Death of a Salesman (Penguin Plays) by Arthur Miller
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Book Reviews of Death of a Salesman (Penguin Plays)
Book Review: The first true modern American tragedy. A Masterpiece.
Summary: 5 Stars
Arthur Miller once said he wrote plays for people who didn't go to the theater. In "Death of a Salesman," pehaps his greatest play, Miller examines the life of Willy Loman, a traveling salesman at the end of his career, so wrought with regret, he lives in a theater of his own worst memories. After returning exhausted from a unsuccessful trip, Loman begins to break down under the burdens he carries: twenty years of secret affairs, his eldest son's terrific failure, and a lifetime of burned bridges and missed opportunities. Unable to find other work and incapable of accepting the modest successes in his life -- keeping a family together, finishing off a mortage -- Willy insists on measuring himself against an impossible yardstick and punishes himself by reliving the baleful trajectory of his life. "Death of a Salesman," is a poignant, sad, and moving work about the bottoming out of American promises, and unattainable pinnacle of masculinity.Book Review: Wake Up Call
Summary: 5 Stars
In my opinion, Salesman stirs up questions in all those in a hurry to attain the "American Dream", and loose themselves in the process. When Willy Loman discovers that he's worked all his life and has not attained what our Capitalistic Society dictates we should, he finds himself perturbed in a meaningless abyss of nothingness. He completely loses himself spiritually and no longer knows who he is or was. His family doesn't matter and just rambles endlessly over useless materials. He ignores and mistreats his wife, pays no attention to his kids, and cheats with other women because he feels impotent as a man. The focus on this "dream" and work drives him crazy, and later you see him become pathetically delusional. I found this piece of work to be not only tragic and touching, but a powerful wake up call, since there may be others out there like Willy struggling in the "Corporate World" that may be later discarded when they are no longer of any use.Book Review: Deserving American Classic.
Summary: 5 Stars
Although I'm an avid reader, I usually don't read plays, but decided to give Death of a Salesman a try because it was supposed to be one of the best pieces of American literature. After reading it, I have to say that it is quite deserving of that title.
To sum up the storyline without giving too much away, it is about a man who is dealing with his own pride in the face of failure, and his relationship with his son (who he deeply loves), who is also a failure. More importantly, Death of a Salesman takes a hard look at the American Dream and asks: Is it worth it?
The thing that this play so great to me was the characters. Willy and Biff Loman are two characters you won't soon forget (Willy especially). As I really enjoyed this play (and as it only took about three hours to read), I'm going to have to scan Amazon for a couple of other plays to read.
Book Review: Miller's Immortal Play
Summary: 5 Stars
As an author with my debut novel in its initial release (and a one-time drama teacher), I truly admire Arthur Miller's immortal classic DEATH OF A SALESMAN. While THE CRUCIBLE is perhaps more often produced, DEATH OF A SALESMAN is Miller's finest dramatic work. Miller's play concerns a self-promoting yet self-defeating salesman named Willie Loman. Loman is Miller's mid-century American Everyman, based to some degree upon one of his relatives, if I remember my literary history correctly. This play deals with Willie's life and career--his failures in both. I also always enjoy the relationship between the father and his sons as well as his sons' relationship with each other. While THE CRUCIBLE deals with witch-hunt politics, DEATH OF A SALESMAN is centered on the human condition. This play deserves to be read and produced forever. It is an immortal work.Book Review: Miller's Immortal Play
Summary: 5 Stars
As an author with my debut novel in its initial release (and a one-time drama teacher), I truly admire Arthur Miller's immortal classic DEATH OF A SALESMAN. While THE CRUCIBLE is perhaps more often produced, DEATH OF A SALESMAN is Miller's finest dramatic work. Miller's play concerns a self-promoting yet self-defeating salesman named Willie Loman. Loman is Miller's mid-century American Everyman, based to some degree upon one of his relatives, if I remember my literary history correctly. This play deals with Willie's life and career--his failures in both. I also always enjoy the relationship between the father and his sons as well as his sons' relationship with each other. While THE CRUCIBLE deals with witch-hunt politics, DEATH OF A SALESMAN is centered on the human condition. This play deserves to be read and produced forever. It is an immortal work.