Death of A Salesman Essay

Death of a Salesman Essay
ladybug3199Threads: 1
Posts: 1
Apr 21, 07, 04:17pm #1
Willy oma!, a "hara"ter i! the play, #eath o$ a %alesma!, is a ma! &ho desperately &a!ts to be
su""ess$ul, but has to deal &ith ma!y setba"'s i! his li$e( )e, li'e most others, has both positi*e
a!d !egati*e perso!ality traits( The &ay Willy sees himsel$, as &ell as the &ay others see him
"ha!ges bet&ee! the begi!!i!g a!d the e!d o$ the play(
At the begi!!i!g o$ the play, Willy sees himsel$ as bei!g su""ess$ul a!d &ell+li'ed( This is partly
be"ause he is tryi!g to mai!tai! a su""ess$ul image $or the sa'e o$ his $rie!ds a!d $amily( Willy
puts great emphasis o! his theory that o!e is more su""ess$ul i$ they are attra"ti*e a!d &ell+li'ed(
A""ordi!g to him, he is &ell '!o&! throughout ,e& -!gla!d a!d "a! sell thi!gs to ma!y people
there, e*e! goi!g as $ar as to stay that he is *ital there( Willy is also *ery proud o$ the $a"t that he
a*erages o!e hu!dred a!d se*e!ty dollars i! sales i! 192.( Whe! he loo's at these
a""omplishme!ts, he $eels su""ess$ul a!d &ell+li'ed(
As the play goes o!, Willy begi!s to see himsel$ as a $ailure i! his /ob, as a $ather, a!d i! his
marriage( 0! his /ob, he ma'es sales "alls a!d $eels li'e he does !ot '!o& a!ybody a!ymore a!d
they do !ot '!o& him( )e used to tra*el to the same areas a!d people '!e& him a!d &ould buy
$rom him( ,o&, he is getti!g *ery $rustrated be"ause he ma'es trips a!d "omes ba"' &ithout
selli!g a!ythi!g( )e also sees himsel$ $aili!g as a pare!t( Although )appy is some&hat su""ess$ul,
Willy sees 1i$$ as pretty mu"h a "omplete $ailure( 0t all starts &he! he $ails math i! )igh %"hool
a!d re$uses to go to summer s"hool( )e has s"holarships a!d "a!2t use them be"ause he did !ot
graduate( )e e!ds up &or'i!g o! a $arm, but reali3es that there is !ot mu"h $uture i! that li!e o$
&or'( 1i$$ e!ds mo*i!g ba"' home &ithout a /ob( Willy $eels li'e he is $aili!g i! his marriage
be"ause he has had a! a$$air( )e gi*es time a!d lo*e to a &oma! other tha! his &i$e( )e e*e!
gi*es her !e& sto"'i!gs that he should ha*e gi*e! to his &i$e i!da( %he has sto"'i!gs that ha*e
holes i! them a!d she has to se& them so that she "a! "o!ti!ue to &ear them( All o$ these thi!gs
sho& that Willy sees himsel$ as a $ailure i! his /ob, as a $ather a!d i! his marriage(
At the begi!!i!g o$ the story, others "hara"ters see Willy as a su""ess$ul salesma! a!d lo*i!g
$amily ma!( )e ma'es ma!y trips a!d is able to sell thi!gs a!d ear! a de"e!t "ommissio! doi!g
so( )is $amily is able to ta'e o$ their $i!a!"ial !eeds( )e is also see! a lo*i!g $amily ma!( Willy
&a!ts his $amily to be su""ess$ul, espe"ially his t&o boys( 4!$ortu!ately, he pays more atte!tio!
to 1i$$ tha! a!yo!e else( This is probably be"ause he is a star $ootball player a!d has s"holarship
a"ti*ities that "a! lead to su""ess &hi"h Willy himsel$ lo!ged $or( )e did !ot pay mu"h atte!tio!
to )appy, &ho ma'e "omme!ts about his &eight a!d getti!g married to try to get the atte!tio!
$rom his $ather that he desperately &a!ted( 1ased o! this, others at the begi!!i!g o$ the story see
Willy as a su""ess$ul salesma! a!d a lo*i!g $amily ma!(
As the story "o!ti!ues, others see Willy as a $ailure a!d a disho!est ma!( 5harley is the $irst o!e to
see Willy2s $ailures be"ause Willy goes to him to borro& mo!ey to pay the bills be"ause he is !ot
ear!i!g e!ough mo!ey o! his o&!( )is $amily sees his $ailures &he! he goes to his boss to as' $or
a lo"al /ob be"ause he "a! !o lo!ger dri*e lo!g dista!"es be"ause o$ his $lashba"'s a!d e!ds up
getti!g $ired( )e does !ot immediately tell his $amily, but they e!d up $i!di!g out a$ter a short
period o$ time( 1i$$ is the $irst o! to see Willy as a $ailure( )e goes to 1osto! to tal' to his dad
about the $a"t that he is $aili!g math a!d dis"o*ers his $ather ha*i!g a! a$$air &ith a &oma!( i!da
'!o&s about the a$$air, but 'eeps it to hersel$ as to !ot "ause $ri"tio! i! the $amily( 1ased o! this
i!$ormatio!, sadly, Willy is see! by others as a $ailure a!d a disho!est ma! by the e!d o$ the story(
0! "o!"lusio!, Willy oma!, is a ma! &ho has both positi*e a!d !egati*e perso!ality traits( The
&ay Willy sees himsel$, as &ell as the &ay others see him "ha!ges bet&ee! the begi!!i!g a!d the
e!d o$ the play(
Wor's 5ited
6iller, Arthur( 7#eath o$ a %alesma!(7 iterature: A! 0!trodu"tio! to 8i"tio!, Poetry a!d #rama(
-d 9(:( ;e!!edy a!d #a!a <ioia( 4th ed( ,e& =or' 5ity: Pearso! o!gma!, 200>( 1194(
:e!!i$er a'e
-8?Team2Threads: 1
Posts: 2,229
Apr 22, 07, 02:1.am #2
<reeti!gs@
=ou2*e do!e a good /ob o$ relati!g the a"tio! o$ the play a!d gi*i!g some i!sight i!to the
"hara"ters a!d their moti*atio!s@
=our grammar a!d pu!"tuatio! are *ery good@ 0 ha*e o!ly a $e& little editi!g suggestio!s:
The &ay Willy sees himsel$, as &ell as the &ay others see him, Aadd "ommaB "ha!ges bet&ee! the
begi!!i!g a!d the e!d o$ the play(
Willy puts great emphasis o! his theory that o!e is more su""ess$ul i$ they are attra"ti*e a!d &ell+
li'ed( + 7o!e7 is si!gularC 7they7 is plural( )e!"e, 7o!e7 "a!!ot be more su""ess$ul i$ 7they7 are
attra"ti*e( 0t2s all right to say 7i$ he is attra"ti*e a!d &ell+li'ed,7 espe"ially i! this "o!teDt &he! the
7o!e7 is a 7he7 a!y&ay(
This is probably be"ause he is a star $ootball player(((7 + 0! your pre*ious se!te!"e, 7he7 re$erred to
WillyC you "a!!ot use 7he7 i! the $ollo&i!g se!te!"e to re$er to someo!e di$$ere!t &ithout $irst
usi!g a proper !ame to ide!ti$y the !e& 7he(7 %ay, 7(((be"ause 1i$$ is a star(((7
1i$$ is the $irst o! to see Willy as a $ailure( + 0 thi!' this is a typoC you mea!t 7o!e7 i!stead o$ 7o!(7
i!da '!o&s about the a$$air, but 'eeps it to hersel$ so as to !ot "ause $ri"tio! i! the $amily(
4!less you &ere spe"i$i"ally i!stru"ted to ma'e your "o!"ludi!g se!te!"es eDa"tly mirror your
thesis, it2s better to *ary the &ordi!g slightly( =our thesis "ould also be a bit stro!ger( 7The &ay
Willy sees himsel$, as &ell as the &ay others see him "ha!ges bet&ee! the begi!!i!g a!d the e!d
o$ the play7 is a rather ge!eri" obser*atio!( =ou "ould ma'e it stro!ger by sayi!g somethi!g
li'e,71y the e!d o$ the play, Willy2s "are$ully "o!stru"ted $a"ade o$ the su""ess$ul $amily ma! a!d
salesma! &ithers i! the harsh light o$ reality(7 0! other &ords, be more spe"i$i" about ho& the
"ha!ges a$$e"t him(
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Ba!"#o$n% Of The Analys&s
iterature is a body o$ *erbal &or's, &ritte! or oral, related by sub/e"t+matter, by la!guage or
pla"e o$ origi!, or by domi!a!t "ultural sta!dards( uigi added that Eliterature is a slice of life that
has been given direction and meaning, an artistic interpretation of the world according to the
percipients point of views (Luigi/ 1990:1!" 0t mea!s that he i!terprets that there is a "lose
relatio!ship bet&ee! li$e a!d literature( iterature "a! be said as mirror o$ li$eFs "o!ditio! but it still
has a! artisti" *alue(
%tephe! regards literature as #a particular function of the whole social organi$ation
(%tephen/19&:10!" 0t mea!s that i! literature &e "a! $i!d the so"ial orga!i3atio!, bet&ee! the
i!di*idual a!d so"iety a!d their so"ial li$e( iterature also "a! be bor! based o! the li$e eDperie!"e( 0t
is also gi*es us a! eDpla!atio! that literature "a! !ot be separated $rom li$e( 1y seei!g this, the &riter
"a! "o!"ludes that literature is o!e o$ the bridges to ma'e someo!e "a! "ommu!i"ates &ith the
so"iety about the li$eFs "o!ditio! by his &or's( %o, iterature is a li$e(
Pe"' a!d 6arti! 5oyle G19.4:12H states that #the main generic divisions of literature are poetr',
novel and drama" Poetry is de$i!ed as a "ompositio! &ritte! i! *erse Galthough *erse has bee!
eIually used $or epi" a!d dramati" $i"tio!H( Poetry rely hea*ily o! imagery, pre"ise &ord "hoi"e, a!d
metaphorC they may ta'e the $orm o$ measures "o!sisti!g o$ patter!s o$ stresses Gmetri" $eetH or o$
patter!s o$ di$$ere!t+le!gth syllables( Poetry as a $orm o$ literature ma'es some
4!i*ersitas %umatera 4tara
sig!i$i"a!t use o$ the $ormal properties o$ the &ords it uses( The properties atta"hed to the &ritte!
or spo'e! $orm o$ the &ords, rather tha! to their mea!i!g( 6etre depe!ds o! syllables a!d o!
rhythms o$ spee"h(
#rama has its o&! "hara"teristi"s i$ &e "ompare it &ith poetry a!d !o*el( There are "ertai!
limitatio!s that do !ot o""ur i! those other bra!"hes o$ literature, &hi"h o""ur i! drama( The most
ob*ious thi!g is the la"' o$ the des"riptio! a!d "o!*e!tio!al !arrati*e( 1eside that, the #ramatist has
to pru!e his &or' to all dialogue a!d a *ie& the stage dire"tio!s( 4!li'e the !o*elist, &ho has ample
spa"e to a!aly3e the "hara"ters a!d e!large o! s"e!e a!d a"tio!(
(rama or pla' is a composition in verse of prose, consisting of speeches and conversations and
suitable for presentation on the stage ( )elland, 19*: +!" #rama has $our 'i!ds( There are: "omedy,
tragedy, tragi" "omedy, a!d $ar"e( #rama also "a! be see! $rom t&o sides( A drama a"hie*es its most
"hara"teristi" eDpressio! &he! i!terpreted by a"tors o! a stage is "alled theatre" A!d it may also be
regarded as a pie"e o$ literature &hi"h is read $or pleasure a!d it is "alled as pla'( Whether read or
a"ted, ho&e*er, it ma'es dema!d a!d imposes restri"tio!s(
0! drama or play &e al&ays $i!d that the "hara"ters are al&ays "aught up i! ma!y sort o$ "risis,
dilemma or "o!$usio!( %ome o$ the problems al&ays happe! i! them a!d these problems raise the
"o!$li"ts(
0! this thesis, the &riter uses Arthur 6illerFs play ,he (eath -f %alesman( This play is about
Willy oma! &ho tries to rea"h the Ameri"a! #ream( 0! this play, Willy as the leadi!g "hara"ter
li*es all the day o$ his li$e tryi!g to be"ome a su""ess$ul, $amous a!d ri"h salesma!( -*e! his sel$
image that he portrays to the others is a lie a!d he is e*e! able to de"ei*e himsel$ &ith it( )e tries to
li*e i!
Ameri"a! #ream( A!d this play also sho&s his $amily e!"ou!ters ma!y problems( A!d ma!y
problems that happe! i! this story are the result o$ Ameri"a! #reams( 6a!y o$ WillyFs problems are
sel$ i!$li"ted, the reaso! o$ this sel$ i!$li"ted are be"ause he &a!ts to li*e i! the Ameri"a! #reams(
)is problems i! li$e usually "aused o$ his ambitio! to get the Ameri"a! #ream(
Ameri"a! #ream has bee! re"og!i3ed by Ameri"a!s i! all aspe"ts o$ li$e( Ameri"a! #ream is a
dream o$ a la!d i! &hi"h li$e should be better a!d ri"her $or e*eryo!e, &ith opportu!ity $or ea"h
a""ordi!g to ability or a"hie*eme!t( 0t is !ot a dream o$ motor "ars a!d high &ages merely, but a
dream o$ so"ial order i! &hi"h ea"h ma! a!d ea"h &oma! shall be regarded by their "apability to
attai! the $ullest statue a!d re"og!i3ed by others $or &hat they are, !o $rom the $ortuitous
"ir"umsta!"es o$ birth or positio!(
The idea o$ the Ameri"a! #ream is as old as Ameri"a itsel$( The "ou!try is o$te! *ie&ed as a!
empty $ro!tier to be eDplored a!d "o!Iuered( 4!li'e the Jld World, The ,e& World had !o so"ial
hierar"hies, so a ma! "ould be &hate*er he &a!ted, rather tha! merely ha*i!g the optio! o$ doi!g
&hat his $ather did( %o, people al&ays "o!"lude that the idea o$ the Ameri"a! #ream &as a!y ma!
that li*i!g i! Ameri"a "ould, &ith perso!ality a!d dedi"atio! be"ome *ery su""ess$ul( The importa!t
eleme!ts o$ Ameri"a! #ream are: deta"hed housesC the dream o$ home o&!ership, dream o$ the good
li$e a!d the dream o$ eIuality(
0 use this play ,he (eath -f %alesman be"ause i! this play, those eleme!ts o$ Ameri"a! #reams
are appear i! the "hara"terFs per$orma!"e, espe"ially Willy oma! as the leadi!g "hara"ter( 1eside
that, the &riter also *ery i!terested i! this play be"ause this play got ma!y a&ards su"h as The ,e&
=or' #rama 5riti"Fs
5ir"le A&ard, The Theater 5lub A&ard, a!d it also atte!ded The Pro+%o*iet 5ultural A!d
%"ie!ti$i" 5o!$ere!"e $or World Pea"e(
1.2
The Statement Of P#o'lem
8rom the &ebsite E&&&(google("omK the &riter ta'es the Iuotatio! $rom ;e!!y Lo&la!d( That
is:
#.iller had a relationship with the idea of the /merican (reams" 0or the e1ample his
wor2 ,he (eath -f %alesman" 3n this pla', 4ill' as the main character had problems and it
were self5inflicted, it is because he wants to live in /merican (ream" 3f he had changed his
standards or 6ust have been content with his life, his problems would have been limited in
amount and proportion" 4ill's problem usuall' caused of his chase towards the /merican
(ream"
8rom this Iuotatio! the 0 "ould $eel that ,he (eath -f %alesman re$le"ts the Ameri"a! #ream( 1y
seei!g this, 0 &a!t to ide!ti$y a!d a!aly3e ho& $ar the ,he (eath -f %alesman re$le"ts the Ameri"a!
#ream(
%o, i! this thesis 0 &a!t to sol*e the problems a!d eDplai! about the Ameri"a! #ream a!d its
impa"t &hi"h is *ie&ed $rom the leadi!g "hara"ter:
1( 0s it true that ,he (eath -f %alesman re$le"ts the Ameri"a! #reamsM
1(
What 'i!d o$ Ameri"a! #ream that &e "a! $i!d i! ,he (eath -f %alesmanM
What are the impa"t o$ Ameri"a! #ream that $ou!d o! Willy oma! as the leadi!g "hara"ter i! ,he
(eath -f %alesmanM
1.(
The O')et&*e Of The St$%y.
0 ha*e some ob/e"ti*es by &riti!g this thesis( They are as the $ollo&i!g:
1( To $i!d out ,he (eath -f %alesman is truly re$le"ts the Ameri"a! #ream(
2( To $i!d out the eleme!ts o$ Ameri"a! #reams i! ,he (eath -f %alesman(
3( To $i!d out the impa"ts o$ Ameri"a! #reams o! Willy oma! as the leadi!g "hara"ter i!
Arthur 6illerFs ,he (eath -f %alesmanM
1.+
The So,e Of The St$%y
0t is importa!t to ma'e a s"ope i! a!aly3i!g this thesis be"ause it &ill ma'e this thesis more
ob/e"ti*e( 0! this thesis, the &riter o!ly $o"uses o! the three eleme!ts o$ Ameri"a! #ream( A!d it
really *ie&ed $rom WillyFs li$e as the leadi!g "hara"ter(
0 also "hoose Willy as the leadi!g "hara"ter to sho& the e$$e"ts o$ Ameri"a! #reams be"ause o!
himsel$ the three eleme!ts o$ Ameri"a! #ream is truly sho&!(
1.- The S&"n&f&ane Of The St$%y
0 &ill gi*e the sig!i$i"a!"es o$ studyi!g this topi"( They are:
1(
to gi*e a better u!dersta!di!g about drama(
to eDplai! the eleme!ts o$ Ameri"a! #reams i! Arthur 6illerFs ,he (eath of %alesman"
to e!"ourage people '!o& more about The Ameri"a! #ream(
1..
The Re*&e/ Of Relate% 0&te#at$#e
These $ollo&i!g boo's are the mai! sour"es o$ $i!di!g data a!d i!$ormatio! i! a!aly3i!g this
play( They are:
,he /merican (ream #/ 7istor' -f /n 3dea ,hat %haped / 8ation, by :im 5ulle! G197.H( 0! this
boo', the &riter $i!ds the eleme!ts o$ Ameri"a! #ream( They are: deta"hed houses: the dream o$
home o&!ership, dream o$ the good li$e a!d the dream o$ eIuality( 0t also tells about his
i!terpretatio! i! Ameri"a! #reams( %o 0 "a! get some idea a!d i!$ormatio! about the Ameri"a!
#reams a!d it supports my thesis(
,he 9haracteri$ation in /rthur .illers ,he (eath -f %alesman, by )i/ria!i 6al$i!i G2002H( The
theory a!d the eDpla!atio! that &ritte! i! this boo' support me e*e!though there are some
eDpla!atio! are!Ft good e!ough be"ause the &riter does!Ft gi*e a detail eDpla!atio!(
1.1
Theo#&t&al A,,#oah
The &riter uses the mimeti" approa"h( This approa"h mea!s that literary &or's is the re$le"tio!s
o$ the reality( This re$le"tio!s based o! the imitatio! a!d the &riterFs imagi!atio! o$ li$eFs reality( 0t
mea!s that the &riter ma'es his &or' based o! the re$le"tio! o$ the li$eFs portrait( %o, the idea that the
&riter uses is !ot the origi!al( 1e"ause he o!ly sees a!d $eels the reality a!d re$le"ts it i! his &or'(
Nai!uddi! 8a!a!ie G2001H said that the &o!der o$ mimesis lies i! the "opy dra&i!g are o! the
"hara"ter a!d po&er o$ the origi!al, to the poi!t &here the represe!tatio! may e*e! assume that
"hara"ter a!d that po&er( A!d mimeti"ally bi!d our eDperie!"e o$ reality to sub/e"ti*ity a!d "o!!ote
a se!suous eDperie!"e that is beyo!d re$ere!"e to reality(
0! Arthur 6illerFs ,he (eath -f %alesman, 6iller tries to portray the "o!"ept o$ the Ameri"a!
