DEATH OF A SALESMAN

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Summary: REVISIT IT - AS A NOVEL
Review: This play is as powerful read like a novel as it is seen on stage. I enjoy studying play texts but often find myself drawn to/absorbed by/mired in the critical essays that often accompany their popular publication. Death of a Salesman repels the "How to" critical compass. It is unique. It was regarded as the best play of 1949, and has endured - for my money - as the best play of the twentieth century. It's value? Simply, humbly, defining the eternal spiritual quandary and, bluntly, the squalid punchline of all "isms". It also boasts some of the truest, toughest verbal exchanges ever put on paper, let alone in actors' mouths.

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Summary: Death of a Salesman
Review: This is a wonderful book about a play written by Arthur Miller. The drama consists of many diffrent events that occured in the story; as in the struggle of a man named Willy Loman to support and want the best for his family, especially his sons.

Willy a committed, hard working, aging, middle class man, always had a dream; to be rich and successful. He has very high expectations and strived to strike it rich and famous as Ben; his long time friend did. Every time Willy was at his low point in life; he had flashbacks of Ben saying: he was only 17 when I entered the jungle and struck it rich, by the time I became 21. This phrase is sort of a metaphor for Willy to push himself, and make something of himself.

Willy went through alot of hardships as in paying expenses off, borrowing money, hiding things from his wife, getting fired, his sons; that are old enough to work, and are lazy to go out in the real world. Biff and Happy are pushed or literally forced into his fathers' "want" of them being bussiness men which they were really not into. Because of the fact Charlie and Ben was.

So this was a puzzling sitution. Willy has had suicidal thoughts and repeatedly fell asleep at the wheel while driving. Linda his worried wife just tries to comfort him. And gives him the up most support possible. She is really dedicated to keep the family together, but of course sometimes because of issues that is not possible.

Willy always went out with a positive outlook when he went out looking for a job. It sort of seemed like he developed too much convidence. That made him realize that definately he got the job. And sure, even arguing with the boss to get his point across.

But however sad to say poor Willy didn't get the job. From that point on he felt depressed and streesed he has bills to pay. but no money so this took a struggle. Although when Willy was offered a job for lower pay he refused it cause his expectations were to high in his head.

Willy basically was a dreamer with a wild imagination. Because of the way things didn't go the way he wanted them to go. He came out of the door in his house. Sat in his car and drove into a brick wall.

Easily speaking commited suicide. The outcome became a tragic tradegy. It was sad that it ended up to death. As a result I think Willy was a hero. He was brave,outgoing and persuasive. At least he tried and had motivation to motivate his sons. To being somebody and the best that you can be. I personally give this book a rave review!

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Summary: Death of a salesman review
Review: I thought this book is pretty good. Its about a all American family trying to reach the American Dream. They way the father responds to everything and how he is trying to get his son to make something of himself. His son has gone from job to job and has made nothing out of himself. Its a very interesting book just of the way it is put togather, the real way. Nothing is made up, like a real American family. Something that you would expect from any family. The father works his whole life as hard as he can and has gotten pretty far in his life. But he is still working real hard. He was always hoping that his son would become someone. Unforunatly he never really did. He always trid being a sucessful salesman. Thats what one of his dreams was. Its something that he couldnt achieve. Its a little confusing and needs a little thought to undersatnd it completely, but it still remains interesting. This book did sell 11 million copies, and it has also won several awards. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about a persons life.

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Summary: Making Sales
Review: I recently read this book for my Literature class and bat I remembered that I had read it before.The is a middle school level. I really enjoy reading it whith the class some times I woud loose my places but I catch on whith the rest of the class.I learn more about how to make sales and to control my temper.Not like Willy in the play he dont know how to control his temper.My father and I both are sales man.We both have a small business,Sales business run in are famaly from generation. The story gave me a better look about life as a salesman.

