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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a reread for me and I did enjoy it for what it is. The ending always makes me sad, and the writing is well done. That said, it isn't my favorite classic in the world. I found it a bit boring and predictable. All in all it was an okay read.
I had to read this for my English class. It was okay, but nothing special. It was hard to connect with Willy for obvious reasons, mainly that he's much older, so we haven't had the same life experience(s). I liked how Miller blurred the past and the present together between scenes, but having read many other "classics", I feel that Death of a Salesman is, well, bland. I didn't get anything out of this book because of the age barrier of Willy and myself. I just don't find the story that special.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a sad reality that many people face: not all dreams are meant to be real. Sometimes, what we build our identity around a successful career or the approval of others and this ends up being an illusion.
One of the most powerful aspects of the play is the contrast between the two sons, Biff and Happy. When Biff falls both literally and metaphorically he realizes that blindly following his father’s dream only leads to more pain. He takes time to confront reality, and while it breaks him, it also sets him free. That’s something I really connected with: when life knocks you down, you either take time to rebuild honestly or risk falling further.
On the other hand, Happy chooses to chase the same dream, perhaps out of loyalty, or maybe because he’s still living in denial. Depending on how you look at it, Happy’s determination is either strength or a refusal to face the truth that his dad was not the role model Happy thought he was.
This play is a reminder that failure doesn’t mean the end, but continuing to lie to yourself might be. Death of a Salesman is not just about Willy (the dad) ’s fall it’s about how each character chooses to deal with that fall. And in that way, it mirrors life with haunting accuracy. Also feel bad for Willy’s wife Linda who stuck by him through all his flaws and shortcomings. Some women deserve the world. Linda was one of those!
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Im surprised with how much I enjoyed this play. Miller manages to portray a complex situation while making it engaging.
Willy as a character is very interesting with what he says and what he means being almost different characters.
Not only is it an exploration of the American dream but also of the complexities of family life and the impact parenting had on children.
Willy as a character is very interesting with what he says and what he means being almost different characters.
Not only is it an exploration of the American dream but also of the complexities of family life and the impact parenting had on children.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Capitalism kills people. Much of this statement originates from the way in which Capitalism must continually profit, and the machine will chew up and spit out anything that can be spun for profit-- the oil, wood, land, animals, raw resources, man-made resources, all of it is fuel for the machine. People die in unsafe conditions due to corners cut to make an extra buck, people end up permanently disabled and die on (or off) unemployment benefit due to the continuous cutting of funds for those who need it to live.
But capitalism also kills people emotionally. Beyond what marx said about the way capitalism creates commodities out of humans, it dulls and kills the spirit, destroys a persons own self in pursuit of profit. How many people have you known who have come home and sat on their couch in tears of distress, stemming from the misery of their worklife? How many have you seen tear themselves apart to chase the capitalist dream of becoming someone or something, the idea of meritocracy and achievements just waiting around the corner if we just try hard enough?
Miller's "Death of a Salesman" channels his explicitly anticapitalist ideology and one thing I adore about this book is how confusing it is right off the bat. You don't really understand whats happening and it's so frustrating-- Does Willy have dementia? Does this story exist across many time periods for him or for all of them? Who's the hero? Is it Willy? His wife? His son, Biff? What happened all those years ago in Boston? Miller weaves the story expertly, showing a peak and then pulling away until the full story unravels in your hand, unspooling unto the floor beneath your palms.
Willy is a victim of the mentality that plagues so many Americans, but he is also the perpetraitor of cruelty onto others- the way he treats his ever faithful and patient wife, the way he bites at Biff's throat (as Biff bites at his), the way he ignores Happy- all of this shows that a person can be both a victim and a source of antagonism at the same time, and it is not contradictory; it is the human condition.
But capitalism also kills people emotionally. Beyond what marx said about the way capitalism creates commodities out of humans, it dulls and kills the spirit, destroys a persons own self in pursuit of profit. How many people have you known who have come home and sat on their couch in tears of distress, stemming from the misery of their worklife? How many have you seen tear themselves apart to chase the capitalist dream of becoming someone or something, the idea of meritocracy and achievements just waiting around the corner if we just try hard enough?
Miller's "Death of a Salesman" channels his explicitly anticapitalist ideology and one thing I adore about this book is how confusing it is right off the bat. You don't really understand whats happening and it's so frustrating-- Does Willy have dementia? Does this story exist across many time periods for him or for all of them? Who's the hero? Is it Willy? His wife? His son, Biff? What happened all those years ago in Boston? Miller weaves the story expertly, showing a peak and then pulling away until the full story unravels in your hand, unspooling unto the floor beneath your palms.
Willy is a victim of the mentality that plagues so many Americans, but he is also the perpetraitor of cruelty onto others- the way he treats his ever faithful and patient wife, the way he bites at Biff's throat (as Biff bites at his), the way he ignores Happy- all of this shows that a person can be both a victim and a source of antagonism at the same time, and it is not contradictory; it is the human condition.
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes