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AP Literature MAJOR WORKS DATA SHEET Title: Death of a Salesman Biographical Information about the Author Author: Arthur Miller Date of Publication: 1949 Genre: Tragedy Historical Information about the period and place of publication – what was happening in the world the author lived in and how might that have influenced him? Arthur Asher Miller was born in Harlem, New York on October 17, 1915. Being born to an affluent family, Miller grew up comfortably. However, after the crash of 1929, his family lost nearly everything and moved to Gravesend, Brooklyn. Deprived of his wealth, he had to pay his own way through college. Arthur Miller wrote Death of a Salesman in 1949. This period was post-WWII America when the economy began to boom. The U.S. had just risen from the depths of the Great Depression and the american dream seemed more attainable than ever. Characteristics of the Genre Tragedy often has a noble protagonist with a critical flaw that leads to their eventual downfall. This serves the purpose of warning the reader against the themes of the work. Plot Summary Willy Loman is a traveling salesman who has worked his entire adult life to provide for his family. He is an exhausted and unstable 63 year old man. When his sons come to town to stay with him and his wife, Linda Loman, he is disappointed when they have not lived up to his expectations, especially his older son, Biff Loman. In an effort to help his son have a better life, he kills himself to give Biff the insurance money so that he may be successful. Describe the author’s style An example that demonstrates that style Throughout the play, Miller uses Willy’s visions of the past and blurred reality to simulate the idea of how being too ambitious can drive one mad. The second scene in the play, Willy talks to his son Biff in the kitchen about when he was in high school and how he was the star of the football team and how he has amounted to nothing. The entire time, Biff is upstairs listening to his father’s ramblings. Memorable Quotes Quotation Significance “ And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eightyfour, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people? ” This quote comes from Act II of the play when Willy is discussing with his boss the chance to have a job in town. This quote shows Willy’s ambition and his desire to live up to unreachable expectations. He wants to be loved and liked, but he’s just not as likable a person as he wants to be. “I saw the things that I love in this world. The work and the food and the time to sit and smoke. And I looked at the pen and I thought, what the hell am I grabbing this for? 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.” This is Biff’s final realization of who he is and what he is. In this final confrontation with Willy. Throughout the entire play, Biff looks to seek the approval of his father. With this quote, Biff renounces his desire to please his father and live his life the way he wants to. Characters Name Role in the Story Significance Adjectives Willy Loman Father, lead character Protagonist, tragic hero Insane Linda Loman Mother, supporting character Docile Harold “Happy” Loman Younger son, supporting character Voice of reason, enabler Peacemaker Biff Loman Older brother, supporting character Biff Loman Neighbor, supporting character Liar Average Disappointment Willy's supportive best friend Supportive Charley Bernard Neighbor, supporting character Older son, supporting character Charley's sucessful son Sucessful Neighbor, supporting character Peacemaker, supportive son, attention seeker Histrionic, coy, reserved Charley’s son Jock, Willy’s pride and joy Average Supporting neighbor Understanding Successful counterpart to Biff Successful Setting 1940’s New York City, the Loman house Significance of opening scene In the opening scene, Willy Loman stumbles home early from a business trip . He tells his wife, Linda Loman, that he almost ran over a young boy on the way home, which sparks her concern since he once drove off of a bridge into a river. He then tells his son, Biff Loman, that he is a failure for doing manual labor as a job. He contradicts himself later in the scene, which is a common theme in the play. Significance of ending/closing scene Symbols The last scene is of Willy’s funeral after he commits suicide in order to give Biff the insurance money to start his own business. The only people there are Willy’s family , Charley and Bernard. Willy always claimed to have many business friends, believing that 1. Seeds they were needed to be successful. They all lament as they criticize Willy’s ambition. Old AP Questions 2. Stockings 3. Diamonds 4. Rubber Hose 5. Flutes Possible Themes 1. The American Dream 2. Ambition 3. Reality vs. Illusion
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