Arthur Miller’s Arthur Miller’s Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman

Most information courtesy of Most information courtesy of

The Kennedy Center’s ARTSEDGEThe Kennedy Center’s ARTSEDGE

Arthur Miller says:Arthur Miller says:

Plays can ask difficult questions Plays can ask difficult questions about morality and responsibility and about morality and responsibility and then challenge people to change then challenge people to change their lives and the world. their lives and the world.

““The mission of the theater is… to The mission of the theater is… to raise the consciousness of people to raise the consciousness of people to their human possibilities."their human possibilities."

Miller, continuedMiller, continuedBorn in 1915Born in 1915Depression survivorDepression survivorMoved to Brooklyn after stock market Moved to Brooklyn after stock market

crashcrash

Miller, continuedMiller, continued

Wrote several plays including Wrote several plays including The The CrucibleCrucible

Died in 2005 at age 89Died in 2005 at age 89

Themes in Miller’s playsThemes in Miller’s plays

morality morality responsibilityresponsibilitycompassioncompassionfragility of human relationships—fragility of human relationships—

especially between fathers and sons especially between fathers and sons

Taking a StandTaking a Stand

Miller called before the House Miller called before the House Committee of Un-American Activities Committee of Un-American Activities

Taking a StandTaking a Stand

Refused to name namesRefused to name namesConvicted of contemptConvicted of contempt

Miller’s PlaysMiller’s Plays

Miller’s most famous plays are based on Miller’s most famous plays are based on his life or on current eventshis life or on current events

A family’s economic struggles, the life of A family’s economic struggles, the life of Miller’s salesman uncle, and the Brooklyn Miller’s salesman uncle, and the Brooklyn house where Miller grew up inspired the house where Miller grew up inspired the story and setting of story and setting of Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman. .

All My SonsAll My Sons is based on the true story of a is based on the true story of a businessman who sold faulty machine businessman who sold faulty machine parts to the U.S. military during World War parts to the U.S. military during World War II. II.

Miller’s InfluencesMiller’s Influences

The CrucibleThe Crucible, set during the Salem witch , set during the Salem witch trials in the 1600s, is really about Joseph trials in the 1600s, is really about Joseph McCarthy’s congressional hearings, which McCarthy’s congressional hearings, which were designed to find communist were designed to find communist sympathizers in the United States. sympathizers in the United States.

Miller’s troubled marriage to movie star Miller’s troubled marriage to movie star Marilyn Monroe is portrayed in Marilyn Monroe is portrayed in After the FallAfter the Fall. .

A View From the BridgeA View From the Bridge is based on a story is based on a story that Miller heard from a Brooklyn that Miller heard from a Brooklyn longshoreman.longshoreman.

The WorkThe Work

Tragedy of the common man, Willy Tragedy of the common man, Willy LomanLoman

Success – as he knows it – eludes himSuccess – as he knows it – eludes himNo matter how hard he tries, he failsNo matter how hard he tries, he failsMemories and delusions are Willy’s way Memories and delusions are Willy’s way

of combating the fear of total failureof combating the fear of total failureWritten post-WWII - 1949Written post-WWII - 1949First performed at Philadelphia’s Locust First performed at Philadelphia’s Locust

Street TheaterStreet Theater

The American DreamThe American Dream

Play is a metaphor for its deathPlay is a metaphor for its deathWe all sell ourselvesWe all sell ourselvesMiller said that “we are all Miller said that “we are all

salesman,” meaning that we are all salesman,” meaning that we are all trying to impress others so that we trying to impress others so that we can be popularcan be popular

Generation Like?Generation Like?

Production – Form & Production – Form & StructureStructure

The play tells Willy’s entire life story The play tells Willy’s entire life story over the course of 24 hours. Miller over the course of 24 hours. Miller structured the play so that it follows structured the play so that it follows Willy’s thoughts, dreams, and Willy’s thoughts, dreams, and memories, which are shown in memories, which are shown in flashbacks and fantasy scenes. flashbacks and fantasy scenes.

SET DESIGNSET DESIGN

Miller’s description of the set is precise. Miller’s description of the set is precise. The walls of the Lomans’ house are The walls of the Lomans’ house are transparent; the house is like a skeleton.transparent; the house is like a skeleton.

Characters either walk around or through Characters either walk around or through the walls, depending on whether the scene the walls, depending on whether the scene is in the present or the past. is in the present or the past.

The space around the house gets smaller The space around the house gets smaller as the play progresses. By the end, the as the play progresses. By the end, the apartment buildings that surround the apartment buildings that surround the house are lit so that—as Miller specifies—house are lit so that—as Miller specifies—they “rise into sharp focus.” they “rise into sharp focus.”

LightingLighting

Miller’s descriptions are also exact. Miller’s descriptions are also exact. Scenes in the past are lit as if leaves Scenes in the past are lit as if leaves (not apartment buildings) surround the (not apartment buildings) surround the Loman house. Past is softer and Loman house. Past is softer and warmer than scenes set in the present. warmer than scenes set in the present.

By paying attention to the lighting By paying attention to the lighting effects, audiences know when time effects, audiences know when time passes from present to past and back passes from present to past and back again. again.

MusicMusic

Willy hears the sounds of the flutes Willy hears the sounds of the flutes that his father (also a salesman) that his father (also a salesman) made and sold. The flute is a sound made and sold. The flute is a sound of the past—and represents the of the past—and represents the betrayal of that past as the reality of betrayal of that past as the reality of Willy’s failures closes in on him. Willy’s failures closes in on him.

Production Notes : Production Notes : http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/sthttp://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/students/features/master-work/miller-udents/features/master-work/miller-death-of-a-salesman#the-workdeath-of-a-salesman#the-work

Review of recent revivalReview of recent revival

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/theater/readers-respond-to-death-of-theater/readers-respond-to-death-of-a-salesman.html?pagewanted=2&paa-salesman.html?pagewanted=2&pagewanted=printgewanted=print

Interview with Arthur MillerInterview with Arthur Miller

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bihttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BirqjuayQTArqjuayQTA

Actors who have starred in the Actors who have starred in the playplay

Dustin HoffmanDustin HoffmanLee J. CobbLee J. CobbPhilip Seymour HoffmanPhilip Seymour HoffmanFredric March (Best Actor Nominee)Fredric March (Best Actor Nominee)Brian DennehyBrian Dennehy John MalkovichJohn Malkovich