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Death Of A Salesman
The play "Death Of A Salesman" , the brainchild of Arthur Miller was transformed
and fitted to the movie screen in the year 1986. The play itself is set in the house of
Willy Loman, and tells the melancholy story of a salesman whom is in deep financial
trouble, and the only remedy for the situation is to commit suicide. In the stage
production of this tale, the specific lighting, set, and musical designs really give the
story a strong undertow of depression. And logically the screen and stage productions both
differ greatly in regards to the mood they set. Moreover the movie production can do many
things that just cannot be done on stage, with reference to the setting of course. To
generalize, the play gives us a good hard look at the great American Dream failing
miserably. However the combination of both the stage and screen productions accurately
depict the shortcomings of the capitalist society.
Death of a Salesman specifically focuses on four characters, the first
being the main character Willy Loman, his wife Linda, and their two sons Hap and Biff
Loman. As mentioned, the focal point of this play is Willy Loman, a salesman in his early
sixties. Throughout the story we are told the hard life, emotions and triumphs of Willy
the salesman. Early in the play we learn that he has recently been demoted to working for
commission, which later in the play,(on par with his luck) translates into Willy getting
fired. As the plot unfolds we discover that Willy had a rich brother who recently died
named Ben, whom Willy looked upon with great admiration for becoming extremely wealthy and
the ripe old age of 21. However Willy also becomes very depressed when Ben leaves, the
fact being that he re-realizes the meagerness of his own life, and that he is still making
payments on all of his possessions. Willy then comprehends that bye the time his worldly
possessions are paid for…they shall no longer be of any use. For example, the Loman
house has become virtually unnecessary now that the two sons have moved out. It isn't
until after Willy's death that the final mortgage payment is made….for a house with
no one inside it. The one example of this statement is given by Linda during the final
paragraph of the play,
"I made the last payment on the house today. Today, dear. And
there will be nobody home. We're free and clear……….we're
free…….we're free…………we're free"
As the plot thickens, Willy the salesman plummets deeper and deeper
into depression until his most likely route of action, which of course is suicide. However
the reasoning behind this course of action, we find, is his genuine love for his family,
along with Willy's deep longing to supply his family with as much money as he can possibly
get his hands on. As we learn more about Willy's trials and tribulations, the age old
expression "like father like son" appears out of nowhere like a beacon. Like his
father, Willy's son Biff also has some problems of his own, the main one being that Biff
cannot seem to find his niche in life. Furthermore, we are told that Biff at one point did
in fact have his future all planned out. It turns out that Biff was a shoe-in for a
position on the University Of Virginia State football team. However, that chance was all
but lost when Biff did not qualify to pass his final mathematics course. Now as you can
imagine the fact that Biff had to explain this to his father was quite a large problem in
itself. But to add insult to injury, when Biff made the trip to Boston to explain his
mathematical dilemma, he is horrified to find that his father has been with another women.
And this one incident would leave Biff being an entirely different person altogether. He
didn't even make an attempt to finish his math in summer school. After Boston, Biff
couldn't have cared less what happened to his own life. However, as is in life, out of
something horrible comes something worthy. And Biff finally comes to the realization that
he in fact wants to make his future. And that future entails working in the outdoors on a
farm. The other reasoning behind this life decision is of course, is to go against the
wishes and values that his father has tried to instill in Biff his entire life. Biff pours
his heart to his brother Hap one quarter through act I.
….."To devote your whole life to keeping stock, or making
phone calls, or selling or buying. To suffer fifty weeks a year for the sake of a two week
vacation, when all you really desire is to be outdoors, with your shirt off ..."
Fortunately for Biff, he determines his future by the play's
conclusion. He comes to the understanding that he and Willy were never meat to be business
men. Including that they were intended to be working on a farm with their hands. And after
vexing to procure Hap to come with him (which is to no avail), he escapes from his home to
continue on with the rest of his life. Which for Biff seems to be the soundest choice, the
decision that Willy just couldn't make. Hap on the other hand stays with his father, and
at play's end decides to follow in Willy's footsteps. That of course is to succeed at
business at all costs.
