Universidad de Artes y Ciencias Sociales Literatura Norteamericana Clsica

Departamento de Ingls Ms. Marcela Mendoza Taylor

Death of a Salesman (by Arthur Miller) Study sheet

By Kenton Dunbar

Reading notes:

Keep in mind you will need to show how and where in the text you find evidence in support of your
position regarding the questions below. You will need textual evidence. (ACT, PARAGRAPH, LINE)

Questions:

*Biff Loman and the values he stands for can be seen ad contrary to the values that Willy stands for. Do
you agree or disagree with this assertion?

*There seems to be a clash of opinions among many of Miller's readers as to whether or not Willy's
failure if the result of some inner defective, moral-spiritual element or is the result of false values forced
upon him from without by a fanatical oriented , production-consumption society. What's your opinion
about this?

*It there anything in the play that alerts us to the possibility of the existence of a set of universal moral
principles that might provide some kind of defense or refuge from the onslaught of a solely production-
consumption oriented social order?

*Does Miller offer any kind of a resolution out of the dilemma he presents to his audience? What if the
dilemma in which Willy finds himself?

*When we finish the play do we have a clear focus on the problem which has created the situation in
which Willy finds himself? Some critics contend that the playwright is obligated to examine the situation
until the roots of the problem have been clearly exposed so that we come away (and this is the
traditional fiction of art) from the play with a deeper more clearer understanding of the philosophical
complexities involved in the dilemma presented. If not this, we should come away from the play at least
warned, cautioned, and/or motivated to question the causes of failure , downfall , destruction , of an
individual, a society , an economy, a value system, a way of life etc. Do we come away from this play
with a clear understanding as to the causes behind Willy's downfall? Has Miller been true to this
definition of the function of art?

*Would you agree that Death of a Salesman cannot make up its mind whether the trouble is in Willy or
society? Do you even see this same problem or contradiction? If the play seems ambiguous , does this
mean the playwright has failed his audience? If the play terminates in nothing more than more
confusion and unresolved contradictions has the playwright succeeded? How ? Why?

* If there is nothing in the play that directs our attention to the existence of some kind of universal
moral solution by which man can lift himself out of the degenerate meaningless conditions in which he
has become so hopelessly enmeshed , this, then, would seem to indicate Miller's denial of an ultimate
truth upon which moral action would make sense?
*Throughout the play Willy seems to draw out from us a kind of contradictory response. One moment
he is the object of our pity because he is so pathetic, the next our disgust because of his moral conduct,
and finally there are moments when he is perceived as a hero of "tragic dimension" ( at least in Linda's
Universidad de Artes y Ciencias Sociales Literatura Norteamericana Clsica
Departamento de Ingls Ms. Marcela Mendoza Taylor

eyes). What do you make of these contradictions and what is their significance to the overall theme of
the play?

*In this play it is said that we are witnessing the "common man" being crushed by social , economic
forces outside himself and by the illusions, false ideals, and distortions given birth by those forces. Do
you agree or disagree with this assertion?

*Some critics charge that Miller is merely rubbing our noses in the social mire of the day and as a result
succeeds only in depressing the audience. Do you agree or disagree with this assertion? Show how and
why.

*What is the function of nature in the play? Look at symbolisms; seeds; trees; flute, etc.

*What part does adultery play in Willy's downfall (self-destruction)? How central is this to the overall
purpose of the play? Is this merely a modern day morality play?

*It is said the play is an analysis of American values (aspirin, spectacles, Chevrolet, arch supports, time
payments, subways, advertisement, mortgages, life insurance, adulation of football heroes and all the
other THINGS that go with the American Dream). Examine this analysis. Are we to identify with these
values or are we to criticize them? How, where and why you see this? How central is this analysis to the
purpose of the play? Planned obsolescence?

*What is the function of Ben in the play? What does he stand for?

*The confrontation between Willy and Ben might be seen as a struggle within a divided self. What are
the contending impulses here and how are they important to the play?

*There seem to be basically three main alternatives that oppose Willy's philosophy. Identify them and
discuss their function within the play. How do they help us come to a clearer understanding of Willy's
dilemma?

*Explain how, where and why you see or don't see the idea that " the most powerful positive value in
the play is the value of family"

*Linda represents the embodiment of "love and loyalty" in the play. She is also acutely aware or what is
happening to Willy; she obviously loves him; is very sensitive to him; and protective of him. She is also
very aware of the stresses and strains the boys create of him. But, is there anything about Linda that
bothers us? Does she in some strange way, unconsciously, help Willy on his way to his ultimate destiny?
How, where and why you see or do not see this.

And finally:
Why does Willy kill himself? What textual evidence support your answer? (Where and why)