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Exploring Individual Experience in 'Death of a Salesman'

marvene-grealish avatar
marvene-grealish
11 diapositives · 219 Views · Oct 27, 2014

Arthur Miller's play 'Death of a Salesman' delves into the life of Willy Loman as he grapples with the concept of success and the American Dream. The narrative follows Willy's sons, Biff and Happy, and their pursuit of happiness amidst disillusionment and self-discovery. Through flashbacks and pivotal scenes, the play vividly examines themes of relationships, values, and the pursuit of wealth and status, offering profound insights into the human experience. As the characters navigate personal struggles and societal expectations, the audience is prompted to contemplate universal themes of contentment, success, and self-awareness.

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  1. Choose a play which deals with individual experience and show how it explores both individual experience and themes of universal significance.

  2. THIS IS REALLY A CHARACTER QUESTION AND A THEME QUESTION. • EVEN IF THE QUESTION DOES NOT MENTION THEMES YOU SHOULD DEAL WITH THEMES IN YOUR ESSAY. • YOU MUST SHOW THAT THE TEXT HAS GIVEN YOU INSIGHT INTO SOME ASPECTS OF LIFE • = SHOWING HOW THE WRITER MADE YOU THINK ABOUT THEMES.

  3. Introduction • Refer to question • Two sentences to summarise the play. • Sentence to open up the question i.e. a few details about Biff and his experience. • Refer to some important themes in the play. • Possibly mention some techniques used by Miller e.g. flashbacks and a turning point scene.

  4. Idea for first sentence of essay – show your awareness of theme and then link to question • The American Dream of the individual achieving success in terms of wealth and status is an important theme in many works of literature, including ‘Death of a Salesman’ by Arthur Miller. In this play this theme is explored through the experiences of character of Biff Loman. • Many people look to achieve success in their careers and define their happiness in terms of their status and wealth. Arthur Miller explores this idea, which is linked to the American Dream, in the play…….

  5. The short summary in the introduction Include these details: • Set in NY in late 1940’s • Willy Loman • Salesman – age, problems • Sons Biff and Happy, wife Linda • His final days

  6. 1. Biff as an adult in the first half of the play. • Unsettled, drifter, no career. • [DIALOGUE Willy/Linda Biff/Happy] • Still accepts his father’s dream / values – wants to be a successful businessman. • Underlying anger • THEMES EXPLORED: WHAT BRINGS CONTENTMENT? WHAT IS SUCCESS?

  7. 2. Miller uses flashbacks to show us a contrast between the adult Biff and the teenage Biff. • Flashbacks to when Biff was young [happy music, symbolic green lighting used to introduce these] • Biff’s potential; his loving relationship with his father; what Willy taught him; lies and cheating • THEMES EXPLORED –RELATIONSHIPS; VALUES – THE AMERICAN DREAM OF SUCCESS BEING WEALTH AND STATUS • Flashbacks = successful technique – we are made to understand the present time Biff by seeing the past

  8. 3. A key scene is used by Miller which shows us a great change in Biff. • Restaurant scene;no loan; realises not well liked. Realises ordinary; rejects father’s values. • Flashback to Boston shows us when Biff’s relationship with his father was spoiled. • REFLECT ON THE THEMES – WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN MADE TO THINK ABOUT?

  9. 4. How Biff changed from then on, including the final argument with Willy and the Requiem [final scene] • Knows the truth about himself but unable to convince Willy of it. [Conflict, emotional scene] • Biff will find happiness because he knows what he wants. • THEMES – Miller shows that self knowledge is the key to happiness. Willy had the wrong dreams and deceived himself but Biff now knows the truth.

  10. Conclusion • Although the play shows us the experiences in the life of Biff, an American in another time, it deals with universal themes - there is much in the play which makes us reflect on aspects of life which matter to everyone. • [EXPAND ON SOME OF THESE SAYING WHAT THE PLAY MADE YOU THINK ABOUT]

  11. Reminders • Set out quotations accurately [colon then new line and indent] • Your sentence after the quotation is a new sentence.[‘This’ and ‘However’ normally begin a new sentence.] • Use good topic sentences which develop a line of thought related to the question – do not use narrative topic sentences which merely retell the plot. • Check and proof read carefully.