Death of a Salesman (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Arthur Miller
- First Published: 1949
- Type of Work: Play
- Genres: Social realism, Drama, Tragedy
- Subjects: New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Parents and children, Suicide, Twentieth century, New York City, 1940’s, Yards or backyards, American Dream, Fathers, Death or dying, Sales personnel, Selling
- Locales: Boston, MA, Brooklyn, NY
More effectively than any other American drama, Death of a Salesman probes the nature of the American Dream and its promise of success. America was established as a new Eden, a place where one could transform the wilderness into a paradise of riches. The American myth created the pioneer hero who moved with ease to greener pastures. One side of Willy Loman is firmly grounded in this myth.
Willy's father was a traveling man who got rich peddling gadgets in South Dakota and then headed for Alaska. Willy's brother Ben is a true adventurer who walks into the jungles of Africa...
[The entire page is 993 words long]
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