#ream( 6a!y Ameri"a!s see' mo!ey, possessio!s, happi!ess, et" but ho& ma!y "a! say that they are
truly happy o!"e they rea"h this goal( There is !o sta!dardi3atio! o$ bei!g ri"h( %ome people see
mo!ey as the o!ly &ay o$ measuri!g ho& prosperous o!e is, but is mo!ey the o!ly &ay to a"hie*e
the Ameri"a! #reamM
The #eath J$ %alesma! sho&s &hat "a! happe! &he! the dream is $alse, distorted or u!$ul$illed(
The Ameri"a! #ream is a serious trouble $or Willy oma! a!d his $amily be"ause o$ his pre*e!t o$
su""ess, &ealth a!d status( )e belie*es i!
CHAPTER II
THEORITICA0 RE2IE3
2.1 The Def&n&t&on of D#ama
#rama is a "omposite art o$ the !ature a!d "hara"ter o$ &hi"h is determi!ed by some eDter!al
$a"tors+ the stage, the a"tor, the stage ma!ager a!d abo*e all the audie!"e( The dramatist must &rite
&hat the stage ma!ager &a!ts, &hat the audie!"e &ill li'e, &hat the stage "a! a$$ord to gi*e proper
represe!tatio! a!d &hat a"tors &ill be able to imperso!ateC other&ise he &ill star*e( What &e read i!
drama is little more tha! a bare outli!e &hi"h the dramatist i!te!ded to be $illed by the art o$ the
a"tor, a!d the busi!ess o$ the boards(
The %tru"ture o$ #rama
-*ery dramati" story re*ol*es rou!d some "o!$li"t, some "lash o$ opposed i!di*iduals or passio!s or
i!terests( 0! a tragedy this "o!$li"ts termi!ates i! a "atastrophe, &hile i! a "omedy it leads to a happy
"o!"lusio!( The prese!tatio! o$ the gro&th, de*elopme!t a!d "o!"lusio! o$ the dramati" "o!$li"t has
"alled $or the di*isio! o$ the plot i!to some &ell+de$i!es parts( The di$$ere!t parts o$ the plot or &hat
&e ge!erally "all the dramati" stru"ture are '!o&! as -Dpositio! Gor i!itial a""ide!tH, 5ompli"atio!
Gor risi!g a"tio!H, 5risis Gor tur!i!g poi!tH, #e!oueme!t Gor $alli!g a"tio!H, a!d 5atastrophe Gi! a
tragedyH(
This $i*e+$old stru"ture has "alled $orth the *ery "ommo! a!d o!"e almost the u!i*ersal di*isio! o$ a
play i!to $i*e a"ts( There are, ho&e*er, ma!y plays i!"ludi!g %ha'espeareFs &hi"h do !ot "o!$orm to
this $i*e $old stru"ture(
-Dpositio! "o*ers that part o$ the play i! &hi"h the "o!$li"t origi!ates( 0t "o*ers usually the $irst a"t
o$ a play, a!d its mai! busi!ess is to impart to the audie!"e all su"h i!$ormatio! is !e"essary $or the
proper u!dersta!di!g o$ the play is goi!g to &it!ess( 0t i!trodu"es them to the dramatist perso!ae,
sho&s them their G"hara"tersH positio!s i! li$e, their "ir"umsta!"es, their relatio!s to o!e a!other, a!d
somethi!g o$ their "hara"ters( 0t is i!te!ded to eD"ite their "uriosity a!d lea*es them eDpe"ta!t( The
situatio! as prese!ted by the eDpositio! is !ot o!e o$ "o!$li"t, but it threate!s "o!$li"t( The mai!
busi!ess o$ the eDpositio! i! .acbeth is to sho& us the "hara"ter o$ 6a"beth, his heroism, ambitio!,
his imagi!atio! to let us '!o& the "hara"ters are(
The great!ess o$ a play depe!ds mu"h o! the s'il$ul ma!ageme!t o$ the eDpositio!( The dramatist
should impart the !e"essary i!$ormatio! o!ly i!dire"tly, a!d i! a dramati" &ay a!d su"h as, u!less he
uses a prologue(
<ood eDpositio! should, there$ore, be i! the $orm o$ dialogue, &hi"h seem !atural i! the
"ir"umsta!"es( The eDpositio! is $ollo&ed by "ompli"atio! or the rise o$ the a"tio! to its "risis( The
"o!$li"t &hi"h is hi!ted i! the eDpositio! ta'es a de$i!ite shape i! this part(
5ompli"atio! reIuires to be ha!dled *ery s'ill$ully( -*ery e*e!t i! it should !ot o!ly appear
to gro& !aturally out o$ &hat pre"eded it, but also mar' a $resh stage i! the de*elopme!t o$ the plot(
6oreo*er, the proper relatio!s bet&ee! "hara"ter a!d a"tio! should be mai!tai!ed( #uri!g the
"ompli"atio! the dramatist should hi!t at those eleme!ts i! the "o!$li"t &hi"h are to "ome i!to
promi!e!"e at the "risis( 0$ the "o!$li"t lies bet&ee! perso!s, the dramatist should i!di"ate the
"hara"ters &ho are to bri!g about the "atastrophes Gi$ the play is a tragedyH or the
solutio!s Gi$ the play is a "omedyH( 0$ it lies i! the mi!d o$ the hero, he should gi*e su$$i"ie!t
i!di"atio! about the Iualities &hi"h are to &i!( To i!trodu"e a !e& "hara"ter $or the purpose o$
bri!gi!g about the "atastrophe or solutio!, a!d to bri!g $or&ard i!terests a!d moti*es o$ &hi"h !o
i!di"atio! has bee! gi*e! be$ore spoils the dramati" i!terests( The "ompli"atio! "ommo!ly "o*ers
the se"o!d a"t, a!d part o$ the third(
The "risis mar's the tur!i!g poi!t i! the "o!$li"t( 0t "omprises that part o$ the play i! &hi"h
#one of the contending forces obtains such controlling power that henceforth its ultimate success is
assured (7udson/19&&::&!!" 0t is laid do&! as a rule o$ the "risis that it should be the !atural a!d
logi"al out"ome o$ all that has go!e be$ore( As )udso! says, Ean event which is to determine the
whole course of the action to its catastrophe should arise out of the action itself (7udson/19&&::!
The "risis is ge!erally pla"ed i! the middle o$ the a"tio! or a little beyo!d the middle(
The "risis is $ollo&ed by the #e!oueme!t &hi"h "omprises that portio! the play i! &hi"h the
dramati" "o!$li"t is to be brought to its "o!"lusio!( #uri!g the de!oueme!t &e see, i! the "ase o$ a
tragedy, the setti!g $ree o$ the $or"es o$ e*il to &or' out their o&! &ills, a!d thereby their o&! doomC
i! the "ase o$ "omedy &e see the gradual e*aporatio! o$ all those di$$i"ulties a!d misu!dersta!di!g
&hi"h ha*e e!da!gered the good $ortu!e o$ the hero a!d heroi!e, a!d ha*e stood i! their &ay o$ their
u!io!( ,aturally &ith the setti!g i! o$ the de!oueme!t the suspe!se a!d u!"ertai!ty &ith &hi"h &e
ha*e so lo!g &at"hed the plot are o*er, be"ause &e "a! $oresee ho& the play is goi!g to e!d( A!d
o!"e the suspe!se, the sour"e o$ the i!terest &e $eel i! a play is s&it"hed o$$,
the play is bou!d to $lop( %o the dramatist must ma!age his de!oueme!t i! su"h a &ay as to
'eep ali*e the dramati" i!terest o$ the audie!"e( The best &ay to 'eep up the i!terest is to i!terpose
$resh e*e!ts or episodes &hi"h i!terrupt the progress o$ the $alli!g a"tio!, a!d thus ser*e temporarily
to re*i*e u!"ertai!ty a!d suspe!se(
0! "omedy, the i!terest is o$te! sought to be 'ept up by the employme!t o$ *arious
u!eDpe"ted obsta"les &hi"h "he"' the happy "ourse o$ thi!gs( 0! a tragedy, by suggestio! that a &ay
o$ es"ape $or the hero a!d heroi!e may yet ope! up, a!d the $ate that a&aits them be a*erted(
The last part o$ the dramati" stru"ture is "atastrophe Gi! a tragedyH or solutio! Gi! a "omedyH(
With the "atastrophe all our doubts a!d u!"ertai!ties are go!e, a!d &here are le$t poised o! the "rest
o$ "ertai!ty a!d $i!ality( i'e the "risis the "atastrophe or solutio! is the !atural a!d logi"al out"ome
o$ &hat has go!e be$ore( A!y "atastrophe or solutio! &hi"h is !ot the i!e*itable out"ome o$ the
i!tera"tio! o$ the "hara"ters a!d the "ir"umsta!"es a!d &hi"h is superimposed by some eDter!al
age!"y should be es"he&ed(
The #ramati" Types
There are $our 'i!ds o$ the dramati" types( 8irstly is tragi" "omedy( Tragi" "omedy as the
term implies, is both tragedy a!d "omedy( 0!deed this spe"ies o$ dramati" eDpressio! "ombi!es some
o$ the $eatures o$ tragedy &ith those o$ "omedy(
Tragi" "omedy has some stru"tural a!d themati" pe"uliarities( 0! s"e!e it is impossible( 0t
s"e!e is laid i! some pla"e &hi"h is $ar remo*ed $rom the "o!temporary so"iety(
%e"o!dly is $ar"e( 8ar"e mea!s a dramati" &or' desig!ed solely to eD"ite laughter( 0!
etymologi"al se!se, $ar"e mea!s the types o$ drama &hi"h is stu$$ed &ith absurd a!d improbable
situatio!s "hara"ters a!d dialogues &hi"h are all i!te!ded to ma'e the audie!"e burst i!to $ull
throated laughter(
The other type is melodrama( 6elodrama is to tragedy &hat $ar"e is to "omedy( The emphasis is
put i! "rude physi"al a"tio!, murders, bloodsheds, sui"ides a!d other blood "urdli!g i!"ide!ts( 0t
aims at produ"i!g purely se!satio!al e$$e"ts o! the audie!"e a!d ma'es use o$ purely theatri"al
la!guage+la!guage $ull o$ ra!t a!d bombast(
The "hara"ters are merely perso!i$i"atio!s o$ some abstra"t Iualities+more o$te! they are the
embodime!ts o$ re*e!ge, "ruelty, a!d greed( Tragedy is disti!guished $rom melodrama by its
pe!etrati!g a!d illumi!ati!g po&er o$ "hara"teri3atio!, a!d its i!siste!"e upo! somethi!g deeper a!d
more pro$ou!d tha! mere out&ard e*e!ts(
A!d the last is the masIue( 0t is a $orm o$ dramati" e!tertai!me!t &hi"h i!*ol*es da!"es a!d
disguises a!d i! &hi"h the spe"ta"ular a!d musi"al eleme!ts predomi!ate o*er plot a!d "hara"ter(
The s"e!es are usually laid i! some ideal regio!s ha*i!g !o lo"al habitatio! a!d !ame( The
masIues are usually &ritte! i! rhymes a!d are mea!t $or per$orma!"e at the "ourt o! the o""asio! o$
royal $esti*ities or o! similar o""asio!s( The per$orma!"e o$ masIue is a "ostly a$$air, as it employs
highly eDpe!si*e setti!gs a!d "ostumes a!d dresses( 0t is o$ 0talia! origi!(
2.2 The Ame#&an D#eam
The Ameri"a! #ream "a! be des"ribed as a belie$ i! $reedom that allo&s all "iti3e!s a!d
reside!ts o$ the 4!ited %tates o$ Ameri"a to a"hie*e their goals i! li$e through hard &or'( Today, i!
Ameri"a it ge!erally re$ers to the idea that o!e2s prosperity depe!ds upo! o!e2s o&! abilities a!d hard
&or', !ot o! a rigid "lass stru"ture, though the mea!i!g o$ the phrase has "ha!ged o*er Ameri"a2s
history( 8or some, it is the opportu!ity to a"hie*e more prosperity tha! they "ould i! their "ou!tries
o$ origi!C $or others, it is the opportu!ity $or their "hildre! to gro& up &ith a! edu"atio! a!d "areer
opportu!itiesC $or others, it is the opportu!ity to be a! i!di*idual &ithout the "o!strai!ts imposed by
"lass, "aste, ra"e, or eth!i"ity(
The de$i!itio! o$ the Ameri"a! #ream is !o& u!der "o!sta!t dis"ussio! a!d debate( Also
7The pa"'age o$ belie$s, assumptio!s, a!d a"tio! patter!s that so"ial s"ie!tists ha*e labeled the
Ameri"a! #ream has al&ays bee! a $ragile agglomeratio! o$: G1H i!di*idual $reedom o$ "hoi"e i! li$e
styles, G2H eIual a""ess to e"o!omi" abu!da!"e, a!d G3H the pursuit o$ shared ob/e"ti*es mutually
ad*a!tageous to the i!di*idual a!d so"iety(7
)o&e*er, the "o!"ept o$ the Ameri"a! #ream goes ba"' to the 1Oth "e!tury( As 1Oth a!d
17th "e!tury -!glish promoters &ere attempti!g to persuade -!glishme! to mo*e to the "olo!ies(
Their promises about &hat the "olo!ies &ere li'e &ere simulta!eously layi!g the grou!d&or' $or
three separate, but i!terrelated persiste!t myths o$ Ameri"a: Ameri"a as the la!d o$ ple!ty, Ameri"a
as the la!d o$ opportu!ity, a!d Ameri"a as the la!d o$ desti!y( Ameri"a as the la!d o$ ple!ty $igured
more promi!e!tly i! 1.th a!d 19th "e!tury de$i!itio!s o$ the Ameri"a! #ream tha! it does today(
5e!tral to the dream &as the prese!"e o$
the Gstill u!tamedH Ameri"a! la!d, alo!g &ith the Iuestio! ho& to deal &ith !ature a!d ho&
to li*e &ith other people o! the la!d(
The term &as $irst used by :ames Truslo& Adams i! his boo' ,he ;pic of /merica &hi"h &as
&ritte! i! 1931( )e states: 7The Ameri"a! #ream is 7that dream o$ a la!d i! &hi"h li$e should be
better a!d ri"her a!d $uller $or e*eryo!e, &ith opportu!ity $or ea"h a""ordi!g to ability or
a"hie*eme!t( 0t is a di$$i"ult dream $or the -uropea! upper "lasses to i!terpret adeIuately, a!d too
ma!y o$ us oursel*es ha*e gro&! &eary a!d mistrust$ul o$ it( 0t is !ot a dream o$ motor "ars a!d high
&ages merely, but a dream o$ so"ial order i! &hi"h ea"h ma! a!d ea"h &oma! shall be able to attai!
to the $ullest stature o$ &hi"h they are i!!ately "apable, a!d be re"og!i3ed by others $or &hat they
are, regardless o$ the $ortuitous "ir"umsta!"es o$ birth or positio!(
Ameri"a!s ha*e traditio!ally "e!tered their e$$orts o! thri$t a!d hard &or'( #uri!g the
5olo!ial Period, 1e!/ami! 8ra!'li! "ou!seled people o! the 7The Way to Wealth(7 <oor =ichard>s
/lmanac ad*ised that 7-arly to 1ed, a!d early to rise, ma'es a 6a! healthy, &ealthy, a!d &ise(7
The result o$ this shi$t i! &or' ethi" has a"tually spurred rather tha! lesse!ed the peopleFs
desire to a"hie*e the Ameri"a! #ream( =et the real di$$ere!"e is that the #ream has be"ome more o$
a! e!titleme!t tha! somethi!g to &or' to&ards( 6a!y Ameri"a!s !o lo!ger e!tertai! a *isio! $or the
$uture that i!"ludes time, s&eat, a!d ultimate su""ess( Lather, they "o*et the short"ut to &ealth(
6a!y &ho are e!gaged i! &or' *ie& it more as a !e"essary e*il u!til stri'i!g it ri"h( This idea has
bee! perpetuated by a massi*e mar'eti!g e$$ort that
legitimi3es the message that &ealth "a! be obtai!ed Iui"'ly a!d easily( Whether through the
tele*isio! e!tertai!me!t i!dustry, state+based lottery mar'eti!g dri*es, or legal ad*ertiseme!ts,
Ameri"a!s are told agai! a!d agai! that the road to the $i!a!"ial su""ess o$ the Ameri"a! #ream is
more a matter o$ lu"' tha! hard &or'
4ltimately, most Ameri"a!s &ould li'e to a"hie*e the Ameri"a! #ream o$ $i!a!"ial
i!depe!de!"e( =et it is the mea!s to a"hie*i!g it that are esse!tial to the !atio!2s ethi"al $ou!datio!s(
0t seems that ma!y Ameri"a!s "o*et the easy road to the #ream a!d i! the pro"ess u!der"ut the "ore
*alues that established the #ream i! the $irst pla"e( -Iually "ulpable are the big busi!esses that
"apitali3e o! the Iuest $or the #ream( 0! a! iro!i" se!se, su"h busi!esses are $ul$illi!g the #ream $or
themsel*es &hile da!gli!g the possibility o$ the #ream o*er the heads o$ the publi"(
2.2.1 The Myth
The very name calls the New World an idyllic myth, the start of a new
golden age, a new beginning for a new Adam. The name
conspired with the idea of nature (all early Europeans believed
the New World to be in a natural condition! to ensure that the
prevailing myth of the New World would be that of a new "arden
of Eden. The ancient myths of land in the west #whether the
"ree$ idea of Elysian %ields, Where blessed heroes of "reece
went after death to their eternal afterlife& The 'oman idea of the
islands of the blest, which spontaneously produced an abundance
of food& or the supposed geographical location of the (hristian
"arden of Eden)reinforced the idea that the New World was a new
paradise. *ndeed, (olumbus sometimes thought during his third
voyage of
e+ploration to America (,-./),011! that he had discovered the actual
location of the Terrestrial 2aradise. The New World seemed to
promise that man$ind could recapture the innocence, 3oys, and
eternal life, as well as the freedom from cares and labor that had
e+isted in the "arden of Eden.
