Our unit was simply titled ‘Tragedy’ and that pretty much sums up the play in a single word. It is one of those titles that is definitely what it says on the tin.

Death of a Salesman is a play about Willy Loman, a failing and aging salesman who cannot come to terms that he is not the man he used to be. The plays shows us Willy's emotional breakdown through flashback which blur his perception...more Review originally posted at Books Worth Remembering

Well I read this play for my English Literature class. Our unit was simply titled ‘Tragedy’ and that pretty much sums up the play in a single word. It is one of those titles that is definitely what it says on the tin.

Death of a Salesman is a play about Willy Loman, a failing and aging salesman who cannot come to terms that he is not the man he used to be. The plays shows us Willy's emotional breakdown through flashback which blur his perception of reality and memories. It also talks about his family - his wife Linda and her struggle to keep Willy happy and of their two sons Biff and (I'm not making this up) Happy.

First off let's just congratulate Arthur Miller for picking two great names for Willy's children. I know Happy is just a nickname but it is the one which his lines are referred to as. That's probably the only funny thing in the play and also an ironic device used to show how Happy actually isn't happy and all that jazz.

I really loved Death of a Salesman, it is incredibly short yet powerful and moving. Arthur Miller makes us question what truly makes us happy. Do we appreciate the great things in life like family? Or are we, like Willy, still obcessed with achieving the American Dream.

A communist at heart Miller hated the American Dream and used this play to highlight how destructive and futile the capitalist dream is and how capitalist society uses and abuses people before throwing them away without a second glance. However some people still say that it is a worthy or even achievable goal. I say read Death of a Salesman followed by The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men and then see whether you still believe and aspire to the dream. Miller also wanted to show how the common man could be considered a tragic hero which went against previous classic conceptions, first stated by Aristotle.

Death of a Salesman received criticism for this harsh outlook on such a patriotic dream but like so many authors he spoke the truth, showing the world, and our capitalist society, for what it truly is - brutal and uncaring.

Willy struggles to hold onto his sanity while battling the memories of his past that continue to plague him. We see how he has continually believed in the dream at the expense of so much - his happiness with Linda, his influence on Happy and Biff that they must be rich to succeed and so much more.

I would definitely recommend everyone to pick up and read a copy of Death of a Salesman - it is an incredibly story of love, loss and misguided dreams.(less)

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May 06, 2012 Abby Rundblom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Author’s Purpose:
Arthur Miller wrote Death of a Salesman to expose and inform. Death of a Salesman centers on issues regarding American values-how the American Dream dissolved into nothing more than a quest for wealth and possessions. Also, the play is about the troubling conflicts one family has to face-the play provides a postwar view of personal tragedy. The play examines the childish faith many had in the American Dream. It also questions the morals of the American Dream. The play was writte...more Author’s Purpose:
Arthur Miller wrote Death of a Salesman to expose and inform. Death of a Salesman centers on issues regarding American values-how the American Dream dissolved into nothing more than a quest for wealth and possessions. Also, the play is about the troubling conflicts one family has to face-the play provides a postwar view of personal tragedy. The play examines the childish faith many had in the American Dream. It also questions the morals of the American Dream. The play was written in the Modernist literary time period-this is important in that, during this literary time period, authors were questioning traditional values. The reader is informed in that Miller exposes America as creating a false “American Dream”- an American Dream solely based upon capitalism and materialism. These false depictions created an American Dream that did not involve any sort of moral vision-unlike the original “American Dream” as described by the nation’s founding fathers.

Theme:
The American Dream is the most prominent theme throughout Death of a Salesman. The main character, Willy, believes in the “promise of the American Dream”. This “promise” is that a “well-liked” and “personally attractive” businessman will be able to attain the “modern American Dream” and all of the wealth and possessions that come with it. Willy’s interpretation of “well-liked” is very shallow. For example, he dislikes Bernard because he considers him a dork. Willy’s childish faith in his corrupted version of the American Dream ultimately leads to his downfall.

Style:
Written in the Modernist literary time period, Miller uses simplistic language. Though the language is simple, it is very effective. The play is written in a way that is very easy to understand and the message is clearly conveyed to the reader-materialism is consuming modern Americans. The play is written in a powerful and moving way that exposes American values and traditions.

Opinion:
Death of a Salesman is a powerful drama and is definitely worth the read. Miller’s thoughts for the time period in which he was writing were quite radical, and for this, Miller deserves much praise. Miller exposed the capitalism and materialism behind the “New American Dream”-the American Dream of the 20th Century that had no moral goals or values. Miller describes how modern Americans and their definitions of the “American Dream” revolve solely around gaining wealth and possessions. This destroys a person if they possess no moral values, as it destroys Willy. Death of a Salesman is a quick read, but its impact is significant.
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May 03, 2012 Brian rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The success of Miller’s tragedy, in part, is a combination of dramatic irony portrayed by Willy’s monologues. Protagonist Willy Lowman spends his life pursuing the American dream as a salesman. The reader gets a view of Willy’s past and present life through his thoughts. Miller reveals Willy’s past through monologues and also by theatricalizing his thoughts and past life. At times it’s confusing since the play constantly moves between present and past. The reader or viewer must pay attention to...more The success of Miller’s tragedy, in part, is a combination of dramatic irony portrayed by Willy’s monologues. Protagonist Willy Lowman spends his life pursuing the American dream as a salesman. The reader gets a view of Willy’s past and present life through his thoughts. Miller reveals Willy’s past through monologues and also by theatricalizing his thoughts and past life. At times it’s confusing since the play constantly moves between present and past. The reader or viewer must pay attention to follow present time versus Willy’s thoughts and memories. The irony lies in Willy’s thoughts and perceptions of reality versus true reality.

