| Product: |
Arthur Miller in general |
| Date: |
10/05/01 (257 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Engrossing, Stimulating, Short
Disadvantages: None to speak of
"He [Arthur Miller] didn't write 'Death of a Salesman'; he released it." This was the comment from the play's original director, Elia Kazan, and in many senses, this is a perfect summation of Miller's opus.
The playwright revealed writing the entire first act in one day in April 1948, but the project was not a spontaneous one. THe idea had been brewing in Miller's mind for some time, and has been thought of as autobiographical in its theme.
Essentially, the play concerns itself with the Loman family, a family destroyed by relentless pursuit of the unattainable American dream. The protagonist and father, Willy Loman, is an ageing travelling salesman who has spent his whole life chasing this romantic ideal, to the detriment of himself and his family.
Rather than discourage his sons from entering the cutthroat business world, he exhorts them to follow his path. The disintegration of the family is dealt with with painful and troubling familiarity by Miller in the course of the play.
The absence of traditional suspense in the play which results from the title makes the success of this play initially difficult to understand. Its ending is clearly predetermined, representing a particularly brave move by Miller, but this succeeds in shifting the focus to the psychological. Our concern for and curiosity about Willy's motivations are central to the play's impact.
'Death of a Salesman' may be taken as a cynical critique of American culture, but it is much more than that. In examining the destructive effects of a pressurised society on the individual, Miller presents us with a realistic appraisal of the human character. The American influence on the play is undeniable, but the themes are universal; this is evident from the disparate inferences taken from the play - from the Christian view that it portrays the vacuous nature of a godless society to that of the Communist - th
at the Capitalist ideals are detrimental to the ordinary, while only beneficial to the few.
'Death of a Salesman' warrants more than one reading, given the time sequence interrupted by Willy's memories. Successive readings reveal deeper insights easily missed initially. 'Death of a Salesamn" is rightly regarded as among the best modern plays, and Miller's rightful place in history is assured. Get your hands on a copy.
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