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thebluntbibliophile's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A dysfunctional family, the American Dream and Alzheimer's disease makes for a beautifully depressing read. It's hard to write characters that make the reader feel so strongly as Miller does, even overtly, let alone with such subtlety. I- there are simply no words for it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Mental illness
Minor: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
katkatniss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“[caged, wanting to escape]”
Because of the title, I thought this book would be like one of O’Henry’s short stories. Instead, surprisingly, it has the same desperation of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. But don’t get me wrong though, they speak of quite different themes. Miller is truly a genius.
Because of the title, I thought this book would be like one of O’Henry’s short stories. Instead, surprisingly, it has the same desperation of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. But don’t get me wrong though, they speak of quite different themes. Miller is truly a genius.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Bullying, Car accident, and Violence
jlebon's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is an interesting text for me.
Despite being on my to-be-read list anyway, I decided to read this play for the purpose of comparing it to 'The Great Gatsby' for my English Literature A-Level exam this month. This was certainly a good idea with there being many parallel themes surrounding the failed pursuit of the American Dream. Furthermore, the resemblance between the final chapter of 'The Great Gatsby' and the requiem of 'The Death of a Salesman' are so similar that I implore anyone to read both texts and see for themselves.
With that being said, whilst I found the premise and ending of the play to be exceptional, I can't say that I enjoyed this text as much as I think I should. I attribute this to be in part down to the formatting of the text as a play. Whilst I can imagine that seeing a production of this text would be phenomenal, I found the sequencing of the narrative quite difficult to follow - reality and illusion, present and flashback all blending into one. This was likely intentional from Miller, trying to present a similar disorientation for the reader as that felt by the protagonist Willy Loman (due to his slow descent into madness). Nevertheless, I think as a play (or alternatively written in the format of a novella) the narrative may have been easier to follow, therefore allowing the reader/watcher to engage to a greater extent with proceedings.
To reiterate, this is not a criticism to rubbish the text as a whole - I feel very fortunate to have read this work by Miller and I think it is completely deserving of its place in the literary canon. However, this does not elevate the text beyond fault and I can't help but feel reader enjoyment would've been improved with a greater clarity in formatting.
Despite being on my to-be-read list anyway, I decided to read this play for the purpose of comparing it to 'The Great Gatsby' for my English Literature A-Level exam this month. This was certainly a good idea with there being many parallel themes surrounding the failed pursuit of the American Dream. Furthermore, the resemblance between the final chapter of 'The Great Gatsby' and the requiem of 'The Death of a Salesman' are so similar that I implore anyone to read both texts and see for themselves.
With that being said, whilst I found the premise and ending of the play to be exceptional, I can't say that I enjoyed this text as much as I think I should. I attribute this to be in part down to the formatting of the text as a play. Whilst I can imagine that seeing a production of this text would be phenomenal, I found the sequencing of the narrative quite difficult to follow - reality and illusion, present and flashback all blending into one. This was likely intentional from Miller, trying to present a similar disorientation for the reader as that felt by the protagonist Willy Loman (due to his slow descent into madness). Nevertheless, I think as a play (or alternatively written in the format of a novella) the narrative may have been easier to follow, therefore allowing the reader/watcher to engage to a greater extent with proceedings.
To reiterate, this is not a criticism to rubbish the text as a whole - I feel very fortunate to have read this work by Miller and I think it is completely deserving of its place in the literary canon. However, this does not elevate the text beyond fault and I can't help but feel reader enjoyment would've been improved with a greater clarity in formatting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I picked up a vintage copy of this book at a used bookstore because I have never read this classic play.
"Death of a Salesman" follows Willy Loman. Willy has been a salesman for 34 years, but now at sixty-years-old, he feels like he has been cast aside and has no usefulness left to contribute. He struggles with what to do with his life now, which is causing him to think about all of his past mistakes.
This play explores what it means to realize the "American dream" in a profound and moving way. Willy has worked hard his whole life and centered his life around his career, but did he do the right thing? Was it all worth it?
This story is not happy, and Willy teeters on the line of reality. The reader quickly learns that Willy is taking drastic action to change the course of his life.
I highly recommend this play, and I am intrigued to read more from Arthur Miller in the future.
"Death of a Salesman" follows Willy Loman. Willy has been a salesman for 34 years, but now at sixty-years-old, he feels like he has been cast aside and has no usefulness left to contribute. He struggles with what to do with his life now, which is causing him to think about all of his past mistakes.
This play explores what it means to realize the "American dream" in a profound and moving way. Willy has worked hard his whole life and centered his life around his career, but did he do the right thing? Was it all worth it?
This story is not happy, and Willy teeters on the line of reality. The reader quickly learns that Willy is taking drastic action to change the course of his life.