I am new to Miller but am captivated by this drama. As a common man Willy is an easy character to relate to. Willy’s tragedy results from his miscalculations and distorted perception of reality. Psychologically Willy lives in denial constantly lying to himself with self talk and lying to others to cover his disappointments. No matter how hard he tries Willy can’t make life match his dreams.

Even though my life is very different than Willy’s, I can feel the dissonance between my inner longings and the outer reality of my life. The common person can identify with Willy; often our ideals in life are just beyond our grasp. The drama’s ending gives the impression the problem is not over. The rest of us will make miscalculations and some of us will refuse to acknowledge them.

The tension between desire and reality makes this drama depressing. We were created for something better than this world can offer us. Since the world has fallen from God’s original design we, in our sinful condition, will live with the tension between inner desires and outer reality. Miller demonstrates the fallacy of the American dream and leaves the reader without a solution. It is a tragedy; of course there is not a solution. But it’s painfully true. The problem won’t go away, but we can live here with hope and make a difference in this world because of a God bigger than this world.
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Apr 28, 2012 TeacherMrLoria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, it certainly isn’t the feel good hit of the summer, but this a play that is a must read, so relevant in our “consumer driven” pursuit of happiness. Two main things stand out, what you chose to dedicate your life to and what you think of self. More about that soon, but I want to mention that I first read this play in high school and while I remember liking it, I don’t think I was able to appreciate it nearly as much as I was this time through. This is one of those life experience stories....more

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Mar 05, 2012 Diana Wilder rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: suffered-through

Why on earth do they make hormonal early-teen types suffer through books filled with doom and gloom? Aside from a play by Shakespeare (though, come to think of it, it was Julius Caesar: a good play, but doom-and-gloomaceous, too) I had to choke down 1984, Brave New World, Animal Farm, Death of a Salesman, A Separate Peace, The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, bits of Hawthorne, Lord of the Flies, The Old Man and the Sea... I am surprised I didn't run screaming through the halls of my s...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Ginny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: to-buy, les-classiques

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Although I read it for school, it was still great.
First, I’m touched and amazed by Arthur Miller’s skill in crafting such a complex novel that addresses so many issues. I react to only one here: the pressures of reality verses the strangulation of a fragile web of lies.
In reading Death of a Salesman, I find myself partial to Biff (rather than Willy or especially Linda). Willy is a sorry excuse of a man, forcibly projecting his dream onto his sons (especially Biff) and suffocating them under th...more Although I read it for school, it was still great.
First, I’m touched and amazed by Arthur Miller’s skill in crafting such a complex novel that addresses so many issues. I react to only one here: the pressures of reality verses the strangulation of a fragile web of lies.
In reading Death of a Salesman, I find myself partial to Biff (rather than Willy or especially Linda). Willy is a sorry excuse of a man, forcibly projecting his dream onto his sons (especially Biff) and suffocating them under the pressures of Willy’s dreams and expectations. In reality, Willy is like Gatsby of The Great Gatsby, chasing an impossible dream of achieving success. Willy thinks that the key to life is being well-liked and well-known and attributes nothing to hard work.
Worse still is Linda who recognizes Willy’s delusions and reality, but refuses to try to bridge the gap. She doesn’t try to make Willy aware of the truth, that his dreams didn’t pan out and he needs to come to grips with reality and make a change but instead reassures him, thus enabling him to damage himself and others in his wild quest for success. Her love for Willy and her want for him to be comfortable obscures her judgment and she instead blames her sons for their family’s situation without acknowledging Willy’s (and her own) role in the destruction of their family.
I’m sympathetic towards Happy. I understand what its like to grow up in the shadows and try to be loyal to your parents. But he too is victim to the willing acceptance of lies that the whole Loeman family partakes in (to different extents).
I admire Biff, even though he too fails to understand the complexity of his father’s issues and that for Willy to admit defeat and give up his lifelong dream of becoming a successful salesman through popularity and connections and a nice smile would kill Willy.
I know, I understand Biff’s and Happy’s conflict. They want to appease their father but they also need to free themselves from the shackles of lies and delusions and expectations.
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About Arthur Miller

Arthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American literature and cinema for over 61 years, writing a wide variety of plays, including celebrated plays such as The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, All My Sons, and Death of a Salesman, which are still studied and performed worldwide. Miller was often in the public eye, most famously for refusing to g...more

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Quotes from Death of a Salesman

“The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy.” — 65 people liked it

“Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be … when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am.” — 59 people liked it

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