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Title: DEATH OF A SALESMAN by Arthur H. Miller, Cobb Lee J. ISBN: 1-55994-256-8 Publisher: HarperAudio Pub. Date: 01 February, 1991 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 2 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.9 (139 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Good Play!
Comment: Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman basically revolves around 'the American Dream' which was based on the 'Declaration of Independence':'Men are born with the inalienable rights--life, liberty and most importantly the pursuit of happiness. Willy Loman, the main character of the play, had the pursuit of this faint dream of wealth, power and respect he figured he would achieve in the business world because he believed he was 'well liked'. I don't really blame his pride as his downfall, because afterall, it's not his pride that leads to his suicide. He's more obsessed with making something of himself and his sons, like his brother Ben...which is a good example of someone who has achieved the 'American Dream'. 'I walked into the jungle and came out rich'is expressed by Ben a number of times throughout the play, although in truth, Ben has emptiness inspite of his success and wealth. 'Death of a Salesman' contains much that is critical of modern American society. But, this was not Arthur Miller's sole purpose in writing it.
Willy's misjudgement of his failure in life is demonstrated in 'Death of a Salesman'. He feels as though he has failed because he has nothing to show for his years of work, in either his or his son's names. To kind of make up for it, Willy kills himself believing that he has done something right by helping Biff become someone with the insurance money that they get from his death. Sometimes 'a man is worth more dead than alive'. But what he has truly failed in is his family life, and his married life. That is the corruption of the true 'American Dream'.
Rating: 4
Summary: A Picture of the New America
Comment: Arthur Miller, one of American's greatest modern playwrights, wrote Death of a Salesman during the 40s. The play turned heads upon its first production in 1949 and has continued to be read and preformed ever since. Through Miller's many characters, he captured the heart and soul of many post-World War II Americans.
Miller constantly paints a picture of a new era, the business era. He openly portrays the business world as mean and ruthless. His character, Willy Loman, accurately represents many of the people who face hardships in the name of business. Willy's depressing home life is a result of his pursuit of success in the business world.
Miller's ideas of the American dream abound throughout the play. He demonstrates this through his character: Happy. Happy is a carefree young man whose only desire is to please his father, Willy. His idea of the ideal American dream is the typical 9 to 5 job with the perfect house and family. While he may desire these goals, his main objective is his father's approval.
Throughout the play, Miller constantly reverberates different ideas and values. For instance, he shows the negativity of parents who live their lives through their children. This philosophy can be seen through the character of Biff, who constantly is straining to be free from his oppressive father, Willy. While Biff wishes to please his father, he doesn't want to be the man his father wants him to become. His dreams are different from that of his fathers, yet Willy disregards his son's dreams.
Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is unique and groundbreaking for his time period. I honestly enjoyed the play despite the depressing plot. I don't recommend that u read, but rather see it or perform it. In straight lines, the play makes no sense, but with the added lighting and acting, it comes alive in a way that makes u enjoy the story.
By studying this classic play, I have come to realize that life is what you make it to be, not what is handed to you. If you really want something, you have to work for it. Nothing is free, and everything comes with a price. No one can tell you how to live your life. Your ideas and desires are what counts, not the ideas and desires of another person. You have to live with yourself, so fill your life with happiness and joy. We only live once, so live it to the fullest.
Rating: 5
Summary: Beyond the term "Classic"
Comment: This play blew me away when I read it some ten years ago. And the same thing happend when I saw it on Broadway as a revival many years ago. One can only imagine the impact it had on audiences when it first came out. Truly, there has been nothing as harrowing, riveting, and emotional in the theatre since. The "idea" of the play is powerful enough, but couple this with the "American dream" theme and you've got explosive material. The intensity of this piece of theatre is hard to match. A few other great works come to mind ("Sophie's Choice by Styron or McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood"--though those are books or movies) but even so, something about "Death" is beyond that. Why this isn't required reading in school is something I'll never understand. Arthur Miller is a national treasure and if he had written this play only, his reputation would have been confirmed forever.
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Title: The Scarlet Letter by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE ISBN: 0553210092 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 April, 1965 List Price(USD): $3.95 |
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