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Summary: Death of a Saleman from a Different Perspective
Review: I do not normally read such books as this but in school we were assigned to read it. While reading this play I realized the time it was written in and accepted the poor dialogue as a way to show the period of time. Also, the reoccuring display of flasbacks was a tedious yet effective way of showing Willy Lomans inability to accept himself as a failure as is his sons. One more thing, the women being showed as either prostitutes or as inferior housewifes was demeaning to women. The play was good in terms of the theme it showed and how we as humans prefer not to accept the reality of our lives but to choose American dream illusions to make ourselfs feel like we are well liked or well known but other than that I would have to rate it as a one star play.

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Summary: Hopes and desires of life
Review: 'Death of a Salesman' is a play written by Authur Miller. The plot of the play moves from the present to the past and back again from the life of Willy Lowman,who had been a salesman all his life.HE has two sons Happy and Biff and wife Linda.His brother Ben went to Africa when he was very young and found diamonds after which he became very rich.Willy himself had been trying to make it big all his life as a salesman and had high hopes for his two sons but had always been dissappointed. This is a story of hopes and happiness with success but all hopes fail and the Salesman gets kicked by life.His attempt to make it big never comes true. The book is very interesting to read and tells a lot about the characters. A pretty cool book!

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Summary: Willy is not a tragic character.
Review: This "classic" play that so many love for it's tragic presentation of the average man being swept up in the American dream isn't that emotionally heart wrenching as one would like to believe. The fault lies in Willy himself. Willy is too stupid to be a well loved character. I had less sympathy for his suicide than when I saw a squirrel hit by a bus. Willy brings his problems upon himself. He is not a victem of a n unfair economical system, he is just a failure. He can't be tragic. Not only does he not realize his own faults, he is a completely static character. One can feel for a character whose flaws condemn him to failure if that character is noble in spirit or purpose, or one who tries to change. Willy is neither. He's entire life has been a failure, and at his one possible moment of redemption, his single opportunity he uses to destroy himself. HTere is no tragidy, just a purposeless life. The play on the whole is much too sentimental. It doesn't prevoke deep thought, it merely leaves the reader with vague and unconnected questions.

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Summary: Success
Review: Death of a salesman is a play written by Arthur Miller (1915- ). The play focuses on how Willy Loman, the main character always thinks and talks about being successful. Being successful is Willy's great dream. Just like the American dream. Willy strives to bring happiness to himself and his family, but does not succeed. He is too prideful to accept the fact that his dream of being a successful salesman never will become true, and he is too prideful to accept where he fits in society. People like Willy are very common in today's society. They are caught up in the American dream; everybody wants to be successful, but only a few make it to the top. But is this really the most important values in life? Willy looks at himself as a failure, just because he didn't make it to the top in business life, well, that is how business is; not everybody can make it to the top. That doesn't necessarily mean that your whole life is over. That is what happened to Willy; when he felt like a failure because of his broken dream, he let it out on his wife, and his two sons, Biff and Happy. Then he killed himself. This shows that Willy's only values in life were to become wee-liked and successful and if he didn't, it wasn't worth living. I think the book was a bit difficult to read, because the play shifts between present and past, which makes it a bit confusing. All over, I liked the book, not because the story was so good, but because after finishing it, it made me think about how much people think about their career, and how often the career becomes a first priority, no matter what. Is it the career that makes a man successful?

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Summary: A classic story...
Review: Death of a Salesman is a classic for a reason. Not only does it portray the life of a mere middle-class family rather than royalty, it examines the need for life-fulfillment. Loved it!

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Summary: I'm surprised at the low ratings
Review: This play is a masterpiece. If Miller wanted to slap his readers in the face with this play's theme, he would have called it "Death of the American Dream." Maybe more people would have been less confused. It was extremely easy to tell when the past and present switched. Think: If Willy's dead brother Ben appears, you're in the past, if Biff suddenly becomes Young Biff, and Happy suddenly becomes Young Happy, then you're probably (gasp) in the past. Use your brains people, it is only as difficult as you wish to make it. Thoroughly enjoyable, and amusing, examination of the materialism and emptiness found in the much desired "American dream."