All early Ameri"a! literature e"hoes the illusio!s a!d disillusio!s o$ the Ameri"a! #ream( The
"olo!istFs home &as, a$ter all, simulta!eously a! ideal a!d a disappoi!ti!g reality( The *isio! o$
Ameri"a as paradise gradually $adedF 1y the mid+siDtee!th "e!tury, &he! -uropea!s thought o$ the
,e& World, it brought to mi!d !ot the age o$ gold+but a la!d o$ gold( %ome still sear"hed there $or
their $ou!tai! o$ youth, but more sear"hed $or mi!es o$ gold( The %pa!ish $ou!d the ,e& World to be
a la!d o$ "ities a!d golde! treasures, &here the !ati*es &ould &or' Gas sla*es, i$ !e"essaryH $or the
"olo!ists &ho "ould spe!d a $e& ad*e!turous years i! Ameri"a be$ore retiri!g, loaded &ith gold, to
-urope( The -!glish "olo!ists, ho&e*er, $ou!d !either "ities !or mou!tai!s o$ gold, o!ly a! e!dless
$orest, i!habited by small ba!ds o$ 0!dia!s &ho li*ed a meager subsiste!"e a!d &ho &ould !ot
be"ome their sla*es( The earliest -!glish attempts to $ou!d "olo!ies $ailed( A &ell+eIuipped ba!d o$
"olo!ists &ho &ere le$t at Loa!o'e, ,orth 5aroli!a, i! 1>.7 GEthe lost "olo!yKH, mysteriously
disappeared by 1>90, lea*i!g o!ly the &ord E5LJATJA,K "ar*ed o! a doorpost( #espite repeated
$ailures, the -!glish "o!ti!ued to ha*e great eDpe"tatio!s $or Ameri"a(
6ost early "olo!ists star*ed a!d died( The $irst perma!e!t -!glish "olo!ists i! Ameri"a settled at
:amesto&!, Pirgi!ia, i! 1O07( -migra!ts "ame to Ameri"a $or all possible reaso!s( 1ut the Pirgi!ia
5ompa!y o$ o!do!, the
busi!ess "ompa!y that spo!sored the settleme!t, "ertai!ly eDpe"ted pro$it( The "ro&!, permitti!g the
settleme!t, hoped $or greater empire, po&er, a!d pro$it( The i!di*iduals &ho sailed to Pirgi!ia
&a!ted glory a!d gold( The ma/or reaso! $or the settleme!t o$ Pirgi!ia &as to ma'e mo!ey( Although
some emigra!ts "o!ti!ued to hope $or gold, the realists soo! per"ei*ed that timber, $ish, $urs, a!d
toba""o &ere the best possible sour"es o$ Ameri"a! &ealth( While the $ools "o!ti!ued to loo' $or a
short route to the %outh %eas a!d to the $abled &ealth o$ the Jrie!t, others gradually reali3ed that
Ameri"aFs greatest &ealth lay i! the *ery barrier itsel$+the la!d(
5aptai! :oh! %mith eDpressed the great hope o$ most emigra!ts: EWho "a! desire more "o!te!t, that
hath small mea!s, or but o!ly his merit to ad*a!"e his $ortu!es, tha! to tread a!d pla!t that grou!d he
hath pur"hased by the ha3ard o$ his li$eMK a!d+&hi"h mea!t &ealth a!d status+lured "olo!ists(
0! 1O20, the Pilgrims emigrated to Plymouth, 6assa"husetts, $or religious reaso!s( They "ome to set
up their o&! $orm o$ Purita! Leligio! i! Ameri"a( The great Purita! emigratio! to 6assa"husetts
1ay i! 1O30 also &as i!spired by religious reaso!s( %o too &as the 5atholi" settleme!t o$ 6aryla!d
i! 1O33, Loger WilliamsFs re$ugeGLhode 0sla!dsH i! 1O3O, a!d William Pe!!Fs settleme!t o$ a Qua'er
"olo!y i! Pe!!syl*a!ia i! 1O.1( 1ut most people emigrated, e*e! i! the se*e!tee!th "e!tury, be"ause
Ameri"a o$$ered e"o!omi" opportu!ity(
1esides the lure o$ Ameri"a, -uropea! so"ial "o!ditio!s aided emigratio! )ardships, po*erty, &ars,
a!d oppressio! Gpoliti"al a!d religiousH i! -!gla!d a!d
-urope $or"ed people to $lee the Jld World( 1ut the spe"i$i" reaso!s $or emigratio! &ere as *arious
as the people &ho "ame to Ameri"a(
The earliest Ameri"a! literature is promotio! literature, ge!erally disguised as literature o$
eDploratio! a!d dis"o*ery( ,aturally the &riters "elebrated the attra"tio! o$ Ameri"a( They ge!erally
eDaggerated the pleasa!t!ess o$ the "limate, the $rie!dli!ess o$ the 0!dia!s, a!d the abu!da!"e o$
u!"ulti*ated $oods( They al&ays eDaggerated the !umbers o$ people &ho be"ame &ealthy i!
Ameri"a, The possibility o$ &ealth, they thought, &as the most "ertai! attra"tio!( 5aptai! :oh! %mith
realisti"ally said: E0 am !ot so simple as to thi!', that e*er a!y other moti*e tha! &ealth, &ill e*er
ere"t there a 5ommo!&ealC or dra& "ompa!ies $rom their ease a!d humors at home, to stay i! 8ew
;ngland to e$$e"t my purposes(K %o the promotio! &riters perpetuated the old %pa!ish ideas o$ the
,e& World as a la!d o$ gold+but the gold i! Ameri"a &ould be gai!ed by agri"ulture( The myth the
promoters "reated a!d perpetuated &as that a hard&or'i!g ma! "ould be"ome ri"h i! Ameri"a(
,umerous eDamples bore out the truth o$ the myth( 1ut most emigra!ts e'ed out a bare subsiste!"e(
Perhaps those early promotio! &riters really thought that a greater proportio! o$ Ameri"a!s tha!
-!glishme! be"ame &ealthy( A!d perhaps they thought that the Ameri"a! poor &ere less miserable
tha! the -uropea! poor( 1ut most se*e!tee!th+ or eightee!th+"e!tury Ameri"a!s did !ot be"ome
&ealthy(
2.2.2 The I%eolo"y
The Ameri"a! #ream is deep rooted i! the "o!"epts $ou!d i! liberal thought( 0t is a!
Ameri"a! adaptatio! o$ the !orm o$ pri*ate property as a mea!s
is a! eD"elle!t $ormal eDample o$ the origi!s o$ the "o!"ept: o$ liberty, ultimately bri!gi!g
happi!ess to the i!di*iduals( 5lassi" liberal thought stipulates that liberty is guara!teed by $ree trade
a!d "ompetitio!, as these "o!ditio!s let all i!di*iduals maDimi3e their gai!s, deri*ed $rom their !eeds
a!d desires, through trade Gthe mar'etH( 8urthermore, there is the hypothesis that all "iti3e!s are bor!
&ith eIual rights a!d opportu!ities, a!d o!ly e$$ort G&or'H di$$ere!tiates them i! the lo!g term, he!"e
the sayi!g that those &ith &ill su""eed a!d those &ithout do !ot( This eD"erpt o$ the 4!ited %tates
#e"laratio! o$ 0!depe!de!"e
#4e hold these truths to be self5evident, that all men are created e?ual, that the'
are endowed b' their 9reator with certain unalienable =ights, that among these
are Life, Libert' and the pursuit of 7appiness
Legardless o$ the "o!te!t o$ ea"h i!di*idual *ersio! o$ the Ameri"a! dream they all i!"lude
the belie$ i! the opportu!ity to a"hie*e some $orm o$ Iua!titati*e or Iualitati*e su""ess( There$ore, i!
order to better u!dersta!d the eDiste!"e o$ so ma!y di$$ere!t *ersio!s o$ the Ameri"a! dream it
&ould $irst be help$ul to de$i!e the di$$ere!t &ays i! &hi"h su""ess "a! be measured, :e!!i$er
)o"hs"hild states that de$i!itio!s o$ su""ess i!*ol*es measureme!t as &ell as "o!te!t
G7ochschild/199&:1!" %he "lassi$ies su""ess i!to the $ollo&i!g three "ategories &hi"h ha*e
importa!t !ormati*e a!d beha*ioral "o!seIue!"es( They are absolute su""ess, "ompetiti*e su""ess,
a!d relati*e su""ess(
The $irst o!e is the absolute su""ess( 70! this "ase a"hie*i!g the Ameri"a! dream implies
rea"hi!g some threshold o$ &ell bei!g, higher tha! &here o!e bega! but !ot !e"essarily da33li!g(7
The se"o!d is "ompetiti*e su""ess( 7it mea!s that to a"hie*e *i"tory o*er someo!e else( 6y
su""ess implies your $ailure( 5ompetitors are usually people, &hether '!o&! a!d "o!"rete
Goppo!e!ts i! a te!!is mat"hH or u!'!o&! a!d abstra"t Gall other appli"a!ts $or a /obH7(
The last is relati*e su""ess( 7)ere a"hie*i!g the Ameri"a! dream "o!sists i! be"omi!g better o$$
tha! some "ompariso! poi!t, &hether o!e2s "hildhood, people i! the old "ou!try, o!e2s !eighbors, a
"hara"ter $rom a boo', a!other ra"e or ge!der+a!ythi!g or a!yo!e that o!e measures o!esel$ agai!st(
Lelati*e su""ess implies !o threshold o$ &ell+bei!g, a!d it may or may !ot e!tail "o!ti!ually
"ha!gi!g the "ompariso! group as o!e a"hie*es a gi*e! le*el o$ a""omplishme!t(
2.2.( Th#ee Elements of Ame#&an D#eam
2.2.(.1 D#eam of the 4oo% 0&fe5 U,/a#% 6o'&l&ty
The de"laratio! o$ i!depe!de!"e may be the "hara"ter o$ the Ameri"a! #ream, but bet&ee! that
abstra"t do"ume!t a!d "urre!t reality are "ou!tless *ariatio! o! the pursuit o$ happi!ess" =et it also
true that amo!g all the possibilities, as *ariegated as a!y Ameri"a! &ho has e*er li*ed, are basi"
"lasses o$ dreams that rest o! "o!"epts &hose mea!i!g both tra!s"e!ds a parti"ular "o!teDt a!d gets
de$i!ed by the "o!teDt( The Purita!s dreamt o$ $reedomC so did A$ri"a! Ameri"a!s( 1oth u!derstood
$reedom to represe!t a loose!i!g $rom "oer"i*e restrai!ts, but the !ature o$ the restrai!ts &as *ery
di$$ere!t( 8or the purita!s, they &ere primarily spiritualC $or A$ri"a! Ameri"a!s, they &ere all too
o$te! literal G&hi"h i! tur! "ould ha*e ma/or spiritual "o!seIue!"esH(
%imilarly, &hile the purita!s a!d ma!y o$ their su""essors sought to li*e good li*es, the !ature o$
EgoodK "ha!ged o*er time( 0! the !i!etee!th "e!tury i! parti"ular, the term bega! to ta'e o! a more
ob*ious se"ular orie!tatio! Gthough i! its $o!dest $ormulatio!s, mo*i!g up i! this &orld by !o mea!s
pre"luded mo*i!g up i! the !eDt o!eH( )ard &or' &as !o lo!ger a Ghope$ully use$ulH distra"tio! $rom
the di"tates o$ $ate but rather a! i!strume!t o$ $ate itsel$, a tool $or sel$+reali3atio!(
A!d li'e other Ameri"a! #ream, the po&er o$ this o!e lay i! a se!se o$ "olle"ti*e o&!ership: a!yo!e
"a! get ahead( A! assertio! o$ u!i*ersal e!$ra!"hiseme!t is routi!ely rea$$irmed by this dreamFs
boosters Gthe obsessi*e Iuality o$ their rea$$irmatio!s !e*er Iuite leadi!g them to raise troubli!g
Iuestio!s about the o!goi!g !eed $or regular reassura!"eH( J""asio!ally, it has bee! rou!dly
"o!dem!ed as a! opiate o$ the people, usually by "riti"s o$ Ameri"a! so"iety &ho are dismissed as
disgru!tled, $oreig!, or both( J!ly rarely ha*e the "o!tours o$ this dream bee! seriously eDplored a!d
tested i! a sympatheti", but probi!g, &ay( 1ut that "ould !ot happe! u!til those "o!tours had "learly
emerged( 0t too' a "ouple hu!dred years $or the realities o$ Ameri"a! li$e to shape the #ream o$
4p&ard 6obility(
Throughout the 1ritish "olo!ies+as &ell as !o!+1ritish "olo!ies+the prospe"t o$ mo*i!g up i! the
&orld &as a! a*o&ed moti*e o$ *irtually e*ery -uro Ameri"a! Ga!d e*e! some !o!+-uro
Ameri"a!sH( This &as parti"ularly true o$ appre!ti"es a!d i!de!tured ser*a!ts &ho sig!ed "o!tra"ts
to &or', i! ma!y "ases as *irtual sla*es, $or $iDed terms i! retur! $or the pri"e o$ passage( 0! the early
years i! parti"ular, these par*e!us &ere gi*e! a payme!t i! "ash or supplies &ith &hi"h to ma'e a!
i!depe!de!t start i! the &orld &he! their "o!tra"t e!ded( That
start might yield ri"hes, but ri"hes &ere !ot the sole measure o$ mo*i!g up i! the &orld( -"o!omi"
sel$+su$$i"ie!"y, a se"ure a!d esteemed pro$essio! Ge(g(, the mi!istryH, the leisure to pursue a "areer i!
politi"s: these amo!g others &ere the yardsti"'s by &hi"h up&ard mobility &as measured(
0! a! importa!t respe"t, ho&e*er, the #ream o$ 4p&ard 6obility, parti"ularly i! the %outh, &as
a"tually too su""ess$ul: it Iui"'ly be"ame appare!t to those &ho employed ser*a!ts that it &as i! $a"t
Iuite eDpe!si*e to support them a!d that they "ould be"ome da!gerous "ompetitio! &he! they
mo*ed o!( 1etter, they "o!"luded, to i!*est i! sla*es, &ho "ost more i!itially but &ho had !o payo$$
pri"e a!d e*e! rose i! *alue( G0!deed, the sla*e trade itsel$ be"ame a ma/or mea!s o$ up&ard mobility
$or ma!y "olo!ists(H A$ri"a! Ameri"a!, &ho &ere o!ly a ti!y $ra"tio! o$ Pirgi!iaFs populatio! i! the
mid+se*e!tee!th "e!tury, represe!ted almost hal$ o$ it by the mid+eightee!th( A!d i! parts o$ some
"olo!ies, li'e %outh 5aroli!a, they &ere &ell more tha! hal$( 1y the time o$ the Le*olutio!, sla*ery
&as legal i! all the "olo!ies, a!d i!de!tured ser*itude &as o! the de"li!e( 4p&ard mobility remai!ed
possible, but the terms had a de"isi*ely ra"ial "ast( 8or mu"h o$ Ameri"a! history, the!, up&ard
mobility &as u!derstood, e*e! de$i!ed, by a *isible alter!ati*e o$ immobility(
,or &as mobility !e"essarily ho!ored e*e! amo!g -uropea!s a!d their des"e!da!ts( 0! ma!y
respe"ts, "olo!ial Ameri"a! so"iety &as still stru"tured alo!g traditio!al -!glish li!es o$ de$ere!"e
a!d !oblesse oblige( Aristo"rats had pri*ileges other "olo!ists did !ot, a!d "ommer"e itsel$ &as
*ie&ed as u!ge!tlema!ly by importa!t segme!ts o$ the elite+e*e! i$, as &ith the "ase o$ pla!tatio!
o&!ers, it &as i!"reasi!gly importa!t to sustai!i!g their stature( ,or
&as this so"ial stability de$i!ed a!d regulated solely by established authorities ba"' i!
-!gla!d( 6assa"husetts, $or eDample, remai!ed a theoreti" "olo!y substa!tially "o!trolled by "lergy
&ell i!to the eightee! "e!tury(
The &illi!g!ess to a""ept this $ormulatio! ebbed i! the su""eedi!g ge!eratio!s( 0! the early
de"ades o$ the !i!etee!th "e!tury, state a$ter state made *oti!g pri*ileges less restri"ti*e, ope!i!g the
politi"al system to a larger set o$ &hite ma!, o! the &hole, &ere !ot i!"li!ed to de$er to their betters,
!atural, or other&ise( The hero o$ ma!y o$ these people+the ma! &ho i! ma!y &ays de$i!ed the
Ameri"a! dream o$ up&ard mobility i! the $irst hal$ o$ the !i!etee!th "e!tury &as A!dre& :a"'so!(
Through :a"'so! &as i! $a"t the produ"t o$ a! elite bloodli!e+his gra!d$ather &as a &ealthy &ea*er
$rom a $amily o$ sta!di!g &ith %"ot"h 0rish roots+he &as "elebrated, !ot e!tirely i!"orre"tly, as the
Iui!tesse!tial embodime!t o$ up&ard mobility(
2.2.(.2 Home o/ne#sh&,
6odarres G2007H eDplai!s that a ma/or sour"e o$ &ealth a!d i!terge!eratio!al tra!s$er o$
&ealth is real estate( Pur"hasi!g a home is perhaps the most importa!t i!*estme!t ma!y Ameri"a!s
&ill ma'e( With that stateme!t, it "a! be assumed that the Ameri"a! #ream "a! be a"hie*ed, but "a!
be a"hie*ed to its highest *alue &ith the i!*estme!t i! real estate(
The home o&!ership rate o$ immigra!ts eD"eeds their re!tal rate &ithi! 13 years o$ their
arri*al i! the 4!ited %tates( -Dplai!i!g home o&!ership as a $u!"tio! o$ reside!"y eIuates it &ith
assimilatio!, thereby pla"i!g a burde! o$ a"hie*i!g the Ameri"a! #ream e!tirely o! immigra!ts(
1ei!g $oreig!+bor!, the so"ioe"o!omi" status o$ that populatio! is "ompli"ated &he!
attempti!g to a"hie*e the Ameri"a! dream( Politi"al a!d e"o!omi" "o!ditio!s o$ Ameri"a! so"iety
shape a!d reshape o!e2s ide!tity a!d so"ial positio!( These "o!ditio!s i!"lude aspiratio!s $or eIuality
a!d a"hie*eme!t o$ the Ameri"a! #ream( 0! this regard, housi!g be"omes a! importa!t $a"tor i!
immigra!ts2 eDperie!"e as the idea o$ home is rede$i!ed &ithi! a! Ameri"a! "o!teDt G6odarres
2007H(
2.2.(.( The D#eam of E7$al&ty
Ameri"a is the la!d o$ eIual opportu!ity, $reedom to *ote, to spea', a!d &orship( This idea is rather
appeali!g to most, *ery ideal a!d eDtremely attra"ti*e( 0s it reality or is it simply a! idea, or a mythM
0! todayFs Ameri"a a! eIual opportu!ity is somethi!g &e "a! all stri*e $or, but &ill it e*er be
rea"hedM
8or eDample, Wome! i! Ameri"a ha*e bee! $ighti!g $or rights si!"e the begi!!i!g o$ this
"ou!tryFs eDiste!"e( This "ase "o!sisted o$ t&o me! adopti!g "hildre! &ho are !o& bet&ee! the ages
o$ $i*e a!d $ourtee!(
The more thi!gs "ha!ge o*er time, the more they remai! the same( a&s "a! prote"t, but the
hostile $eeli!gs &ithi! are somethi!g that a la& is !ot "apable o$ e*er "o!trolli!g( 0t has di$$used
$rom ge!eratio! to ge!eratio! li'e a rampa!t disease, a!d seems to o!ly e*ol*e i!to di$$ere!t
"ir"umsta!"es o*er time( These "hildre!, a!d adopted "hildre! $rom other $amilies o$ gay a!d lesbia!
pare!ts are bei!g $ou!d !e& adopti*e $amilies, a$ter bei!g raised a!d lo*ed i! the o!ly $amily that
they ha*e e*er '!o&!( a&s a!d bills "a! be passed, but ho& a! i!di*idual
$eels, *ie&s a!d a"ts to&ards a!other perso! is somethi!g that "a!!ot be "ha!ged( 0! 1930
a!gsto! )ughes &rote this:
0 am the poor &hite, $ooled a!d pushed apart,
I am the red man driven from the land. Men do not ever have to deal with options or
situations like this. If things were really, truly equal in this country, these so called as right
would never be jeopardized in the first place. Individuals have their own mindset and
perceptions of other groups of people. his myth has nothing but boundaries and obstacles
filled with false hopes of one day reaching this goal, but to achieve this dream is seemingly
impossible. If a woman is given no say over her own body or the fetus within her, even if the
circumstance was something like rape, it only reinforces the idea that women are
subordinate to men. !estricting abortion in our society is saying in a roundabout way that
females are not able to make wise decisions when it comes down to a matter of life or death.
