"Death of a Salesman" as Required Reading - a Bad Idea for High Schools

[Nick]

When I recently bought a copy of "Death of a Salesman" at the local Barnes & Noble, the salesperson said to me, "I loved that play when I was in high school - it made me hate Capitalism." This began me to thinking of all the reasons why this play should not be required reading for high school aged students. Most of the concerns of the play - decline in later life, vanquished dreams, worrying about losing a job and not being able to pay the mortgage don't resonate with adolescents. Also, despite the superficial way it's often read in school, "Salesman," is not a simplistic black and white indictment of Capitalism. The play is much more about the disintegration of a family than it is a political diatribe. Rereading this play recently, Willie strikes me as much more likely suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's than the cold bureaucracy of Business. Anyone who has dealt with an aging parent recognizes the symptoms of not being able to drive any longer; contradicting himself from page to page - Biff is lazy, Biff is a hard worker - his conversations with people who aren't there ...
Second, the play is often taught as a modern Tragedy, a 20th Century Hamlet, Macbeth, or Oedipus Rex. Arthur Miler himself acknowledged that Willy lacks the insight or self recognition to be a Tragic Hero. As Biff says after Willie's suicide, "He never knew who he was." If Willie is a "victim," what is he a victim of? Himself? Despite his delusions, Willie was never a great salesman - he lies to Linda about his commission, and has the conversation with Howard just before he's let go: Willy: "I averaged a hundred and seventy dollars a week in commissions." Howard: "Now, Willy, you never averaged ..." Willie's delusions were as ridiculous when the play was written in 1948 as they sound today - "Be liked and you never want;" "A man can end up with diamonds here on the basis of being liked!" What career was this ever true of?
The family disintegration is fueled by Willie's unfaithfulness to his saintly wife, Linda, which crushes Biff when he catches his dad in the Boston hotel, and contributes to his completely rejecting his father's values. Watching all these signs of dissolution, and his plans for suicide - Linda, a classic enabler, with lines like - "Willy, darling, you're the handsomest man in the world!" and "Few men are idolized by their children the way you are" - contributes to the collapse. Instead of taking Willie to the doctor, she persists in her delusional optimism - "Willy, I can feel it changing!" Her famous line - "Attention must be paid!" Yes she should - by getting him professional help.
Another complaint I have with teaching it in high school is that "Salesman" is a play - written to be performed with atmospheric, meaningful music, characters appearing and disappearing, so if it is in the curriculum and has to be taught, take students to see it performed or show the film, and not the terrible 1951 version in black and white, please! "Salesman" is not like a Shakespeare play that can be read and enjoyed for the language itself. Although as a teacher I always felt that if the work was written for the stage, that's how it should be enjoyed. The author wrote a play - not a novel.
As high schoolers, we laughed at and repeated the unintentionally funny lines - "He's liked but he's not well liked;" "the woods are burning;" Knocked 'em cold in Providence, slaughtered 'em in Boston," and others. That's the deep meaning Willie's words had to us.
There must be plays that have been written that better reflect the high school, teenage, or early adult experience that are also quality literature.

[[deleted user]]

I disagree. This novel is a great picture of American literature and I think you're underestimating high schoolers when you say they won't understand it. High schoolers today are able to look at novels and discuss them in depth.
You may be able to relate Willy to an aging parent, but I doubt that it was Miller's while writing this novel. The flashbacks are most likely Willy trying to analyze what happened to make his life go awry. What happened that turn Biff from a promising child to a man that couldn't hold down a job, what made the name Happy so ironic, and the the fact that the mark on his world is smaller than he ever thought it would be.

[Feliks]

I'm with Kate. No need to savage the play and tear it apart like this. The OP is way too critical on a host of very moot, minor issues. Picayune even. The sum of this play is greater than its parts.

On the other hand, I agree with his main opinion: take the book out of high schools and (perhaps) choose another more accessible. Okay. Sure. I agree with that. But not for any other reason do I concur except to echo him that yes, it is an extremely gloomy, dismal play. Reeks with atavism. There are other ways to learn the drawbacks of capitalism without frightening little kids witless; or burdening them with (what they probably see as) utterly lugubrious, moribund material.

[Jillian]

I also think that saying it shouldn't be taught in high school doesn't give teenagers enough credit. Additionally, at the time, I didn't read it as a commentary on Capitalism (and I don't recall it being a major lesson from teachers); more it is just life being hard (understatement, sometimes life is devastating). Probably because America was my only lens and Capitalism was a way of life, not an option. So I wouldn't take what one person said as the uncontested effect/opinion. I still don't think I would read it as a commentary on capitalism. This book affected me profoundly the first and second times I read it. Teenagers get the nuances of the relationships without seeing it performed, and I think being able to read a play is a good skill.

[Victor]

Let's not discourage the reading of any book whose motive or thesis conflicts with our worldview. Yes, teenagers are impressionable, but that's precisely why they should be encouraged to read a wide range of books with all different theses. Give them The Jungle and Atlas Shrugged and let them work out for themselves the virtues and vices of capitalism.

[cbdef]

With renewed interest of banned books back in the news currently, I went back to read this play because I happened to have it on my bookshelf, very likely a holdover from my high school or early college years. I can only remember it now as having had dark undertones and anger. I was not impressed or greatly influenced by its content at the time.

Reading it now, some 50+ years later, it can be seen in a whole different light. In the late 60's, there was considerable emphasis on 'in business' occupations for men. My own father was one of those who parleyed his talents into business (he, too, like Willy, was never fulfilled and happy with that choice, but did what he had to to support a family).

If this was an attack on the 'American Dream' I don't really see it. To me, it is Willy who is the lost and misguided soul. Having lost the guiding influence of both his father and an older brother in his life, he was never confident in his choices as an adult. He took what I perceive was the 'easy' way out. Rather than put everything on the line pursuing your desires, he chose to follow a safe path, a guaranteed income, purchase a home (the REAL American Dream) and put up with the disillusionment that come with such a job. And then he doggedly expected his sons to follow the same path. I read recently that when parents extensively 'over tutor' their children to pursue a certain path, it is often the parents who see themselves in their children, and want them to pursue a path they were unable to achieve for themselves. I think that fits here. Willy wants his sons to achieve the success he never did for himself.

The other issue is that Willy is mentally unstable. I agree with the above statement that today we would equate his slippage and conversations of the past as early dementia or Alzheimer's, and seek help for him. In the late 40's, those conditions were not recognized or accepted. I do think that it shows how far we have come in 70 years, where people in these situations can be cared for, and provided for - financially - and not left with the only alternative of killing themself for the insurance money.

While I don't think the book should be banned, I also don't know if young teenagers have the life-long understanding of human experiences to accurately give judgment on this play. While it may be beneficial to read others' take and opinions of the story, I don't think they should rely on the preconceived ideas of others to form their own opinion.