Both the stage and screen rendition utilize a melange of distinct
effects to set the tone and to enact the specific place where the action transpires. For
example the stage interpretation utilizes a unique convention that involves walking
through the set to delineate circumstances in the past, or episodes going on inside the
mind of Willy. This illusion can be easily created with specific crossfades and musical
underlay, and of course willing suspension of disbelief. Divergently, in
the screen production the set is obviously utilized in a completely different manner. On
that account the movie uses a distinct fading and brightening lighting technique, that
still stays true to the conventions set forth by the playwright. The one device that the
screen production contains that the stage does not, is the ability to display the past
events of Willy's life in a completely accurately set manner. Meaning when there is a
flashback to a previous happening, the setting travels back in time as well. Which, from a
certain perspective, better illustrates the past recollections of Willy and his family. As
mentioned the stage production successfully employs music to delineate certain characters
or the tone of that particular instant. There is in fact music used in the movie, however
it is only a small aspect of the screen medium whereas it is an integral component of the
stage version. Although you cannot fully comprehend the importance of the music by simply
reading the play, it must be performed right in front of you.. While the movie gives you a
generally decent feel for the musical intonation. In its entirety the music does an
excellent job of setting the mood that Willy is in.
The play is set inside the house of Willy Loman. Surrounding his house
are some tall building that are quite visible on the edges of the set. The house itself
contains two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. This is also where the majority of the
action of the play takes place. All other action happens outside the house lines. Which
for a stage audience requires them to suspend their disbelief even further. Whereas in a
movie the viewer isn't required to stretch any of his or her imaginations. Although this
particular screen production utilized a uncommon convention that allowed the viewer to
actually see through the set. One other interesting convention used by the designer was
that there was no roof on the house at certain times during the performance. And in place
of the roof were huge buildings and skyscrapers. These buildings were used to divulge a
over-powering feeling of gloom. This tool is much more effectual in the movie, due to its
original and abstract nature. This was also was very helpful during Willy's dreams, on
account of the house would exude an aura of peace an tranquillity. Together with the
prevalent set in the movie, (where there is a roof and normal fencing), the idea is very
well perceived.
In spite of the fact that this play has been described as a modern
tragedy, there has been some controversy to that description. The reason being that it
does not accompany the standard protocol of tragedy. Traditionally speaking, a tragedy
usually begins with the main character in the midst of a prominent position of piety. And
over the course of the play becomes transformed and that character flips to a lower level
of status. A tragedy is also reputed to acquaint its audience with regard to life. The
audience should leave a tragedy feeling virtuous about themselves,
even though the tragedy concludes on a note of melancholy. This is why scholars say they
cannot include this play in the definition of tragedy.
This famous tale of a salesman contains a singular main character;
Willy (The Salesman)Loman, his two strapping young lads Happy and Biff, and of course his
adoring wife Linda. Willy struggles to climb his way up the American capitalist hierarchy,
but its seems his ship will not come in. In spite of the fact that Willy would much rather
be laboring with his hands, he is set in the mindset that his real love
could never make enough money. Disappointment after disappointment Willy decides that his
only way to provide for his family would be to commit suicide. The number one son of the
salesman, Biff, is paving his way for a discouraging life. Symbolically speaking, the
character of Biff represents Willy at a younger age, for they both carry the same
characteristics. However Biff is given the same chance to do something with his life, and
surprisingly enough he takes it. As for Willy's other son, Happy decides that he will take
the same long, hard road as his father, only he thinks that he'll make it.
The Character of Willy Loman seem to be the consummate model to
illustrate the dissension of the American capitalist ideals. For example he is a salesman
who dons an aged suit that is ceaselessly creased during the course of the screen
production, moreover in the script is directed to appear dilapidated. He drive an archaic,
run down vehicle on the brink of extinction. While on the contrary, a proper salesman must
appear presentable and attractive to market his goods. And Willy definitely does not
harmonize with the ideals of being a salesman, divergently he pains to match it. Moreover
that is the reason why he doesn't belong inside the world of business. As exemplified in
the passage made by Biff in the requiem.
"When he'd come from a trip; or on Sundays, making the
stoop………….…You know something Charley, there's more of him in
that front stoop than in all the sales he ever made."
This story seems to epitomize the frivolity of agonizing to achieve
something as insignificant as money and power. It definitely makes one question the social
values of the American capitalist system, and why certain individual continue to pursue
the ideals of that system on a daily basis. For the downside to the capitalist dream is
hopelessness. And that downside is more that apparent in the Loman family.
Quote on page one: Death of A Salesman, Arthur Miller, Viking Penguin Inc. 1949, Pg.139
Quote on page two: Death of A Salesman, Arthur Miller, Viking Penguin Inc. 1949, Pg.22
Quote on page four: Death of A Salesman, Arthur Miller, Viking Penguin Inc. 1949, Pg.138
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