hese are things that are taught, and passed down by others"
6arti! uther ;i!g also represe!ts his dream i! his spee"h 8The 2o&e of Bla! Ame#&aK about the
eIuality espe"ially $rom the bla"' people(
#3f we are to implement the /merican dream we must get rid of the notion once and for
all that there are superior and inferior races" ,his means that members of minorit' groups
must ma2e it clear that the' can use their resources even under adverse circumstances"
4e must ma2e full and constructive use of the freedom we alread' possess" 4e must not
use our oppression as an e1cuse for mediocrit' and la$iness" 0or histor' has proven that
inner determination can often brea2 through the outer shac2les of circumstance" ,a2e the
@ews, for e1ample, and the 'ears the' have been forced to wal2 through the long and
desolate night of oppression" ,his did not 2eep them from rising up to plunge against
cloud5filled nights of oppression, new and bla$ing stars of inspiration" Aeing a @ew did
not 2eep ;instein from using his genius5pac2ed mind to prove his theor' of relativit'" /nd
so, being a 8egro does not have to 2eep an' individual from rising up to ma2e a
contribution as so man' 8egroes have done within our own lifetime" 7uman nature
cannot be catalogued, and we need not wait until the da' of full emancipation"
CHAPTER III
THE 6ETHOD O9 STUD:
Arthur 6illerFs ,he (eath of %alesman is a tragi" !o*el( 0 apply mimeti" approa"h, as a part o$
eDtri!si" method, i! a!aly3i!g this play( 0 use des"ripti*e a!alyti"al method to des"ribe the a!alysis
"learly( 0 also apply the library resear"h to support the pro"ess o$ a!aly3i!g the sub/e"t matter(
(.1 The Data Collet&n" P#oe%$#e
0 use Arthur 6illerFs ,he (eath of %alesman as the mai! sour"e o$ the data( The reIuired i!$ormatio!
i! supporti!g the a!alysis is "olle"ted through the readi!g a!d sear"hi!g related re$ere!"es to the
a!alysis( They are ta'e! $rom teDt boo's, arti"les, /our!al $rom the i!ter!et, a!d other materials that
related to the a!alysis(
(.2 The Data Selet&n" P#oe%$#e
A$ter gatheri!g all reIuired data, those data are sele"ted( This sele"tio! is do!e based o! ho&
sig!i$i"a!t the data i! relatio! &ith the sub/e"t matter a!d the ob/e"ti*e o$ the a!alysis(
(.( The Data Analy;&n" P#oe%$#e
All the sele"ted data tha! bei!g to a"hie*e &hat has bee! pla!!ed i! the ob/e"ti*e o$ the a!alysis o$
this thesis( 0! the e!d, the "o!"lusio! is dra&!ed $rom the result o$ the a!alysis(
CHAPTER I2
ANA0:SIS
+.1 The Reflet&on of Ame#&an D#eam &n he #eath of $alesman
,he /merican dream is the largel' unac2nowledged screen in front of which all /merican writing
pla's itself out" 4hoever is writing in the Bnited %tates is using the /merican (ream as an ironical
pole of his stor'" <eople elsewhere tend to accept, to a far greater degree an'wa', that the conditions
of life are hostile to man>s pretensions (.iller!"
The #eath J$ %alesma! G1949H is o!e o$ the ma/or a"hie*eme!ts o$ moder! Ameri"a!
theatre( 0t relates the tragi" story o$ a salesma! !amed Willy oma!, &hose past a!d prese!t are
mi!gled i! eDpressio!isti" s"e!es( oma! is !ot the great su""ess that he "laims to be to his $amily
a!d $rie!ds( The post&ar e"o!omi" boom has sha'e! up his li$e( )e is e*e!tually $ired a!d he begi!s
to hallu"i!ate about sig!i$i"a!t e*e!ts $rom his past( i!da, his &i$e, belie*es i! the Ameri"a!
#ream, but she also 'eeps her $eet o! the grou!d( #e"idi!g that he is &orth more dead tha! ali*e,
Willy 'ills himsel$ i! his "ar, hopi!g that the i!sura!"e mo!ey &ill support his $amily a!d his so!
1i$$ "ould get a !e& start i! his li$e( 5riti"s ha*e disagreed &hether his sui"ide is a! a"t o$ "o&ardi"e
or a last sa"ri$i"e o! the altar o$ the Ameri"a! #ream(
3I00: : 02m !ot i!terested i! stories about the past or a!y "rap o$ that 'i!d be"ause the
&oods are bur!i!g, boys, you u!dersta!dM
There2s a big bla3e goi!g o! all arou!d( 0 &as $ired today( BI99 Gsho"'edH : )o& "ould
you beM
3I00:: 0 &as $ired, a!d 02m loo'i!g $or a little good !e&s to tell your
mother, be"ause the &oma! has &aited a!d the &oma! has su$$ered(
The gist o$ it is
that 0 ha*e!2t got a story le$t i! my head, 1i$$( %o do!2t gi*e me a le"ture
about $a"ts a!d aspe"ts( 0 am !ot i!terested( ,o& &hat2*e you got so say
to meM
Willy as the leadi!g "hara"ter is truly represe!ts the Ameri"a! dream( )e a"ts a!d tal's as i$
he is the "hara"ter i! his dream( 6ost o$ the thi!gs he says !ot &hat i! reality( )e li*es i! his o&!
dream, that ma'es him thi!' that he is ri"h, or &ill be ri"h( 0! $a"t he is !ot ri"h, he has debt, a!d he
goes to 5harley a!d borro&s mo!ey(
3I00:: 5harley, loo'R GWith di$$i"ultyH( 0 got my i!sura!"e to pay( 0$
you "a! ma!age it+ 0 !eed a hu!dred a!d te! dollars(
WillyFs dream also ma'e him $eels li'e he is /ust a!other ri"h ma!, a!d he is o!e o$ the ri"h me!Fs
$rie!ds( )e a"ts li'e he is the mayorFs $rie!d, that sits together a!d ha*e "o$$ee, &hile i! $a"t the
mayor do !ot '!o& him at all( )e also $eels li'e he is o!e o$ the importa!t people i! his pla"e, ,e&
-!gla!d( )e also imagi!es that he "a! par's his "ar &he!e*er he &a!ts a!d the "ops &ill prote"t the
"ar( That is &hat he says to his "hildre!, &hile i! $a"t that it is impossible $or him to do that( 0t is truly
sho&! &he! i!da says,
0INDA: The! ma'e 5harley your $ather, 1i$$( =ou "a!Ft do that, "a!
youM 0 do!Ft say heFs a great ma!( Willy oma! !e*er made a lot o$
mo!ey( )is !ame &as !e*er i! the paper( )eFs !ot i! the $i!est
"hara"ter that e*er li*ed( 1ut heFs a huma! bei!g, a!d a terrible thi!g
is happe!i!g to him( %o atte!tio! must be paid( )eFs !ot to be allo&ed
to $all i!to his gra*e li'e a! old dog( Atte!tio!, atte!tio! must be
$i!ally to ea"h perso!( =ou "alled him "ra3y+ Gpage 242H
0 suppose she &as spea'i!g about the "are a!d support that his $amily might gi*e him, i! that
"o!teDt( J$ "ourse, there is a larger "o!teDt, &hi"h is so"ial a!d e*e! politi"al+that a lot o$ people
gi*e a lot o$ their li*es to a "ompa!y or e*e! the go*er!me!t, a!d &he! they are !o lo!ger !eeded,
&he! they are used up, they2re tossed aside( 0 guess that &ould e!"ompass it( -*e! people do !ot
regard him, but i!da al&ays respe"ts him(
0INDA : ,o, a lot o$ people thi!' heFs lost his+bala!"e( 1ut you do!Ft
ha*e to be *ery smart to '!o& &hat his trouble is( The ma! is
eDhausted(
HAPP: : %ure
0INDA : a small "a! be /ust as eDhausted as a great ma!( )e &or's
$or a "ompa!y thirty+siD years this mar"h, ope!s up u!heard+o$
territories to their trademar', a!d !o& i! his old age they ta'e salary
a&ay(
1eside that, Arthur 6iller &a!ts to "riti" Ameri"a, 0 mea! Ameri"a! dream espe"ially i! the 20th
"e!tury( 0! the 20th "e!tury, Ameri"a! dream had its "halle!ges( The great depressio! "ause
&idespread hardship duri!g the thirties, a!d &as almost a reser*e o$ the dream( 0! Ameri"a! dream,
e*ery ma! "a! put their dream o$ su""ess, but the dream are bou!ded by the same ideas that build
Ameri"a! dream, the same "ha!"e e*eryo!e, the same status, the "ompetitio! o$ a"hie*eme!t a!d the
most importa!t, the idea to get su""ess( 6o!ey be"omes the sta!dard o$ Ameri"a! li$e( 6o!ey "a!
rise their status i! so"ial "ir"umsta!"e( 6o!ey is the "e!ter o$ e*erythi!g to rea"h the su""ess o$
li*i!g( People use the time e$$i"ie!tly to ma'e mo!ey( They $i!d their o&! &ay to produ"e the
*aluable
thi!g i! their li$e( 6o!ey "a! i!"rease the ho!or o$ the $amily i! the so"iety( A!d this is &hat he
&a!ts to "riti"i3e(
+.2 3&lly<s D#eam of 4oo% 0&fe
WillyFs dream o$ good li$e is ide!ti"al &ith the hard&or'( To get this good li$e, Willy has to be a
hard&or'er a!d he is really ambitious to a"hie*e the su""ess( Those eleme!ts sho& the eleme!t o$
the Ameri"a! dream i! hard&or' i! order to get a good li$e( -*e!though i!da sees Willy *ery tired
a!d suggest him to ta'e a rest, but Willy re$use it a!d &a!t to sho& that &hate*er it is he has to be
stro!g( et the people see him as a hard&or'er e*e!though he is a! old ma! &ho &or's all lo!g( )e
starts e*erythi!g i! the mor!i!g be"ause he thi!'s that li$e starts i! the mor!i!g a!d it &ill be better
$or him to do somethi!g i$ it starts i! the mor!i!g(
0INDA : Well, you /ust ha*e to ta'e a rest, Willy, you "a!Ft "o!ti!ue this &ay
3I00: : 0 /ust go ba"' $rom 8lorida(
0INDA : 1ut you did!Ft rest your mi!d( =our mi!d is o*era"ti*e, a!d the mi!d
is &hat "ou!ts, dear(
3I00: : 0Fll start out i! the mor!i!g( 6aybe 0Fll $eel better i! the mor!i!g( G%he is
ta'i!g o$ his shoesH( This goddam ar"h supports are 'illi!g me Gpage 227H
Willy al&ays sho&s that he is a hard&or'er( 8or him, a ma! i! the age o$ t&e!ty o!e "a! be
ri"h i$ he &a!ts to be a hard&or'er e*e!though he has to do a!ythi!g e*e! &al'ed i!to a /u!gle(
3I00: : WhatFs the mysteryM The me! '!e& he &a!ted a!d &e!t out a!d go
it@ Wal'ed i!to a /u!gle, a!d "omes out,
the age o$ t&e!ty o!e a!d heFs ri"h@ The &orld is a! oyster, but you do!Ft "ra"'
it ope! o! a mattress@ Gpage 227H
A""ordi!g to Willy, a real ma! is a ma! &ho "a! ha!dle e*erythi!g a!d "a! do a!ythi!g to li*e
his li$e(
3I00:: A ma! &ho "a!Ft ha!dle tools is !ot a ma! Gpage 23.H
Willy eDpe"ts 1i$$ !ot to be a $armer( 8or Willy a $armer "a! !ot ear!s mu"h mo!ey( That is &hy,
&he! 1i$$ de"ide to be o! a $armla!d i! TeDas, he $orbid 1i$$( )e &a!ts 1i$$ "a! ear!s mo!ey more
tha! 3> dollars a &ee'( This eDpe"tatio! "reates su"h a "o!$li"t bet&ee! 1i$$ a!d Willy(
Willy thi!'s that su""ess$ul is ide!ti"al &ith a good /ob( 0 mea! a /ob that promises a great $uture(
)e thi!'s that &or' i! a $armla!d is !ot a /ob that promises a good li$e( )e sures that somebody &ill
!e*er be a ri"h ma! o!ly by &or'i!g i! a $armla!d(
3I00:: ho& "a! he $i!d he sel$ o! a $armM is that a li$eM a $armla!dM GPage
22OH
Willy $or"es 1i$$ to ha*e a better /ob tha! bei!g a $armer( Willy belie*es i$ a ma! at the age
o$ thirty has had a good /ob a!d $i!e salary, that ma! &ill be truly ali*e( The!, i$ a ma! still sear"hi!g
the $i!e /ob at the same time, &ill be !obody( Willy, as usual, is i!$lue!"ed by his dream to guide his
"hildre! to be a ma!, a truly ma! that has a good /ob a!d "a! ear! mo!ey(
That is the reaso! &hy, &he! 1i$$ $i!ally has a "ha!"e to get a good /ob i! Jli*erFs, agai!,
Willy i!ter$eres by gi*i!g ad*ises o$ ho& &ill 1ill a"t, &hat &ill he say, e*e! Willy determi!e his
salary(
3I00:: !ot $i!di!g your sel$ at the age o$ thirty $our is a disgra"e Gpage
22OH
Willy put a big eDpe"tatio! to&ards his so!s, so that he &a!ts his so!s get the highest le*el o$
edu"atio! a!d get the $i!e /ob &ith the $i!e salary( ,o matter ho&, the "hildre! should be &hat the
pare!ts &a!t( Well, the &ill o$ pare!ts i! good "areer opportu!ities is good, but sometimes, the
"hildre! do !ot &a!t it( The Ameri"a! dream let the pare!ts $or"e the "hildre! to be &hat they &a!t
to be(
3I00:: Wal' i! a *ery serious( =ou are !ot applyi!g $or a boyFs /obR 1e
Iuite, $i!e a!d seriousR Gpage 24>H
Willy a"tually &a!t 1i$$ rea"h his o&! prosperity by as'i!g big mo!ey $or his salary( 1y
stati!g 1>000 dollars as 1i$$Fs Egoi!g to beK salary, Willy thi!' that it &ill ma'e 1i$$ "a! li*e his li$e
&ell( 1y getti!g $i$tee!, 1i$$ "a! pay $or house, li*e &ith his &i$e, i$ it possible &ill be su$$i"ie!t to
pay the "ost o$ oma!s li$e( A!d the $a"t is that 1i$$ has !o "ourage to as' that mu"h(
3I00:: as' $or $i$tee!R(Gpage 24>H
Willy !eeds a re&ard i$ he e*er do somethi!g $or the others or helpi!g someo!e( )e thi!'s that
there is !othi!g is $ree( 0t has a relatio! &ith the Ameri"a! dreams that he has to get a good li$e(
3I00:: Jh, &o!Ft that be somethi!g@ 6e "omi!F i!to the 1osto! stores
&ith you boys "arryi!g my bags( What a se!satio!@
+.( 3&lly<s D#eam of Home O/ne#sh&,
0t mea!s that all the people i! Ameri"a should ha*e their o&! house a!d getti!g a house !eed a
hard&or'( That is &hy &he! o!e $i!ally get his o&! home, it &ill gi*e satis$a"tio!( A!d, i! this play,
&he! Willy $i!ally "a! o&! home, he $eels upset, &he! his "hildre! ha!g out the house(
3I00:: &or' a li$e time to pay o$$ a house( =ou $i!ally o&! it, a!d the 0s
!obody i! it Gpage 277H
0t is !ot easy to ha*e a house i! Ameri"a, be"ause o$ the $lood o$ populatio!( The se!se o$ the
Ameri"a! dream appear &he! some ha*e home, some do !ot( People &ho do!Ft ha*e their o&!i!g
home, dream to ha*e their o&!i!g home, it !eeds a hard &or'( They &ill try as hard as possible to
$i!ally ha*e a home( Willy has a big desire to ha*e a! o&! house(
3I00:: you &ait, 'id( 1e$ore itFs all o*er &eFre go!!a get a little pla"e out
i! the "ou!try,R Gpage 247H
Willy has so ma!y debts, but he al&ays "o!*i!"e his $amily that a$ter he o*er"omes all the debts,
the house &ill belo!gs to them( A!d &e "a! see ho& lo!g he li*i!g i! hope , dream a!d e!dea*or to
ha*e his o&! house( 0tFs t&e!ty $i*e years old(
0INDA: Gbutto!i!g up his /a"'et as he u!butto!s itH: all told, about t&o
hu!dred dollars &ould "arry us, dear( 1ut, that i!"ludes the last payme!t
o! the mortgage( A$ter this payme!t, Willy, the house belo!gs to us(
3I00:: itFs t&e!ty $i*e years@
0INDA: 1i$$ &as !i!e years old &he! &e bought it Gpage 247H
Whe! Willy has died, 1i$$ tells to e*eryo!e ho& big WillyFs desire, dream, a!d his e$$ort to
ha*e a house( )e died a$ter he $i!ishes to built the eDtra bathroom, ma'i!g the stoop, et"(
BI99: there &ere a lot o$ !i"e days( Whe! heFd "ome home $or a tripC or
o! %u!days, ma'i!g the stoopC $i!ishi!g the "ellarC putti!g o! the !e&
por"hC &he! he built the eDtra bathroomC a!d put up the garage( =ou '!o&
somethi!g, 5harley, thereFs more o$ him i! that $ro!t stoop tha! i! all the
sales he e*er made G reIuiemH
People i! Ameri"a belie*e that i$ there is the grass i! the e!*iro!me!t o$ a house, the o&!er
must be a ri"h ma!( 0t sho&s that the house $ollo&s the moder! "i*ili3e( A!d WillyFs $amily try to
$ollo& this li$e styles(
3I00:: the grass do!Ft gro& a!y more,R Gpage 22.H
+.+ 3&lly<s D#eam of E7$al&ty
-*e!though Willy is /ust a salesma! but he al&ays try to sho& that he a!d his $amily are eIual &ith
the others( %ometimes Willy a"ts li'e he is a ri"h ma! e*e!though it is *ery "o!trast &ith the reality(
)e does!Ft &a!t people u!derestimate him( )e al&ays tries to pro*e that he is someo!e a!d he is
eIual &ith the others( it happe!s &he! he tries to "o!*i!"e )o&ard about him i! )o&ardFs o$$i"e(
7owards -ffice"
3I00:, desperatel': :ust let me tell you a story, )o&ardS
HO3ARD 5 F5ause you gotta admit, busi!ess is busi!ess(
3I00:, angril': 1usi!ess is de$i!itely busi!ess, but /ust liste! $or a
mi!ute( =ou do!2t u!dersta!d this( Whe! 0 &as a boySeightee!, !i!etee!S
0 &as already o! the road( A!d there &as a Iuestio! i! my mi!d as to
&hether selli!g had a $uture $or me( 1e"ause i! those days 0 had a year!i!g
to go to Alas'a( %ee, there &ere three gold stri'es i! o!e mo!th i! Alas'a,
a!d 0 $elt li'e goi!g out( :ust $or the ride, you might say(
HO3ARD, barel' interested: #o!2t say(F
3I00:5 Jh, yeah, my $ather li*ed ma!y years i! Alas'a( )e &as a!
