What is the “American Dream”?

1. What is the “American Dream”? Setting? Theme/s? Parallel amongst Miller’s family and DOAS characters?

2. SETTING: resembles America in the 1920s—Depression. CHARACTERIZATION: Willy Loman—63 year old salesman; baffled by his life’s failures; THEMES: Fate Betrayal American DREAM vs. REALITY Abandonment TOPICS: Manifest Destiny—Where can the fault lie but in oneself? Page vii SYMBOLS: seeds, stockings, diamonds, & rubber hose (house, car)

3. Pages vii-x Death of a Salesman ORIGINS DOAS originated in a short story Miller wrote at 17; however, the main character, an aging salesman, throws himself under a subway train. PARALLELS to REAL LIFE Willy Loman—kin to Miller’s uncle, Manny Newman, a competitor at all times. ---Newman’s sons competed with Miller and his brother. ---Newman’s household trembled “with resolutions & shouts of victories that had not yet taken place but surely would tomorrow.” Buddy—Manny Newman’s son, like Biff Loman in the play, was a sports hero; and like Happy Loman, was a success with the girls, but never made it to college. Manny’s wife—like Linda Loman, supporting her husband, loyal but bewildered. Manny Newman—in love w/fame & fortune, hung on to dreams, an actor—a vaudevillian—need to be well-liked.

4. Page x TIME “The past and its relationship to the present.” 24 HOURS—Different times are present in the same instant; reveals inside and outside. ---Time is fluid, w/o scene changes or break in scenes. “SOCIAL TIME” vs. “PSYCHIC TIME” Unfolding truth of the public world—TRUTHMEMORIES that crash into his present taunting him w/a unchangeable past Causality— “acknowledgment that we are responsible for, and a product of, our actions.” Willy resists this but his subconscious acknowledges it, presenting to him the evidence of his own fallibility.

5. Sound takes Willy back to his childhood; Father, a salesman, made and sold flutes. MUSIC STAGE DESIGN Is a metaphor, a visual marker of social and psychological change. Three bare platforms, MINIMUM furniture, travel spot (lighted). Elevator & bed illusion maintains coexisting past/present. All characters remain onstage, being animated when they are in the forefront. LIGHTING https://apps.gaggle.net/do/main#Main/Apps/GaggleTubeParent:0/GaggleTube:%23/GaggleTubeDetail:0z6qWSJg9nA&#

6. Willy Loman “He cannot bear reality, and since he can’t do much to change it, he keeps changing his ideas of it.” “He has built a life on DENIAL. Unable or unwilling to acknowledge the failure of is hopes, or responsibility for his actions, he embraces fantasies, elaborate excuses, develops strategies to neutralize his disappointment.” Hope & Disappointment Reliable & Junk Never lazy! Lazy bum! Successful salesman! Failure!

7. Pages xvii-xxii

9. “SALESMAN” TRADES IN HOPE; BRIGHTER FUTURE SELLS DREAM OF TOMORROW SELLS HIMSELF SMILE, CHARM PERFORMER CONFIDENCE ICON OF SOCIETY Willy loses his audience (buyers, sons, boss) & is no longer confident. Placed his faith in the future but haunted by his past. Needs love and respect but is blind to those who offer it.

10. DOAS VIDEOS Interview with Arthur Miller and Brian Dennehy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yXz7r3DLdY SHMOOP Willy Loman https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=death+of+a+salesman+analysis+act+1 CHARACTER analysis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTz1h4ZoU2o&t=49s American Dream Dead? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tUIx5DlxaI