ad*e!turous ma!( We2*e got Iuite a little strea' o$ sel$+relia!"e i! our
$amily( 0 thought 02d go out &ith my older brother a!d try to lo"ate him, a!d
maybe settle i! the ,orth &ith the old ma!( A!d 0 &as almost de"ided to go,
&he! 0 met a salesma! i! the Par'er )ouse( )is !ame &as #a*e %i!glema!(
A!d he &as eighty+$our years old, a!d heFd drummed mer"ha!dise i! thirty+
o!e states( A!d old #a*e, heFd go up to his room, yFu!dersta!d, put o! his
gree! *el*et slippersS0Fll !e*er $orgetSa!d pi"' up his pho!e a!d "all the
buyers, a!d &ithout e*er lea*i!g is room, at the age o$ eighty+$our, he made
his li*i!g( A!d &he! 0 sa& that, 0 reali3ed that selli!g &as the greatest
"areer a ma! "ould &a!t( F5ause &hat "ould be more satis$yi!g tha! to be
able to go, at the age o$ eighty+$our, i!to t&e!ty or thirty di$$ere!t "ities, a!d
pi"' up a pho!e, a!d be remembered a!d lo*ed a!d helped by so ma!y
di$$ere!t peopleM #o you '!o&M Whe! he diedSa!d by the &ay he died the
death o$ a salesma!, i! his gree! *el*et slippers i! the smo'er o$ the ,e&
=or', ,e& )a*e! a!d )art$ord, goi!g i!to 1osto!S&he! he died,
hu!dreds o$ salesme! a!d buyers &ere at his $u!eral( Thi!gs &ere sad o! a
lotta trai!s $or mo!ths a$ter that( G)e sta!ds up( )o&ard has !ot loo'ed at
himH( 0! those days there &as perso!ality i! it, )o&ard( There &as respe"t,
a!d "omradeship, a!d gratitude i! it( Today, itFs all "ut a!d dried, a!d thereFs
!o "ha!"e $or bri!gi!g $rie!dship to bearSor perso!ality( =ou see &hat 0
mea!M They do!Ft '!o& me a!ymore(
Whe! )appy says that K=eah,Ra!d 0 got a pi!'y $i!gersK( People arou!d him al&ays
u!derestimate him, $or eDample by sayi!g that he does!Ft has mo!ey( 1ut, sayi!g this se!te!"e abo*e
he &a!ted to say that he has mo!ey( )e does!Ft &a!t people thi!' that he is "ome $rom the middle
"lass e*e! though the $a"t is he does!Ft has the mo!ey(
HAPP:5 =eah,Ra!d 0 got a pi!'y $i!gers Gpage 231H
A"tually, Willy oma! is /ust a salesma! but he al&ays has desire to be a ri"h ma! e*e!though itFs
really "o!trasti*e &ith the reality( )e al&ays a"ts li'e he is a ri"h ma!( As &e '!o&, gol$ is a sport
$or a high "lass a!d the member o$ the gol$ "lub must be a ri"h ma! too, but &hat Willy &a!ts to
sho& by sayi!g this se!te!"e that he is a ma! that '!o&i!g this sports so mu"h(
3I00:: ,o& all you !eed is a gol$ "lub Gpage 239H
The real situatio! is 1ill Jli*er does!Ft '!o& &ho Willy is( 1ut, the &ay o$ WillyFs a"t li'e he
'!o&s &ho 1ill to him( 0t sho&s that he !eeds a! e"o!omi" eIuality &ith 1ill Jli*er(
3I00:: R<i*e my best to 1ill Jli*er he may remember me, Gpage 24>H
-*e! the "lothes o$ their "hildre! are ma!aged by them( 0t mea!s that they do !ot &a!t e*eryo!e
ha*e bee! put lo& o! them(
3I00: : )eFs headi!g $or a "ha!ge( ThereFs !o Iuestio!, there simply are
"ertai! me! that ta'e !o lo!ger to get+solidi$ied( What he dressM
0INDA : )is blue sub( )eFs so ha!dsome i! that suit( )e "ould be a+
a!ythi!g i! that suit@ Gpage 247H
We '!o& that Willy is o!ly a salesma! but he has a desire to buy a ge!eral ele"tri" a!d the
re$rigerator( 0 thi!', it is !ot a primary !eeds but he &a!ts to sho& to the others that he "a! buy these
thi!gs a!d it &ill sho& that he is eIual &ith the others( 0t "a! be said that he lies to himsel$( 0t is also
sho& that Willy is really re$le"ts the Ameri"a! dream(
0INDA : Well, itFs old, dear(
3I00: : 0 told you &e shouldF*e bought a &ell+ad*ertised ma"hi!e(
5harley bought a <e!eral -le"tri" a!d itFs t&e!ty years old a!d itFs still
good, that so!+o$+a+bit"h(Gpage247H
3I00:: Whoe*er heard o$ )asti!gs re$rigeratorM J!"e i! my li$e 0 &ould
li'e to o&! somethi!g outright be$ore itFs bro'e!@ 0Fm al&ays i! ra"e &ith
the /u!'yard@ 0 /ust $i!ished payi!g $or the "ar a!d itFs o! itFs last legs( The
re$rigerator "o!sumes belts li'e a goddam ma!ia"( They time those thi!gs(
They time them so &he! you $i!ally paid $or them, theyFre used up Gpage
247H
-*e!, &he! )o&ard as's him about the radio Willy still lyi!g to himsel$, &e "a! see it i! his
a!s&er &he! )o&ard as's him be"ause it is *ery impossible i$ someo!e has a radio i! his "ar but he
!e*er thi!'s to tur! i! o!(
HO3ARD: #o!Ft you ha*e a radio i! the "arM
3I00: : Well, yeah, but &ho e*er thi!'s o$ tur!i!g it o!M Gpage 249H
Willy tries to tell )o&ard about the eIuality bet&ee! him a!d )o&ardFs $ather be$ore
e*e!though it is !ot true(
3I00:: Gba!gi!g his ha!d o! the des': 0 a*eraged a hu!dred a!d se*e!ty
dollars a &ee' i! the year o$ 192.@ A!d your $ather "ame to meR Gpage 2>1H
A$ter sayi!g that he '!o&s $atherFs )o&ard, he straights to ear! )o&ardFs mo!ey a!d &he!
)o&ard as's about his "hildre!, Willy still lyi!g to himsel$ by sayi!g that the're wor2ing on a ver'
big deal, i! $a"t that it is !ot true( 1y seei!g this 0 "a! see that although he ear!s mo!ey to )o&ard,
but he does!Ft &a!t )o&ard thi!'s !egati*e about his so!s(
3I00: : but 0 gotta ear! mo!ey, )o&ard( 0Fm i! !o positio! to+
HO3ARD : &here are your so!s gi*e you a ha!dM
3I00: : theyFre &or'i!g o! a *ery big deal GPage 2>1H
1i$$ &a!ts to *eri$y about himsel$ to his $ather( )e &a!ts to ma'e his $ather belie*e i! him that
he is !ot a ma! li'e his $ather thi!'i!g o$(
HAPP: : 0t &as a! a&$ul dumb+&hatFd you do that $orM
BI99 : 0 do!Ft '!o&( 0 /ust &a!t to ta'e somethi!g( 0 do!Ft '!o&( =ou gotta
help me, )ap, 0Fm go!!a tell Pop(
HAPP:: you "ra3y, &hat $orMK
BI99 : hap, heFs got to u!dersta!d that 0Fm !ot the ma! somebody le!ds that
'i!d o$ mo!ey to( )e thi!'Fs 0F*e bee! spiti!g him all these years a!d itFs
eati!g him up Gpage 2>9H
+.- The Im,ats of Ame#&an D#eam on 3&lly 0oman
There are some impa"ts o$ Ameri"a! dream o! Willy oma!( They are:
a( )allu"i!ate or 0llusio!
)allu"i!ate or 0llusio! is a $orm o$ imagi!ati*e thi!'i!g that is "o!trolled more by the thi!'erFs
&ishes, moti*es, a!d $eeli!gs tha! by the "o!ditio!s i! the ob/e"ti*e &orld, i! hallu"i!ate, the
i!di*idual !e*er &a!ts to "ommu!i"ate his thoughts to others, but is "hie$ly se!di!g messages to
himsel$( )allu"i!ate is a $orm o$ dream( A! illusio! is a se!sory impressio! or per"eptio! that is $alse
or i!"orre"t(
0! hallu"i!ate, the $rustrated ma! may depi"t himsel$ a"hie*i!g desired goals, e!gagi!g i! desired
a"tio!s a!d i! ge!eral o*er"omi!g obsta"les e!"ou!tered i! real li$e( 0! hallu"i!ate, the thi!'er "a!
res"i!d some i$ the la&s o$ the physi"al a!d so"ial &orld a!d thus ma'e e*e!ts appears as he &ishes
them to be(
Willy al&ays li*e i! hallu"i!ates( )e al&ays spea's to 1e!, i! $a"t 1e! has died( 0t is the impa"t o$
his big ambitio! to rea"h his dream( )e also be a ma! that "a! !ot deal &ith the others(
3I00: 5 oh 1e!, ho& did you do itM(((
BEN : 0 ha*e!Ft mu"h time
3I00: : !o, &ait@ i!da, heFs got a propositio! $or me i!
Alas'a Gpage 2>2H
-*e! sometimes he tal's i! his alo!e!ess( Whe! Willy /ust got o$$ the ele*ator, he is argui!g &ith !o
body( A!d :e!!y says that she "a! !ot deal &ith Willy a!y more(
3I00:: &hat are you &al'i!g a&ay $orM #o!Ft &al' a&ay@ 0$ youFre goi!g
to say somethi!g say it to my $a"e@ 0 '!o& you laugh at me behi!d my ba"'(
=ouFll laugh out o$ the other side o$ your goddam $a"e a$ter this game(
Tou"hdo&!@ -ighty thousa!d people@ Tou"hdo&!@ Light bet&ee! the goal
posts(
G1er!ard is Iuiet, ear!est, but sel$ assured you!g ma!( WillyFs *oi"e is
"omi!g $rom right upstage !o&, 1-L,AL# lo&ers his $eet o$$ the table
a!d liste!s( :-,,=, his $atherFs se"retary, e!ters(H
=ENN: GdistressedH : say, 1er!ard, &ill you go out i! the hallM
BERNARD : &hat is that !oiseM Who is itM
=ENN: : 6r( oma!( )e /ust got o$$ the ele*ator:
BERNARD : &hoFs he argui!g &ithM
=ENN: : !obody( ThereFs !obody &ith him( 0 "a!Ft deal &ith him
a!ymoreR Gpage 2>4H
Willy tal's to his imagi!ary perso!, 1e!, &he! i!da tal's to him( 0t sho&s that Willy hallu"i!ate
1e!(
BEN: best thi!g@
3I00:: the o!ly &ay( -*erythi!g( 0s go!!a be+ go o!, 'id, get to head(
=ou loo' so tired(
0INDA : "ome right up(
3I00:: t&o mi!utes(
Gi!da goes i!to the li*i!g room, the! reappears i! her bedroom, Willy
mo*es /ust outside the 'it"he! doorH
3I00: : o*es me( GWo!deri!glyH( Al&ays lo*ed me( 0s!Ft that
remar'able thi!gM 1e!, heFll &orship me $or it@
BEN G&ith promiseH: itFs dar' there, but $ull o$ diamo!ds
3I00:: "a! you imagi!e that mag!i$i"e!"e &ith t&e!ty thousa!d dollars
i! his po"'etM
0INDA G"alli!g $rom her roomH : Willy@ 5ome up@
3I00: G"alli!g i!to the 'it"he!H : yes@ =es( 5omi!g@ 0tFs *ery smart, you
reali3e that, do!Ft you s&eetheartM -*e! 1e! sees it( 0 gotta go, baby( T1y@
T1y Ggoi!g o*er to 1e!, almost da!"i!gH( 0magi!eM Whe! the mail "or!ers
heFll be ahead o$ 1er!ard agai!@
BEN: A per$e"t propositio! all arou!d(
3I00: : #id you see ho& he "ried to meM Jh, i$ 0 "ould 'iss him, 1e!@
BEN : Time, William, time@
3I00: : Jh, 1e!, 0 al&ays '!e& o!e &ay or a!other &e &ere go!!a ma'e
it, 1i$$ a!d 0@
BEN Gloo'i!g at his &at"hH : The boat( WeFll be late( Ghe mo*es slo&ly o$$
i!to the dar'!essH
3I00: Gelegia"ally, tur!i!g the houseH: ,o& &he! you 'i"' o$$, boy, 0
&a!t a se*e!ty yard boot, a!d get right do&! the $ield u!der the ball, a!d
&he! you hit, hit lo& a!d hit hard, be"ause itFs importa!t boy( G)e s&i!gs
arou!d a!d $a"es the audie!"e(H ThereFs all 'i!ds o$ importa!t people i! the
sta!ds, a!d the $irst thi!g you '!o&R G%udde!ly reali3i!g he is alo!eH(
1e!@ 1e!, &here do 0RM Ghe ma'es a sudde! mo*eme!t o$ sear"hH( 1e!,
ho& do 0M
0INDA G"alli!gH : Willy, you "omi!g up
3I00: Gutteri!g a gasp o$ $ear, &hirli!g about as i$ to Iuiet herH: %h@ Ghe
tur!s arou!d as i$ to $i!d his &ayC sou!ds, $a"es, *oi"es, seem to be
s&armi!g i! upo! him a!d he $li"'s at them, "ryi!gH %h@ %h@ Gsudde!ly
musi", $ai!t a!d high, stops him( 0t rises i! i!te!sity, almost to a!
u!bearable s"ream( )e goes up a!d do&! o! his toes, a!d rushes o$$ arou!d
the house( %hhh@
The Ameri"a! dream that he belie*es ma'e him hallu"i!ate about his regret &hy he did !ot
$ollo& his brother 1e! to Alas'a i! the past time( )e is a salesma!, &hile his brother 1e! is a ri"h
ma!, i! the diamo!d mi!e( That regret appears &he! he tal's &ith 1e! Gi! his imagi!atio!, i! $a"t,
1e! has diedH(
b( Ambitio!
A""ordi!g to -1ford Learners (ictionar' G1991:12H me!tio!ed that ambitio! is stro!g desire to be
su""ess$ul( We are as a huma! bei!g sometime had
a! ambitio! to a"hie*e, but i$ &e are too hope$ul to get &hat &e &a!t &hereas &e are la"'i!g o$
edu"atio! or it is !ot suitable &ith our ability, it "a! i!$lue!"e the $ailure o$ our struggle i! rea"hi!g
our dream(
0! this play, 0 "a! see that it is !e"essary to be too ambitious, $ull o$ eDpe"tatio! to a"hie*e the
su""ess( Whe! i!da tal's to Willy, he sho&s that ho& big his ambitio! a!d his spirit to "ha!ge his
li$e better(
3I00: : <ee &hi3@ ThatFs really somethi!F( 0Fm go!!a ba"' )o&ard $or
a loop, 'id( 0Fll get a! ad*a!"e, a!d 0Fll "ome home &ith a ,e& =or' /ob(
<oddamit, !o& 0Fm go!!a do it@
0INDA : Jh, thatFs the spirit, Willy@
3I00: : 0 &ill !e*er get behi!d a &heel the rest o$ my li$e@
0INDA: itFs "ha!gi!g, Willy, 0 "a! $eel it "ha!gi!g@ Gpage 24.H
Whe! i!da tal's to his so!s, it sho&s that i!da hopes that Willy &ill tell her a good !e&s o$ &hi"h
he &ill get a /ob i! ,e& =or'( 0t sho&s that i!da has a! ambitio! to rea"h their dream(
0INDA : R(:ust do!Ft perspire too mu"h be$ore you see him( A!d ha*e
a !i"e time &ith #ad( )e may ha*e big !e&s too@ R ThatFs right, a ,e&
=or' /ob( A!d be s&eet to him to!ight, dear R( Gpage 24.H
1y these stateme!ts, it also sho&s that Willy is a! ambitious perso! be"ause &he! 1e! says that
Willy "ould &al' out o$ ri"h, Willy says that he is go!!a do that spo!ta!iously(
BEN : thereFs a !e& "o!ti!e!t at your doorstep, William( =ou "ould
&al' out o$ ri"h( Li"h@
3I00: : &eFll do it here, 1e!@ =ou hear meM WeFre go!!a do it here@
Gpage 2>2H
"( <uilty
0! psy"hology, guilty is "o!sidered to be a $a"tor i! !euroti" beha*ior( <uilt $eeli!gs as a rea"tio! to
ha*i!g per$ormed some disappro*ed a"t or ha*i!g &ished to per$orm su"h as a"t( <uilt pro*o'es the
!eed to be pu!ished, a!d it has a "lose relatio!ship bet&ee! guilt $eeli!g a!d depressio!(
<uilt or the stress e!ge!dered by the tra!sgressio! o$ a moral rule, similarly "a! pre*e!t a!
i!di*idual $rom loo'i!g beyo!d himsel$ $or the "auses o$ his problems( 8eeli!g guilty, a! i!di*idual
usually "o!$esses perso!al i!adeIua"ies rather
that Iuestio!s his morals( -*e! i$ he attempts to e*ade guilt by ratio!ali3i!g that he supposed si!
!e*er o""urred, he does !ot Iuestio! a moral rule but simply "o!te!ds that it &as !e*er disobeyed(
Willy really $eels sad a!d $eels guilty &he! he has a grip &ith his so! 1i$$( 0t ma'es him
hallu"i!ate agai!, tal' to 1e! a!d it really ma'es him $eels shattered(
3I00: : #id you see ho& he "ried to meM Jh, i$ 0 "ould 'iss him, 1e!@
BEN : Time, William, time@
d( %ui"ide
The last impa"t o$ Ameri"a! dream o! Willy oma! is he is sui"ide e*e!though it happe!s &he! he
is o! hallu"i!atio!(
0INDA G&ith real $earH : Willy, a!s&er me@ Willy@
GThere is the sou!d o$ a "ar starti!g a!d mo*i!g a&ay at $ull speedH
0INDA : ,o@
BI99 Grushi!g do&! the stairsH: Pop@
GAs the "ar speeds o$$, the musi" "rashes do&! i! a $re!3y o$ sou!d,
&hi"h be"omes the so$t pulsatio! o$ a si!gle "ello stri!g( 1i$$ slo&ly
retur!s to his bedroom( )e a!d )appy gra*ely do! their /a"'ets( i!da
slo&ly &al's out o$ her room( The musi" has de*eloped i!to a dead
mar"h( The lea*es o$ day are appeari!g o*er e*erythi!g, 5harley a!d
1er!ard, somberly dressed, appear a!d '!o"' o! the 'it"he! door( 1i$$
a!d )appy slo&ly des"e!d the stairs to the 'it"he! as 5harley a!d
1er!ard e!ter( All stop a mome!t &he! i!da, i! "lothes o$ mour!i!g,
beari!g a little bu!"h o$ roses, "omes through the draped door&ay i!to
the 'it"he!( %he goes to 5harley a!d ta'es his arm( ,o& all mo*e
to&ard the audie!"e through the &all li!e o$ the 'it"he!( At the limit o$
the apro!, i!da lays do&! the $lo&ers, '!eels a!d sits ba"' o! her
heels( All stare do&! at the gra*e(
Those are the impa"ts o$ Ameri"a! dream o! Willy oma!( 0t des"ribes that sometimes
dream or myth "a! betray us( 0t happe!s o! Willy oma! be"ause o$ his big ambitio! to rea"h the
Ameri"a! dream, the dream betrays him( Willy oma! "a! !ot $ollo& the rhyme o$ the myth( 0t
ma'es his li$e dissol*ed(
CHAPTER 2
CONC0USIONS AND SU44ESTIONS
4(1 5o!"lusio!s
A$ter a!aly3i!g this play "are$ully, 0 "o!"lude that The #eath o$ %alesma! is "o!sidered as the
re$le"tio!s o$ the attitudes $or the Ameri"a! people( 0 also ta'e some "o!"lusio!s as $ollo&:
1
,he (eath of %alesman is "o!sidered as the re$le"tio! o$ huma! li$e a!d &ritte! to "riti"i3e the
Ameri"a! so"iety espe"ially i! 20th "e!tury(
The Ameri"a! dream is "reated by people &ho "ome to Ameri"a &ith some reaso!s i! order to get a
better li$e be"ause Ameri"a is a promise la!d(
6o!ey be"omes a sta!dard o$ li$e i! Ameri"a! so"iety a!d as &ell as i! ,he (eath of %alesman,
Willy oma! de*otes his li$e to a"hie*e the Ameri"a! dream i! order to attai! the &ealth(
There are three 'i!ds o$ Ameri"a! dream that $ou!d i! this play, ,he (eath of %alesman" They are:
dream o$ good li$e, dream o$ home o&!ership, a!d the dream o$ eIuality(
The death o$ the Ameri"a! dream i! ,he (eath of %alesman, be"ause i! order to ma'e his dream
"ome true, Willy oma! e!"ourage himsel$ to do e*erythi!g e*e! he has to debt(
The impa"ts o$ Ameri"a! dream ma'e Willy oma! be"ome hallu"i!ate a!d $i!ally he is died(
4!i*ersitas %umatera 4tara 4O
BIB0IO4RAPH: 1e"'er, 4do( 199.( Le1icon der s'mbole( 8rei!burg:herderUspe"trum( 1radly(
%"ully( 19O7( G-d(H ,he /merican ,radition in Literature, ,e& =or' : W(W ,orto! a!d 5ompa!y(
8erber( 6i"hael( 1999( / dictionar' of Literar' %'mbols( 5ambridge: 5ambridge 4!i*ersity Press(
8reud, %igmu!d( 1977( ,he 3nterpretation of (reams" ,e& =or' : 6o!ar"h Press( <ueri!,
Wil$red ,et all(1979( / 7andboo2 of 9ritical /pproaches ,o Literature %econd ;dition" ,e& =or' :
)arper a!d Lo& Publishers( )orto!,W Lod a!d )erbet W -d&ards(19>2 /merican Literar'
,hought" ,e& =or' Appelto! "e!tury "ro$ts( ;asim, La3ali( 1999( /liran C /liran %astra" 6eda!:
4su Press( 6iller, Arthur(2002( #eath o$ %alesma! edited ( <eorge Per'i!s a!d 1arbara Per'i!si!
E,he /merican ,radition in Literature( ,e& =or'( 6" <ra& )ill Pe"', :oh! a!d 6arti! 5oyle(
19.4( Literar' ,erms and 9riticism" o!do!( 6a"milla! -du"atio! td( Taylor, Li"hard(19.1(
Bnderstanding the ;lement of Literar'( o!do! : 6a"milla! Press ltd( Welle', Le!e a!d Austi!
Warre!(19>O( ,he ,heor' of Literar'( ,e& =or'( A )ar*est 1oo' , )ar"ourt, 1ra"e, a!d World , 0!"(
http:UU&&&(123helpme("omU*ie&(aspMidV1O>47 G,o*ember 2., 200.H(
http:UU&&&(ameri"a!s"(org(u'Uo!li!eUAmeri"a!?#ream(htm G,o*ember 2., 200.H(
http:UU&&&(spar'!otes("om G,o*ember 2., 200.H(
Universitas Sumatera Utara
APPENDI> SU66AR: O9 THE P0A: At 1, Sene 1 6iller begi!s his play &ith a bedtime
dialogue bet&ee! Willy a!d his &i$e, i!da( Willy, a! agi!g salesma!, has /ust retur!ed late $rom a
busi!ess trip( i!da is *ery "o!"er!ed, as'i!g her husba!d i$ he had a "ar a""ide!t( Willy tiredly
eDplai!s that i!deed he did ha*e a "lose "all &ith his "ar, *eeri!g o$$ the road o! t&o o""asio!s &hile
e!/oyi!g the s"e!ery( Though at $irst i!da thi!'s that it2s a problem &ith the *ehi"le, e*e!tually she
attributes Willy2s dri*i!g problems to his eDhausted mi!d( Whe! Willy eDplai!s that he2s /ust bee! o!
*a"atio!, she asserts, 71ut you did!2t rest your mi!d( =our mi!d is o*era"ti*e, a!d the mi!d is &hat
"ou!ts, dear(7 6iller uses this s"e!e to sho& Willy2s "o!$usio!( The agi!g salesma! is u!able to
assess his situatio! or "ome to a!y ratio!al "o!"lusio! as to &hat to do to remedy his $ailures( )e
blames his $i!a!"ial problems i! part o! )o&ard, the !e& o&!er o$ Willy2s "ompa!y a!d so! o$ the
$ormer o&!er( A""ordi!g to Willy, )o&ard does!2t appre"iate his ability the &ay his $ather did(
#espite these setba"'s, ho&e*er, he still belie*es i! his ability a!d *alue as a salesma!( Whe!
eDplai!i!g &hy they "a!2t lea*e the "ro&ded "ity to li*e i! ,e& =or', Willy tells his &i$e, 702m the
,e& -!gla!d ma!( 02m *ital i! ,e& -!gla!d(7
Willy2s se"o!d ma/or problem addressed i! this s"e!e is his troubled relatio!ship &ith his so!, 1i$$( 0t
seems 1i$$, &ho is gro&! up but !o& at home agai! $or a! eDte!ded *isit a$ter spe!di!g se*eral years
out &est, has!2t $ou!d $i!a!"ial su""ess or e*e! a de"e!t
payi!g /ob( Willy G&ho &ishes $or the su""ess o$ his so!s i! part be"ause he has!2t $ou!d su""ess
himsel$H blames 1i$$2s la3i!ess $or these problems( =et o!ly a $e& li!es later, Willy "o!tradi"ts
himsel$, mai!tai!i!g that 1i$$ is a *ery hard &or'er( 7There2s o!e thi!g about 1i$$+he2s !ot la3y,7 the
old ma! says( Throughout the s"e!e, i!da appears *ery apologeti" $or 1i$$, hopi!g to smooth thi!gs
o*er &ith Willy a!d get him to sleep( i!da is see! as a *ery "o!"iliatory perso!, !ot &a!ti!g to
upset a!yo!e( ater, this attitude &ill e!able Willy to "o!ti!ue his do&!&ard spiral( At 1, Sene 2
While Willy a!d i!da are tal'i!g do&!stairs, 1i$$ a!d his brother )appy liste! $rom the lo$t &here
they sleep( The t&o gro&! me! dis"uss their past $ailures( 1i$$ says that he "a!2t $i!d a /ob that both
pays &ell a!d is satis$yi!g, &hile )appy similarly admits that he does!2t li'e his /ob as a busi!ess
"ler'( 1oth brothers day+dream $or a time about goi!g out &est a!d ma'i!g a li*i!g together o! a
"attle ra!"h( 76e! built li'e &e are should be &or'i!g out i! the ope!,7 1i$$ asserts( )appy too, but
1i$$ espe"ially, $eels guilty that he2s !ot li*ed up to his $ather2s eDpe"tatio!s( 702m thirty+$our years
old, 0 oughta be ma'i!2 my $uture( That2s &he! 0 "ome ru!!i!g home( A!d !o&, 0 get here, a!d 0 do!2t
'!o& &hat to do &ith mysel$( 02*e al&ays made a poi!t o$ !ot &asti!g my li$e, a!d e*ery time 0 "ome
ba"' here 0 '!o& that all 02*e do!e is to &aste my li$e,7 the older brother admits(
Though )appy i!itially seems to agree &ith 1i$$2s se!time!ts that mo!ey+grubbi!g is!2t &hat li$e is
all about, the you!ger brother later "o!tradi"ts himsel$ &he! he re*eals his desire to emulate his ri"h
boss( )e asserts, 7&he! he &al's i!to the store the &a*es part i! $ro!t o$ him(7 )appy goes o! to
brag about his seDual e!"ou!ters &ith *arious &ome!, i!"ludi!g his bosses2 $ia!"Ws( =et e*e! this
does!2t satis$y him( ater, the reader &ill lear! that )appy ta'es a$ter his $ather i! this regard( The
"o!*ersatio! e!ds &ith a re$ere!"e to 1ill Jli*er, a! employer o$ 1i$$ i! the past( 1i$$ hopes that this
busi!essma! &ill le!d him a $e& thousa!d dollars to buy his ra!"h out &est( %oo! they hear Willy
$rom do&!stairs, tal'i!g to himsel$ as usual( )e2s a"tually spea'i!g to 1i$$+the 1i$$ o$ te! or more
years ago( This is o!e o$ the $irst sig!s that Willy is li*i!g i! the past( At 1, Sene ( This s"e!e
begi!s &ith a $lashba"' to &he! 1i$$ a!d )appy are i! high s"hool( They are busy polishi!g the
$amily "ar as Willy rambles o! as usual( %oo! i! be"omes ob*ious that )appy is tryi!g *ery hard to
please his $ather, though 1i$$ seems to re"ei*e all o$ Willy2s atte!tio!( 702m losi!g &eight, you !oti"e,
PopM7 he as's his $ather( =et Willy does!2t !oti"e, "hoosi!g to tal' to 1i$$ i!stead(
Whe! Willy lear!s that 1i$$ has stole! a $ootball $rom the high s"hool, Willy shrugs it o$$, sayi!g,
75oa"h2ll probably "o!gratulate you o! your i!itiati*e(7 0t seems !othi!g "a! get i! the &ay o$
Willy2s belie$ i! 1i$$2s su""ess( This i!"ide!t is /ust a $urther eDample o$ Willy2s illusio!s about his
so!s( These illusio!s are "o!ti!ued &he!
Willy later tells his boys that he2s a great, su""ess$ul busi!essma! &ho o!e day &ill be ri"h li'e
4!"le 5harley( =et u!li'e 5harley, Willy i!te!ds to be 7&ell li'ed(7 )e brags about ha*i!g $rie!ds all
o*er the -ast 5oast( 70 "a! par' my "ar i! a!y street i! ,e& -!gla!d, a!d the "ops prote"t it li'e
their o&!,7 he eDaggerates( 0t seems the idea o$ bei!g li'ed is "ru"ial to Willy2s !otio! o$ su""ess( =et
these illusio!s begi! to be dispro*ed &he! 1er!ard, a !eighbor a!d so! o$ 5harley, e!ters the s"e!e,
&ar!i!g Willy that 1i$$ &o!2t graduate $rom high s"hool i$ he does!2t study math( 0t soo! be"omes
appare!t that 1i$$ is o!ly a $ootball hero, !ot a good stude!t at all( =et agai!, Willy shrugs o$$ this
short"omi!g, telli!g his so!s that perso!ality is more importa!t tha! smarts( )e eDplai!s, 7the ma!
&ho ma'es a! appeara!"e i! the busi!ess &orld, the ma! &ho "reates perso!al i!terest, is the ma!
&ho gets ahead( 1e li'ed a!d you &ill !e*er &a!t(7 ater, 6iller $lash+$or&ards to the prese!t( The
reader lear!s that the oma! $amily is deeply i! debt a!d that Willy is o!ly getti!g paid by
"ommissio! be"ause he has lost most o$ his ability as a salesma!(
Willy2s mi!d also seems to be goi!g( Though !ear the begi!!i!g o$ his "o!*ersatio! &ith i!da he
says that his 5he*rolet is the best "ar e*er built, mome!ts later he "o!tradi"ts himsel$, sayi!g, 7they
ought to prohibit the ma!u$a"ture o$ that "ar@7 These "o!tradi"tio!s "o!ti!ue, as Willy lame!ts o*er
the $a"t that he is !ot &ell li'ed, despite the $a"t that mome!ts be$ore he tells his so!s that he is *ery
&ell li'ed( =et i!da tries to reassure her $aili!g husba!d, telli!g him that he is su""ess$ul a!d
ha!dsome( This stateme!t "auses Willy2s mi!d to dri$t a&ay to a time &he! he &as &ith a prostitute
o!
the road( This short s"e!e e!ds &ith Willy gi*i!g 7The Woma!7 a pair o$ sto"'i!gs as a prese!t(
Though Willy "ertai!ly "a!2t a$$ord to buy these gi$ts, he does so a!y&ay( )ere agai!, Willy sho&s
himsel$ to be a!yo!e but a stro!g role model $or his so!s( ater, &he! the s"e!e retur!s to the prese!t
a!d Willy $i!ds i!da me!di!g some sto"'i!gs, he $eels *ery guilty( 8i!ally, Willy retur!s to his
illusio!s+this time, o$ his ri"h brother, 1e!( Throughout the play, 6iller uses 1e! to represe!t the
pi!!a"le o$ "apitalist pote!tial a!d the be!"hmar' $or Willy2s su""ess as a busi!essma!( A""ordi!g to
Willy, 1e! has made a $ortu!e mi!i!g diamo!ds i! A$ri"a( 7The ma! '!e& &hat he &a!ted a!d &e!t
out a!d got it@ Wal'ed i!to a /u!gle, a!d "omes out, the age o$ t&e!ty+o!e, a!d he2s ri"h@7 Thus,
Willy2s illusio!s "o!ti!ue( 6a!y "riti"s belie*e that 1e! is simply a $igme!t o$ Willy2s imagi!atio!+
!ot a real perso! at all( At 1, Sene + Amidst Willy2s late+!ight yelli!g, 5harley, a !eighbor a!d
$rie!d o$ the $amily, e!ters $rom outside, &o!deri!g &hat all the "ommotio! is about( )e starts a "ard
game &ith Willy i! order to settle him do&!( Jut o$ $rie!dship, he o$$ers Willy a /ob a$ter heari!g
about his problems as a salesma!( Willy is Iui"' to ta'e o$$e!se at this o$$er, sayi!g that he already
has a good /ob(
ater, &he! Willy bri!gs up the sub/e"t o$ 1i$$, 5harley ad*ises Willy to gi*e up o! his so!( 7Whe! a
deposit bottle is bro'e! you do!2t get your !i"'el ba"',7 5harley
asserts( =et Willy is !ot &illi!g to let go o$ his illusio!s about his so!s2 pote!tial $or su""ess(%oo!,
Willy begi!s to "o!$use 5harley &ith his brother, 1e!( This leads to a $lashba"' o$ sorts to a s"e!e
&ith Willy a!d 1e!( 0t seems 1e! a!d his $ather le$t to ma'e their $ortu!es sometime i! Willy2s early
"hildhood, lea*i!g Willy a!d his mother behi!d( 0t2s ob*ious that Willy ideali3es 1e! be"ause he has
7made it7 i! the &orld( Willy is remorse$ul that he did!2t ta'e his brother up o! his o$$er to ru! his
busi!ess i! Alas'a( That &as a! opportu!ity o$ a li$etime, Willy admits( =et 1e! has little time to
spe!d &ith his little brother( Willy, eD"ited that 1e! is there to gi*e ad*i"e to his so!s, $or"es 1i$$ a!d
)appy to liste! to their 4!"le 1e!, hopi!g that they &ill lear! his busi!ess te"h!iIues a!d stri'e it
ri"h themsel*es( 0! this &ay, Willy sees the pote!tial su""ess o$ his so!s as the o!ly remai!i!g hope
o$ bei!g su""ess$ul himsel$( 0t all seems Iuite simple to 1e!( )e tells 1i$$ a!d )appy, 7Why, boys,
&he! 0 &as se*e!tee! 0 &al'ed i!to the /u!gle, a!d &he! 0 &as t&e!ty+o!e 0 &al'ed out( A!d by <od
0 &as ri"h(7 This ideal, ho&e*er, pro*es to be u!attai!able by Willy a!d his so!s &he! Willy2s
desperate struggle $or su""ess a!d happi!ess is !e*er a"hie*ed( This reali3atio! is $oreshado&ed
&he! 1e! '!o"'s 1i$$ do&! &ith his umbrella, sayi!g, 7,e*er $ight $air &ith a stra!ger, boy( =ou2ll
!e*er get out o$ the /u!gle that &ay(7
1ut Willy is le$t &ith a glimmer o$ hope &he! 1e! tells him that he2s taught his boys &ell( Agai!,
though, 1e! seems more a $igme!t o$ Willy2s imagi!atio! tha! a!ythi!g else( )is &ord goes a lo!g
&ay &ith Willy, but !o o!e else(
At 1, Sene - ,o&, i!da steps i! to persuade Willy to go to bed( 4!$ortu!ately $or her, Willy is
still daydreami!g about 1e!, sau!teri!g i!to the yard a!d street i! his slippers, "o!ti!ui!g to tal' to
himsel$( 1i$$ a!d )appy are surprised a!d embarrassed by their $ather2s beha*ior, reproa"hi!g their
mother $or !ot telli!g them about ho& Willy a"ts( 1i$$ e*e! asserts that Willy has !o "hara"ter( 1ut
i!da de$e!ds her husba!d, telli!g 1i$$ that he is partly to blame $or Willy2s i!sa!ity( %he gi*es 1i$$
a! ultimatum, sayi!g, 7-ither he2s your $ather a!d you pay him that respe"t, or else you2re !ot to
"ome here(7 )ere, i!da, al&ays Willy2s ar"h supporter, $eels that her husba!d has su$$ered u!/ustly(
,ot o!ly has the sales "ompa!y ta'e! a&ay his salary a$ter years o$ hard &or' Ghe has to borro&
mo!ey $rom 5harley e*ery &ee'H, !o& e*e! 1i$$ has deserted him( =et 1i$$ seems to '!o&
somethi!g that the reader does!2t( To eDplai! &hy he a!d his $ather do!2t get alo!g, he "alls his $ather
a $a'e, sayi!g that 7he does!2t li'e a!ybody arou!d &ho '!o&s(7 This "rushes i!da e*e! more, &ho
di*ulges to the boys that Willy has bee! tryi!g to "ommit sui"ide( Appare!tly his "ar 7a""ide!ts7
&ere !ot a""ide!ts a$ter all( i!da pla"es the burde! o$ Willy2s $uture o! 1i$$2s shoulders, sayi!g,
71i$$, his li$e is i! your ha!ds@7 At 1, Sene .
1i$$ begi!s this s"e!e &ith a pledge to his mother that he &ill 7apply himsel$7 a!d ma'e somethi!g o$
his li$e so that Willy "a! rest easy( Willy e!ters, ho&e*er, ha*i!g
o*erheard 1i$$ sayi!g that people laugh at him( The $aili!g salesma! goes o! the "ou!tero$$e!si*e,
telli!g 1i$$, 7=ou !e*er gre& up(7 This is a! iro!i" stateme!t, si!"e Willy is o$te! the o!e &ho li*es
i! the past a!d ideali3es his so!s G1i$$ i! parti"ularH $or their su""esses i! high s"hool( %oo!,
ho&e*er, the te!sio! is li$ted &he! )appy "omes up &ith the idea that he a!d 1i$$ "a! go i!to
busi!ess together, selli!g sporti!g goods by playi!g sports themsel*es( )ere, )appy "o!!e"ts Willy2s
de*otio! to busi!ess su""ess &ith 1i$$2s lo*e o$ the outdoors a!d physi"al a"ti*ities( Willy
immediately lo*es the idea, a!d his $a!tasy &orld o$ illusio!s "o!ti!ues( )ere, Willy2s ma!i"+
depressi*e perso!ality "omes espe"ially to light( )e "a! $eel as though the &orld is $alli!g i! o! him
o!e mome!t, a!d the! be i!sta!tly tra!s$ormed &he! he hears somethi!g that $eeds his illusio!al
belie$ i! his boys2 su""ess(
ater, 1i$$ a!d )appy say good!ight to Willy( As the three me! spea' about 1i$$2s i!ter*ie& &ith 1ill
Jli*er Ga busi!essma! &ho "a! supposedly help their sporti!g goods busi!ess *e!tureH, i!da "himes
i!, o!ly to ha*e Willy rudely tell her to shut up( This happe!s se*eral times be$ore 1i$$ $i!ally sta!ds
up $or his mother( Willy $eels reproa"hed by 1i$$ &he! he de$e!ds her, a!d the good $eeli!gs o$ the
mome!t are spoiled( i!da shrugs it o$$, ho&e*er, a!d soo! Willy $orgets that he2s a!gry at 1i$$( As
1i$$ lea*es, he tells his so!, 7=ou got all 'i!ds o$ great!ess((7 J!"e agai!, Willy is ba"' to his &orld
o$ illusio!, &here perso!ality triumphs o*er substa!"e( )e ad*ises 1i$$ o! ho& to ma'e a good
impressio!, sayi!g, 7perso!ality al&ays &i!s the day(7 )e tells 1i$$ to dema!d $i$tee! thousa!d
dollars $rom Jli*er, sayi!g, 7start big a!d you2ll e!d big(7
Jb*iously this !otio! "o!tradi"ts the traditio!al busi!ess belie$ that o!e has to &or' his &ay up the
"orporate ladder( Willy seems to thi!' that a oma! "a! start at the top Gdespite his la"' o$ su""ess,
&hi"h pro*es the "o!traryH+/ust a!other eDample o$ Willy2s i!ability to see reality( At 2, Sene 1
This s"e!e is o!e o$ the happiest i! the e!tire play( i!da is ser*i!g Willy brea'$ast i! the 'it"he! as
they dis"uss their pla!s $or the day( 1i$$ a!d )appy ha*e already le$t to tal' to Jli*er about their
busi!ess *e!tures a!d ha*e pla!!ed to meet Willy later that day $or di!!er i! a $a!"y restaura!t(
Willy is *ery eDited about his so!s2 prospe"ts as &ell as his o&!( Today he has $i!ally resol*ed to as'
his boss, )o&ard, $or a /ob i! ,e& =or', i!stead o$ ha*i!g to &or' o! the road( This !e&$ou!d hope
li'e&ise $ills i!da &ith happi!ess, !o& that /oy is agai! abu!da!t i! the hearts o$ her $amily( 0! this
s"e!e, the garde! metaphor is o!"e agai! re$ere!"ed( To Willy, su""ess reIuires $ul$illme!t o$ the
traditio!al Ameri"a! #ream paradigm, or i! Willy2s "ase, illusio!( i'e his brother 1e! &ho
"o!Iuers the &ilder!ess, Willy $eels that he must li*e o! the $ro!tier, buildi!g a house a!d pla!ti!g a
garde! $or his $amily, i$ he &a!ts to be su""ess$ul( )e tells i!da, 71e$ore it2s all o*er &e2re go!!a
get a little pla"e out i! the "ou!try, a!d 02ll raise some *egetables, a "ouple o$ "hi"'e!s(7
4!$ortu!ately, times ha*e "ha!ged a!d his dream is !o lo!ger possible i! t&e!tieth "e!tury ,e&
-!gla!d( Willy is simply a! old salesma! &ho has lost his hold o$ reality, ha*i!g !e*er li*ed up to
his o&! eDpe"tatio!s(
At 2, Sene 2 This s"e!e ta'es pla"e i! the o$$i"e o$ )o&ard, Willy2s boss( Willy has "ome to
)o&ard2s o$$i"e, determi!ed to "o!*i!"e his boss to o$$er him a /ob i! ,e& =or'( =et )o&ard is
preo""upied &ith a !e& re"ordi!g ma"hi!e that he has pur"hased a!d is slo& to liste! to Willy2s plea(
This is /ust o!e more i!di"atio! that Willy has little respe"t i! the busi!ess "ommu!ity, despite his
o&! o$te! sel$+eDalted opi!io! o$ his ability( =et &he! )o&ard $i!ally does agree to tal' to Willy, he
is $or"ed to gi*e the old ma! bad !e&s( )o&ard admits, 7Willy( there /ust is !o spot here $or you(7
Whe! Willy reali3es that his reIuest has bee! tur!ed do&!, he begi!s to lose his beari!gs agai! a!d
he soo! lau!"hes i!to his gree! slipper $a!tasy, &hi"h e*e!tually $or"es )o&ard to 'i"' him out o$
the o$$i"e( Willy eDplai!s his gree! slipper illusio! by telli!g )o&ard the reaso! he be"ame a
salesma! i! the $irst pla"e: he thought that he &ould die the death o$ a salesma!, !amely that he
&ould die a$ter li*i!g a li$e o$ luDury, ha*i!g bee! a $amous, lo*ed a!d respe"ted salesma! &ho
did!2t e*e! ha*e to lea*e his hotel room to ma'e his deals( Willy elaborates o! the busi!ess &orld he
'!e& as a! eager, you!g salesma!, lame!ti!g to )o&ard, 7There &as respe"t, a!d "omradeship, a!d
gratitude i! it( Today, it2s all "ut a!d dried, a!d there2s !o "ha!"e $or bri!gi!g $rie!dship to bear+or
perso!ality(7 )ere, it2s ob*ious that Willy !o lo!ger has a pla"e i! the "ommer"ial mar'etpla"e( 0!
ma!y &ays, 6iller i!di"ts so"iety $or bei!g too "ommer"ial a!d mo!ey+orie!ted( Willy soo! gro&s
a!gry, telli!g )o&ard, 7=ou "a!2t eat the ora!ge a!d thro& the peel a&ay+a ma! is !ot a pie"e o$
$ruit(7 )ere, Willy $eels that )o&ard Gthe
so! o$ the $ather &ho had $ormerly promised Willy that he &ould be re&arded $or his ser*i"e to the
"ompa!yH has go!e ba"' o! his $ather2s &ord by $orgetti!g the salesma! i! his golde! years,
thro&i!g a&ay the peel a$ter eati!g the ora!ge, so to spea'( )o&ard e!ds the meeti!g by $iri!g Willy(
At 2, Sene ( This s"e!e lau!"hes i!to a!other o$ Willy2s $lashba"'sUdream seIue!"es( As be$ore,
1e!, Willy2s older a!d ri"her brother, appears( Also li'e be$ore, 1e! is i! a hurry to lea*e( 0t seems
1e! is al&ays rushi!g a&ay $or o!e reaso! or a!other( 6iller "le*erly uses this moti$ to symboli3e
Willy2s ra"e agai!st time( Willy $eels that i$ he or his so!s do!2t soo! $i!d su""ess soo!, his &hole li$e
&ill be a $ailure( Whe! 1e! o$$ers Willy a /ob i! Alas'a, Willy is tempted, but mai!tai!s that he is
7buildi!g somethi!g7 &ith his sales "ompa!y i! ,e& -!gla!d G'eep i! mi!d this o""urs i! the past,
&he! Willy really did $eel that he &as buildi!g somethi!g &ith the $irmH( )e tries to sho& 1e! that
i!deed he has bee! a su""ess, braggi!g about 1i$$: 7Without a pe!!y to his !ame, three great
u!i*ersities are beggi!g $or him, a!d $rom there the s'y2s the limit, be"ause it2s !ot &hat you do, 1e!,
it2s &ho you '!o& a!d the smile o! your $a"e@7 4!$ortu!ately, this is the &hole $alla"y behi!d Willy2s
$la&ed li$e( i$e Gas Willy has $ou!d out i! the pre*ious s"e!e &he! he is $iredH is about substa!"e,
!ot smiles( Willy is u!able to deli*er the sales a!d so is u!able to 'eep his /ob( As di$$i"ult as this
may seem to him, this is the reality o$ li$e i! a $ree mar'et e"o!omy(
ater, 5harley e!ters the s"e!e, a!d soo! a "o!$ro!tatio! bet&ee! Willy a!d his !eighbor e!sues(
-*e! at this time Willy $eels i!$erior to 5harley, &hi"h "auses the salesma! to pla"e the burde! o$ the
$amily2s su""ess o! the shoulders o$ 1i$$, his high s"hool $ootball star( At 2, Sene + This s"e!e
retur!s to the prese!t( )ere, Willy goes to 5harley2s o$$i"e to pi"' up the mo!ey that he regularly
borro&s $rom his !eighbor( <etti!g o$$ the ele*ator, he sees 5harley2s so!, 1er!ard, &ho is !o& a!
adult a!d a high+"lass la&yer Gi! $a"t he is "urre!tly argui!g a "ase be$ore the %upreme 5ourtH(
1er!ard begi!s a "o!*ersatio! &ith Willy, as'i!g the $ired salesma! about 1i$$( At $irst Willy
prete!ds that 7big thi!gs7 are happe!i!g to his so! as &ell, seei!g that 1er!ard is so su""ess$ul(
ater, though, Willy admits that 1i$$ has $ailed a!d as's 1er!ard &here he &e!t &ro!g i! raisi!g
him( 0t seems that a$ter the -bbets 8ield game, 1i$$2s "areer as a $ootball player &as o*er G6iller o!ly
brie$ly alludes to this poi!tH( 1er!ard does!2t '!o& &hy 1i$$ ga*e up, o!ly sayi!g that o!e day 1i$$
&e!t to 1osto! to *isit Willy o! the road( A$ter this i!"ide!t, 1i$$ appare!tly lost all desire to go to
summer s"hool a!d graduate( 1er!ard as's the salesma! about 1i$$2s trip: 702*e o$te! thought o$ ho&
stra!ge it &as that 0 '!e& he2d gi*e! up his li$e( What happe!ed i! 1osto!, WillyM7 This "auses Willy
to gro& u!"om$ortable, $or though the reader does!2t '!o& it yet, 1i$$ "aught Willy &ith a prostitute
i! 1osto!(
8i!ally, 5harley e!ters the s"e!e, telli!g his so! that he2s goi!g to be late $or his trai!( 1er!ard eDits,
lea*i!g Willy a!d 5harley alo!e( 5harley &illi!gly agrees to le!d Willy &hate*er "ash he !eeds to
pay his i!sura!"e, but he also o$$ers his !eighbor a /ob &ith the $irm( Willy is stubbor!, ho&e*er, a!d
tells 5harley that he &o!2t &or' $or him( 0t seems Willy is too pride$ul to ta'e a /ob $rom his
!eighbor( Though he is &illi!g to 7borro&7 mo!ey $rom 5harley, a""epti!g a /ob $rom his 'i!d $rie!d
is goi!g too $ar( At the e!d o$ the s"e!e, Willy alludes to sui"ide( )e admits to 5harley, 7A$ter all the
high&ays, a!d the trai!s, a!d the appoi!tme!ts, a!d the years, you e!d up &orth more dead tha!
ali*e(7 0t seems Willy has a si3able amou!t o$ li$e i!sura!"e( At 2, Sene -
This s"e!e starts i! the restaura!t &here 1i$$ a!d )appy ha*e arra!ged to meet Willy $or di!!er(
)appy is &aiti!g $or the others &he! a beauti$ul &oma! e!ters a!d sits do&! !earby( %oo!, 1i$$ also
e!ters the s"e!e, sitti!g !eDt to his brother( )appy tries to set 1i$$ up &ith the &oma!, telli!g her that
1i$$ is the Iuarterba"' o$ the ,e& =or' <ia!ts( %oo!, ho&e*er, 1i$$ drops a bombshell o! )appy,
telli!g him that Jli*er &ould!2t e*e! see him( =et to 1i$$, his eDperie!"e at Jli*er2s o$$i"e is mu"h
more tha! this( )e sorro&$ully "o!"ludes be$ore his brother, 70 reali3ed &hat a ridi"ulous lie my
&hole li$e has bee!@7 1i$$ reali3es that he &as !e*er a salesma! $or Jli*er, but /ust a lo&ly shippi!g
"ler' $ired $or steali!g $rom the "ompa!y he &or'ed $or( 8i!ally 1i$$ reali3es that his $ather2s
illusio!s o$ su""ess $or him are /ust that+illusio!s( %oo! Willy e!ters, telli!g his boys that he has bee!
$iredC !eDt, he hears $rom them that the deal &ith
Jli*er did!2t &or' out( A! argume!t e!sues+this seems to be the $i!al stra& i! the u!doi!g o$ the
oma! $amily( At 2, Sene . 4!able to "ope &ith the bad !e&s, Willy sau!ters i!to the restaura!t
bathroom &here he dri$ts i!to his $a!tasy &orld agai!( This time it2s a $lashba"' to 1i$$2s high s"hool
days( 0t seems 1i$$ has /ust $lu!'ed math a!d &ill !ot graduate $rom high s"hool( %oo! Willy reli*es
the terrible hotel room s"e!e &here 1i$$ &al'ed i! o! him a!d a!other &oma!(<oi!g ba"' out to the
table, 1i$$ berates )appy $or $eeli!g !o "ompassio! $or Willy( )e begs his brother to $orget the girls
Gthe &oma! a!d her $rie!dH lo!g e!ough to "o!sole his $ather( 0t seems )appy tries to $orget his
problems by surrou!di!g himsel$ &ith &ome!( )e lea*es &ith the &ome!, telli!g them that the
babbli!g $ool i! the &ashroom is!2t really his $ather( At 2, Sene 1
This s"e!e "o!ti!ues the $lashba"' to the 1osto! hotel room &here Willy a!d the prostitute are
stayi!g( 4!$ortu!ately $or Willy, he is about to re"ei*e a! u!eDpe"ted *isit $rom his so!, 1i$$( 1i$$ is
heard '!o"'i!g o! the door, a!d $i!ally Willy ope!s it a$ter telli!g the &oma! to hide i! the
bathroom( Willy ope!s the door, sho"'ed to see his so!( )e Iui"'ly tries to get 1i$$, &ho is telli!g
him that he2s $lu!'ed math a!d &o!2t graduate,
to go &ith him do&!stairs, a&ay $rom the prostitute( This strategy almost &or's, but /ust as they are
about to lea*e, 1i$$ hears someo!e i! the bathroom a!d soo! the !a'ed prostitute &al's out, as'i!g
Willy $or her sto"'i!gs( 1i$$ immediately reali3es &hat2s goi!g o! a!d begi!s to "ry, lear!i!g that
Willy is payi!g this &oma! i! i!da2s sto"'i!gs( )e "a!2t des"ribe the a!ger a!d loathi!g he !o& has
$or his $ather, "ryi!g, 7=ou $a'e@ =ou pho!y little $a'e@7 )a*i!g $i!ished this $lashba"', Willy mo*es
through the restaura!t, getti!g ready to pay the &aiter a!d lea*e( J! the &ay out, he as's the &aiter
&here he "a! buy seeds $or his garde!( )e tells %ta!ley, 702*e got to get some seeds( 02*e got to get
some seeds, right a&ay( ,othi!g2s pla!ted( 0 do!2t ha*e a thi!g i! the grou!d(7 This is a last,
desperate attempt by Willy to sal*age &hat2s le$t o$ his li$e a!d his lega"y( Pla!ti!g seeds represe!ts
the su""ess he hopes to lea*e $or his so!s a!d his &i$e( At 2, Sene ? 1a"' at home, Willy is
pla!ti!g his garde! outside as 1i$$ a!d )appy &al' i!to the 'it"he! &here i!da is &aiti!g( %he
lambastes both boys $or aba!do!i!g Willy i! the restaura!tC she seems *ery a!gry that this "riti"al
day i! the li$e o$ her $amily has bee! a $ailure(
Jut ba"', Willy pla!ts "arrot seeds &hile he tal's to 1e! about 'illi!g himsel$ i! order to se"ure his
t&e!ty thousa!d+dollar li$e i!sura!"e poli"y $or his $amily( )e tells his perhaps+mythi"al brother that
his $u!eral &ill be a big e*e!t &here thousa!ds o$ busi!essme! $rom arou!d ,e& -!gla!d &ill "ome
to pay their respe"ts( %oo! 1i$$ &al's
out to the 7garde!7 to "o!$ro!t his $ather o!"e a!d $or all( )e tells him that he is 7!e*er goi!g to see7
&hat he is a!d that there is !o use tryi!g to "arry out his illusio!s a!ymore( 8urthermore, 1i$$ says
that he2s lea*i!g a!d probably !e*er "omi!g home agai!( =et 1i$$ is!2t do!e &ith his $ather( )e goes
o!, 7We !e*er told the truth $or te! mi!utes i! this house@7 0!deed 1i$$ blames Willy $or his $ailure i!
li$e, "hargi!g, 70 !e*er got a!y&here be"ause you ble& me so $ull o$ hot air 0 "ould !e*er sta!d
ta'i!g orders $rom a!ybody@7 To top it o$$, 1i$$ dispels Willy2s idea that the oma! $amily is spe"ial(
1i$$ asserts, 7Pop@ 02m a dime a do3e!, a!d so are you@7 This i!$uriates Willy &ho "ou!teratta"'s, 70
am !ot a dime a do3e!@ 0 am Willy oma!, a!d you are 1i$$ oma!@7 A$ter the argume!t is o*er,
Willy abse!tmi!dedly remar's, 70s!2t that remar'ableM 1i$$+he li'es me@7 )ere, Willy $i!ally reali3es
that 1i$$ is really bei!g ho!est about his $eeli!gs, !ot merely tryi!g to 7spite7 his $ather, as Willy
i!itially belie*es( Alo!e agai!, Willy retur!s to his imagi!ed "o!*ersatio! &ith his brother 1e!(
Whe! 1e! says that 7the /u!gle is dar' but $ull o$ diamo!ds,7 Willy seems to belie*e that his brother
is ad*o"ati!g his de"isio! to "ommit sui"ide $or the li$e i!sura!"e mo!ey( 75a! you imagi!e that
mag!i$i"e!"e &ith t&e!ty thousa!d dollars i! his po"'etM7 Willy as's his imagi!ary brother as he
thi!'s o$ 1i$$( 0! this &ay, it seems as though the death o$ this salesma! is !ear( Though he &o!2t die
i! his ideali3ed gree! slippers, Willy belie*es that sui"ide is the best optio! le$t(
At 2, Sene 9 This $i!al s"e!e details Willy2s $u!eral( To i!da2s surprise, !o o!e atte!ds the $u!eral
besides the $amily eD"ept $or 5harley, Willy2s o!ly $rie!d( The $u!eral s"e!e is importa!t, be"ause it
sho&s the i!"reasi!g di*erge!"e bet&ee! 1i$$ a!d )appy( While 1i$$ reali3es that their $ather 7had
the &ro!g dreams,7 )appy de$e!ds Willy2s aspiratio!s, sayi!g, 702m go!!a sho& you a!d e*erybody
else that Willy oma! did !ot die i! *ai!( )e had a good dream( 0t2s the o!ly dream you "a! ha*e+to
"ome out !umber+o!e ma!( )e $ought it out here, a!d this is &here 02m go!!a &i! it $or him(7 0! this
&ay, )appy pi"'s up the tor"h that his $ather has le$t at the gra*e(
ARTHUR 6I00ER<S BIO4RAPH:
Ameri"a! play&right &ho "ombi!ed i! his &or's so"ial a&are!ess &ith deep i!sights i!to perso!al
&ea'!esses o$ his "hara"ters2( 6iller is best '!o&! $or the play #-AT) J8 A %A-%6A, G1949H,
or o! the other ha!d, $or his marriage to the a"tress 6arily! 6o!roe( 6iller2s plays "o!ti!ued the
realisti" traditio! that bega! i! the 4!ited %tates i! the period bet&ee! the t&o &orld &ars( With
Te!!essee Williams, 6iller &as o!e o$ the best+'!o&! Ameri"a! play&rights a$ter WW 00( %e*eral
o$ his &or's &ere $ilmed by su"h dire"tor as :oh! )usto!, %id!ey umet a!d ;arel Lei3(
Arthur 6iller &as bor! i! ,e& =or'( )is $ather, 0sidore 6iller, &as a ladies+&ear ma!u$a"turer a!d
shop'eeper &ho &as rui!ed i! the depressio!( The sudde! "ha!ge i! $ortu!e had a stro!g i!$lue!"e
o! 6iller( 7This desire to mo*e o!, to metamorphose X or perhaps it is a tale!t $or bei!g
"o!temporary X &as gi*e! me as li$e2s i!e*itable a!d righ$ul "o!ditio!,7 he &rote i! T06-1-,#%:
A 08- G19.7H( The $amily mo*ed to a small $rame house i! 1roo'ly!, &hi"h is said to the model $or
the 1roo'ly! home i! (eath of a %alesman( 6iller spe!t his boyhood playi!g $oorball a!d baseball,
readi!g ad*e!ture stories, a!d appeari!g ge!erally as a !o!i!telle"tual( 70$ 0 had a!y ideology at all it
&as &hat 0 had lear!ed $rom )earst !e&spapers,7 he o!"e said( A$ter graduati!g $rom a high s"hool
i! 1932, 6iller &or'ed i! automobile parts &arehouse to ear! mo!ey $or "ollege( )a*i!g read
#ostoe*s'y2s !o*el ,he Arothers Darama$ov 6iller de"ided to be"ome a &riter( To study /our!alism
he e!tered the 4!i*ersity o$ 6i"higa! i! 1934, &here he &o! a&ards $or play&riti!g X o!e o$ the
other a&arded play&right &as Te!!essee Williams(
A$ter graduati!g i! -!glish i! 193., 6iller retur!ed to ,e& =or'( There he /oi!ed the 8ederal
Theatre Pro/e"t, a!d &rote s"ripts $or radio programs, su"h as 5olumbia Wor'shop G51%H a!d
5a*al"ade o$ Ameri"a G,15H( 1e"ause o$ a $ootball i!/ury, he &as eDempt $rom dra$t( 0! 1940 6iller
married a 5atholi" girl, 6ary %lattery, his "ollege s&eetheart, &ith &hom he had t&o "hildre!(
6iller2s $irst play to appear o! 1road&ay &as T)- 6A, W)J )A# A T)- T)- 45; G1944H(
0t "losed a$ter $our per$orma!"es( Three years later produ"ed A 6= %J,% &as about a $a"tory
o&!er &ho sells $aulty air"ra$t parts duri!g World War 00( 0t &o! the ,e& =or' #rama 5riti"s 5ir"le
a&ard a!d t&o To!y A&ards( 0! 1944 6iller toured Army "amps to "olle"t ba"'grou!d material $or
the s"ree!play T)- %TJL= J8 <0 :J- G194>H( 6iller2s $irst !o*el, 8J54% G194>H, &as about a!ti+
%emitism( 6iller2s plays o$te! depi"t ho& $amilies are destroyed by $alse *alues( -spe"ially his
earliest e$$orts sho& his admiratio! $or the "lassi"al <ree' dramatists( 7Whe! 0 bega! to &rite,7 he
said i! a! i!ter*ie&, 7o!e assumed i!e*itably that o!e &as i! the mai!stream that bega! &ith
Aes"hylus a!d &e!t through about t&e!ty+$i*e hu!dred years o$ play&riti!g(7 G$rom ,he 9ambridge
9ompanion to /rthur .iller, ed( by 5hristopher 1igsby, 1997H
#-AT) J8 A %A-%6A, G1949H brought 6iller i!ter!atio!al $ame, a!d be"ome o!e o$ the ma/or
a"hie*eme!ts o$ moder! Ameri"a! theatre( 0t relates the tragi" story o$ a salesma! !amed Willy
oma!, &hose past a!d prese!t are mi!gled i! eDpressio!isti" s"e!es( oma! is !ot the great su""ess
that he "laims to be to his $amily a!d $rie!ds( The post&ar e"o!omi" boom has sha'e! up his li$e( )e
is e*e!tually $ired
a!d he begi!s to hallu"i!ate about sig!i$i"a!t e*e!ts $rom his past( i!da, his &i$e, belie*es i! the
Ameri"a! #ream, but she also 'eeps her $eet o! the grou!d( #e"idi!g that he is &orth more dead
tha! ali*e, Willy 'ills himsel$ i! his "ar X hopi!g that the i!sura!"e mo!ey &ill support his $amily
a!d his so! 1i$$ "ould get a !e& start i! his li$e( 5riti"s ha*e disagreed &hether his sui"ide is a! a"t
o$ "o&ardi"e or a last sa"ri$i"e o! the altar o$ the Ameri"a! #ream(
0! 1949 6iller &as !amed a! 7Jutsta!di!g 8ather o$ the =ear7, &hi"h ma!i$ested his su""ess as a
$amous &riter( 1ut the &heel o$ $ortu!e &as goi!g do&!( 0! the 19>0s 6iller &as sub/e"ted to a
s"ruti!y by a "ommittee o$ the 4!ited %tates 5o!gress i!*estigati!g 5ommu!ist i!$lue!"e i! the arts(
The 810 read his play ,he 7oo2, about a milita!t u!io! orga!i3er, a!d he &as de!ied a passport to
atte!d the 1russels premiere o$ his play T)- 5L4501- G19>3H( 0t &as based o! "ourt re"ords a!d
histori"al perso!ages o$ the %alem &it"h trials o$ 1O92( 0! %alem o!e "ould be ha!ged be"ause o$ 22the
i!$lamed huma! imagi!atio!, the poetry o$ suggestio!(22 The daughter o$ %alem2s mi!ister $alls
mysteriously ill( Le*ere!d %amuel Parris is a &ido&er, a!d there is *ery little good to be said $or
him( )e belie*es he is perse"uted &here*er he goes( Lumours o$ &it"h"ra$t spread throughout the
people o$ %alem( 7The times, to their eyes, must ha*e bee! out o$ /oi!t, a!d to the "ommo! $ol' must
ha*e seemed as i!soluble a!d "ompli"ated as do ours today(7 The mi!ister a""uses Abigail Williams
o$ &ro!gdoi!g, but she tra!s$orms the a""usatio! i!to plea $or help: her soul has bee! be&it"hed(
=ou!g girls, led by Abigail, ma'e a""usatio!s o$ &it"h"ra$t agai!st to&!speople &hom they do !ot
li'e( Abigail a""uses -li3abeth Pro"tor, the &i$e o$ a! upsta!di!g $armer, &hom she had o!"e
sedu"ed( -li3abeth2s husba!d :oh! Pro"tor re*eals his past le"hery( -li3abeth, u!a&are, $ails to
"o!$irm his testimo!y( To prote"t him she testi$ies $alsely that her husba!d has !ot bee! i!timate &ith
Abigail( Pro"tor is a""used o$ &it"h"ra$t a!d "o!dem!ed to death( ,he 9rucible, &hi"h re"ei*ed
A!toi!ette Perry A&ard, &as a! allegory $or the 6"5arthy era a!d mass hysteria( Although its $irst
1road&ay produ"tio! $lopped, it be"ome o!e o$ 6iller2s most+produ"ed play( 6iller &rote ,he
9rucible i! the atmosphere i! &hi"h the author sa& 7a""epted the !otio! that "o!s"ie!"e &as !o
lo!ger a pri*ate matter but o!e o$ state admi!istratio!(7 0! the play he eDpressed his $aith i! the
ability o$ a! i!di*idual to resist "o!$ormist pressures( -lia ;a3a!, &ith &hom 6iller had shared a!
artisti" *isio! a!d $or a period a girl$rie!d, the motio!+pi"ture a"tress 6arily! 6o!roe, !amed i!
19>2 eight $ormer reds, &ho had bee! i! the 5ommu!ist Party &ith him( ;a3a! *irtually be"ame a
pariah o*er!ight, 6iller remai!ed a hero o$ the e$t( T&o short plays u!der the "olle"ti*e title A
P0-W 8LJ6 T)- 1L0#<- &ere su""ess$ully produ"ed i! 19>>( The drama, deali!g &ith
i!"estuous lo*e, /ealousy a!d betrayal, &as also a! a!s&er to ;a3a!2s $ilm -n the 4aterfront G19>4H,
i! &hi"h the dire"tor /usti$ied his !ami!g !ames(
0! 19>O 6iller &as a&arded ho!orary degree at the 4!i*ersity o$ 6i"higa! but also "alled be$ore the
)ouse 5ommittee o! 4!+Ameri"a! A"ti*ities( 6iller admitted that he had atte!ded "ertai! meeti!gs,
but de!ied that he &as a 5ommu!ist( )e had atte!ded amo!g others $our or $i*e &riters2s meeti!gs
spo!sored by the 5ommu!ist Party i! 1947, supported a Pea"e 5o!$ere!"e at the Waldor$+Astoria i!
,e& =or', a!d sig!ed ma!y apppeals a!d protests( 76arily!2s $ia!"e admits aidi!g reds,7 &rote the
press( Le$usi!g to o$$er other people2s !ames, &ho had asso"iated &ith le$tist or suspe"ted
5ommu!ist
groups, 6iller &as "ited $or "o!tempt o$ 5o!gress, but the ruli!g &as re*ersed by the "ourts i! 19>.(
6iller X 7the ma! &ho had all the lu"'7 X married 6arily! 6o!roe i! 19>OC they di*or"ed i! 19O1(
At that time 6arily! &as beyo!d sa*i!g( %he died i! 19O2( 0! the late 19>0s 6iller &rote !othi!g $or
the theatre( )is s"ree!play 60%80T% &as &ritte! &ith a role $or his &i$e( The $ilm &as dire"ted by
:oh! )usto!, starri!g 6o!gomery 5li$t, 5lar' <able, a!d 6arily! 6o!roe( 6arily! &as al&ays late
getti!g to the set a!d used hea*ily drugs( The marriage &as already brea'i!g, a!d 6iller &as $eeli!g
lo!ely( :oh! )usto! &rote i! his boo' o$ memoir, /n -pen Aoo2, G19.0H: 7J!e e*e!i!g 0 &as about
to dri*e a&ay $rom the lo"atio! X miles out i! the desert X &he! 0 sa& Arthur sta!di!g alo!e( 6arily!
a!d her $rie!ds had!2t o$$ered him a ride ba"'C they2d /ust le$t him( 0$ 0 had!2t happe!ed to see him, he
&ould ha*e bee! stra!ded out there( 6y sympathies &ere more a!d more &ith him(7 ater 6iller
said that there 7should ha*e bee! more lo!g shots to remi!d us "o!sta!tly ho& isolated there people
&ere, physi"ally a!d morally(7 6iller2s last play, 80,0%)0,< T)- P05T4L-, produ"ed i! 2004,
depi"ted the ma'i!g o$ .isfits(
6iller &as politi"ally a"ti*e throughout his li$e( 0! 19O> he &as ele"ted preside!t o$ P(-(,(, the
i!ter!atio!al literary orga!i3atio!( At the 19O. #emo"rati" Party 5o!*e!tio! he &as a delegate $or
-uge!e 6"5arthy( 0! 19O4 6iller retur!ed to stage a$ter a !i!e+year abse!"e &ith the play A8T-L
T)- 8A, a stro!gly autobiographi"al &or', &hi"h dealt &ith the Iuestio!s o$ guilt a!d i!!o"e!"e(
The play also u!ited ;a3a! a!d 6iller, but their "lose $rie!dship &as o*er, destroyed by the bla"'list(
6a!y "riti"s
"o!sider that 6aggie, the sel$+destru"ti*e "e!tral "hara"ter, &as modelled o! 6o!roe, though 6iller
de!ied this( A year a$ter his di*or"e, 6iller married the Austria! photographer 0!ge 6orath G1923+
2002H, &ith &hom he "o+operated o! t&o boo's about 5hi!a a!d Lussia( A$ter 0!ge 6orath died,
6iller pla!!d to marry Ag!es 1arley, a 34+year+old artist( 0! 19.> 6iller &e!t to Tur'ey &ith the
play&right )arold Pi!ter( Their /our!ey &as arra!ged by P-, i! "o!/u!"tio! &ith the )elsi!'i
Wat"h 5ommittee( J!e o$ their guides i! 0sta!bul &as Jrha! Pamu'( 0! the 1990s 6iller &rote su"h
plays as T)- L0#- #JW, 6J4,T 6JL<A, Gprod( 1991H a!d T)- A%T =A,;-- Gprod(
1993H, but i! a! i!ter*ie& he stated that 70t happe!s to be a *ery bad histori"al mome!t $or
play&riti!g, be"ause the theater is getti!g more a!d more di$$i"ult to $i!d a"tors $or, si!"e tele*isio!
pays so mu"h a!d the mo*ies e*e! more tha! that( 0$ you2re you!g, you2ll probably be &riti!g about
you!g people, a!d that2s easier ++ you "a! $i!d you!g a"tors ++ but you "a!2t readily $i!d mature
a"tors(7 G2We2re Probably i! a! Art That 0s ++ ,ot #yi!g2 , ,he 8ew )or2 ,imes, :a!uary 17, 1993H 0!
2002 6iller &as ho!ored &ith %pai!2s prestigious Pri!"ipe de Asturias Pri3e $or iterature, ma'i!g
him the $irst 4(%( re"ipie!t o$ the a&ard( 6iller died o$ heart $ailure at home i! LoDbury,
5o!!e"ti"ut, o! 8ebruary 10, 200>(
HIS 0ITERAR: 3OR@S
Fiction
8o Eillain Gplay, 193OH
Y ,he' ,oo /rise Gplay, 1937, based o! 8o EillainH
Y 7onors at (awn Gplay, 193., based o! ,he' ,oo /riseH
Y ,he Frass %till Frows Gplay, 193., based o! ,he' ,oo /riseH
Y ,he Freat (isobedience Gplay, 193.H
Y Listen .' 9hildren Gplay, &ith ,orma! Loste!, 1939H
Y ,he Folden )ears Gplay, 1940H
Y ,he .an 4ho 7ad /ll the Luc2 Gplay, 1940HA43B
Y ,he <uss'cat and the <lumber 4ho 4as a .an Gradio play, 1941H
Y 4illiam 3relands 9onfession Gradio play, 1941H
Y @ed 9handler 7arris Gradio play, 1941H
Y 9aptain <aul Gradio play, 1941H
Y ,he Aattle of the -vens Gradio play, 1942H
Y ,hunder from the .ountains Gradio play, 1942H
Y 3 4as .arried in Aataan Gradio play, 1942H
Y ,oward a 0arther %tar Gradio play, 1942H
Y ,he ;agles 8est Gradio play, 1942H
Y ,he 0our 0reedoms Gradio play, 1942H
Y ,he 7alf5Aridge Gplay, 1943H
Y ,hat ,he' .a' 4in Gradio play, 1943H
Y Listen for the %ound of 4ings Gradio play, 1943H
Y Aernardine Gradio play, 1944H
Y 3 Love )ou Gradio play, 1944H
Y Frandpa and the %tatue Gradio play, 1944H
Y ,he <hilippines 8ever %urrendered Gradio play, 1944H
Y ,he Fuardsman Gradio play, 1944, based o! 8ere!" 6ol!ZrFs playH
Y ,he %tor' of F"3" @oe G$ilm, 1943H
Y 0ocus G!o*el, 194>H
Y /ll .' %ons Gplay, 1947H
Y ,he %tor' of Fus Gradio play, 1947H
Y ,he 7oo2 G$ilm, 1947H
Y (eath of a %alesman Gplay, 1949H
Y /n ;nem' of the <eople Gplay, 19>0, based o! )e!ri' 0bse!2s play /n ;nem' of the <eopleH
Y ,he 9rucible Gplay, 19>3H
Y / Eiew from the Aridge Gplay, 19>>H
Y / .emor' of ,wo .onda's Gplay, 19>>H
Y ,he .isfits Gshort story, 19>7H
Y ,he .isfits Gs"ree!play, 19O1H
Y /fter the 0all Gplay, 19O4H
Y 3ncident at Eich' Gplay, 19O4H
Y 3 (ont 8eed )ou /n'more Gshort stories, 19O7H
Y ,he <rice Gplay, 19O.H
Y 0ame Gtele*isio! play, 1970H
Y ,he =eason 4h' Gradio play, 1970H
Y ,he 9reation of the 4orld and -ther Ausiness Gplay, 1972H
Y ,he /rchbishop>s 9eiling Gplay, 1977H
Y ,he /merican 9loc2 Gplay, 19.0H
Y <la'ing 0or ,ime (film! Gtele*isio! play, 19.0H
Y ;leg' for a Lad' Gshort play, 19.2, $irst part o$ ,wo 4a' .irrorH
Y %ome Dind of Love %tor' Gshort play, 19.2, se"o!d part o$ ,wo 4a' .irrorH
Y ;ver'bod' 4ins Gs"ree!play, 19.4H
Y <la'ing for ,ime Gstage *ersio!, 19.>H
Y 3 ,hin2 /bout )ou a Freat (eal Gplay, 19.OH
Y 3 9ant =emember /n'thing Gplay, 19.7, also '!o&! as (anger: .emor'H
Y 9lara Gplay, 19.7, also '!o&! as (anger: .emor'H
Y ,he Last )an2ee Gplay, 1991H
Y ,he =ide (own .t" .organ Gplay, 1991H
Y 7omel' Firl Gshort story, 1992, published 4; as <lain Firl: / Life 199>H
Y Aro2en Flass Gplay, 1994H
Y ,he 9rucible Gs"ree!play, 199>H
Y .r <eters 9onnections Gplay, 199.H
Y =esurrection Alues Gplay, 2002H
Y 0inishing the <icture Gplay, 2004H
Y <resence: %tories Gshort stories, 2007H
Non-fiction
%ituation 8ormal G1944H is based o! his eDperie!"es resear"hi!g the &ar "orrespo!de!"e o$ -r!ie
Pyle(
Y 3n =ussia G19O9H, the $irst o$ three boo's "reated &ith his photographer &i$e 0!ge 6orath, o$$ers
6iller2s impressio!s o$ Lussia a!d Lussia! so"iety(
Y 3n the 9ountr' G1977H, &ith photographs by 6orath a!d teDt by 6iller, pro*ides i!sight i!to ho&
6iller spe!t his time i! LoDbury, 5o!!e"ti"ut a!d pro$iles o$ his *arious !eighbors(
Y 9hinese ;ncounters G1979H is a tra*el /our!al &ith photographs by 6orath( 0t depi"ts the 5hi!ese
so"iety i! the state o$ $luD &hi"h $ollo&ed the e!d o$ the 5ultural Le*olutio!( 6iller dis"usses the
hardships o$ ma!y &riters, pro$essors, a!d artists as they try to regai! the se!se o$ $reedom a!d pla"e
they lost duri!g 6ao Nedo!g2s regime(
Y %alesman in Aei6ing G19.4H details 6iller2s eDperie!"es &ith the 19.3 1ei/i!g People2s Theatre
produ"tio! o$ (eath of a %alesman( )e des"ribes the idiosy!"rasies, u!dersta!di!gs, a!d i!sights
e!"ou!tered i! dire"ti!g a 5hi!ese "ast i! a de"idedly Ameri"a! play(
Y ,imebends: / Life, 6ethue! o!do! G19.7H 0%1, 0413414.09( i'e (eath of a %alesman, the
boo' $ollo&s the stru"ture o$ memory itsel$, ea"h passage li!'ed to a!d triggered by the o!e be$ore(
Universitas Sumatera Utara
4(2 %uggestio!s
This play is *ery i!teresti!g to read be"ause it deals &ith huma! problems a!d may happe! i! a real
&orld( 0t represe!ts the attitudes o$ the Ameri"a! i! 1920( 0 hope that this thesis &ill be impro*es our
'!o&ledge i! literature(
ast but !ot least, 0 &ill be happy i$ this thesis "a! gi*e a great "o!tributio! to e*eryo!e &ho &a!ts to
&rite a thesis, a!d 0 '!o& this thesis is still $ar $rom bei!g per$e"t( There$ore, a!y "o!stru"ti*e
"riti"ism a!d suggestio! &ill be &armly a""epted(
the myth that su""ess is based o! the popularity, perso!ality a!d perso!al attra"ti*e!ess(
0
1e li'ed a!d you &ill !e*er &a!t Gp(33H
Lidi!g o! a smile a!d a shoeshi!e, a!d R perso!ality al&ays &i!s the day Gp(O>H
These are the de"eptio!s that Willy a!d "o!temporary Ameri"a! so"iety are preo""upied &ith(

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