I highly recommend this play, and I am intrigued to read more from Arthur Miller in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
literaryinluv's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
a haunting tale about a family's destruction at the hands of the american dream
2nd time reading
2nd time reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Dementia, and Car accident
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, Classism, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
odetojersey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Mental illness, and Suicide
shieldbearer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
God, this was a lot. This play is such a well done dissection of capitalism and the American work ethic- through a hyper specific lense, but it is a classic for a reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Suicide attempt
yonireadss's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Mental illness, and Suicide
james1star's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
2.0
Pre-review note: I know this is a play and therefore is meant to be portrayed this way, and you obviously don’t get the seamless transitions and impact from reading it alone.
It is a well written and theorised critique of capitalism and the so called ‘American Dream’ where we follow the Loman family (Willy, Linda, and their two grown up children Biff and Happy) along with other characters. The main story takes place over 2 days starting with Willy coming home early to find his children have come to see him, he’s obviously tired and work out from his job as a travailing salesman but tries to hide this. He talks with Biff about his life and, with Happy, think up a plan to go into business together and the following day Biff will ask a former employer for a loan and Willy buys into this dream. The following day Willy goes to work asking to be a stationary salesman as the travelling is too tiering at his age (50-60s I think) but is instead fired. He then goes for dinner with Biff (who’s plan didn’t go to plan) and Happy and have another argument which is picked up on at home where Biff lies out that he isn’t - and will never be - the man his father dreams and wants him to be and that he’s always struggled in jobs and life because from a young age this notion of you will have anything you want has been driven into him but instead it’s made him unresponsive to orders and hence failure. He says she’s going to leave and for his family not to worry about him anymore. A LOT more happens and there are flashbacks and side plots/characters too but I somewhat summarised the plot.
This was good in how it shows the negatives of this ‘you are perfect’ notion we install in our kids and how nuance and real life is different and should be taught as well. Also Miller’s criticism of the ‘American Dream’ is done well and likewise capitalism and how the world is powered and centred on money, what we earn, what we can sell, these physical things not metaphoric ‘likeness’ or ‘respect’ which Willy seems to value more - at the end of the day they don’t pay the bills is the kind of ideal set out.
What I didn’t like is how we are meant to symphysis’s without these characters but I didn’t… because to do so, we are normally meant to like them, but I didn’t. The portrayal of women isn’t the best with Linda really not adding much, she seems like a prop in some sense but of course at that time her position was seen as lesser then her husband’s and sons. Willy is shown to stop her speaking abruptly and rudely and in other aspects is not the nicest person suffering from some of what we’d now call fragile masculinity such as not talking about his mental health, thinking he needs to be the breadwinner and provide, not wanting to take favours and other things. Biff and Happy are okay but how they talk of ‘having’ girls and their outlook is rather sexist - how they’ve been brought up thinking they are the shit does impact this and possibly not all blame can be on them. These are just some thoughts.
Lastly, despite being quite short (114 pages) it did somewhat drag on in some parts. As a beginner to plays I don’t think this was the best choice but all in all it did make sense and concluded in a understandable manner.
It was okay with some important points but lacked characters I could bring myself to care about.
It is a well written and theorised critique of capitalism and the so called ‘American Dream’ where we follow the Loman family (Willy, Linda, and their two grown up children Biff and Happy) along with other characters. The main story takes place over 2 days starting with Willy coming home early to find his children have come to see him, he’s obviously tired and work out from his job as a travailing salesman but tries to hide this. He talks with Biff about his life and, with Happy, think up a plan to go into business together and the following day Biff will ask a former employer for a loan and Willy buys into this dream. The following day Willy goes to work asking to be a stationary salesman as the travelling is too tiering at his age (50-60s I think) but is instead fired. He then goes for dinner with Biff (who’s plan didn’t go to plan) and Happy and have another argument which is picked up on at home where Biff lies out that he isn’t - and will never be - the man his father dreams and wants him to be and that he’s always struggled in jobs and life because from a young age this notion of you will have anything you want has been driven into him but instead it’s made him unresponsive to orders and hence failure. He says she’s going to leave and for his family not to worry about him anymore. A LOT more happens and there are flashbacks and side plots/characters too but I somewhat summarised the plot.
This was good in how it shows the negatives of this ‘you are perfect’ notion we install in our kids and how nuance and real life is different and should be taught as well. Also Miller’s criticism of the ‘American Dream’ is done well and likewise capitalism and how the world is powered and centred on money, what we earn, what we can sell, these physical things not metaphoric ‘likeness’ or ‘respect’ which Willy seems to value more - at the end of the day they don’t pay the bills is the kind of ideal set out.
What I didn’t like is how we are meant to symphysis’s without these characters but I didn’t… because to do so, we are normally meant to like them, but I didn’t. The portrayal of women isn’t the best with Linda really not adding much, she seems like a prop in some sense but of course at that time her position was seen as lesser then her husband’s and sons. Willy is shown to stop her speaking abruptly and rudely and in other aspects is not the nicest person suffering from some of what we’d now call fragile masculinity such as not talking about his mental health, thinking he needs to be the breadwinner and provide, not wanting to take favours and other things. Biff and Happy are okay but how they talk of ‘having’ girls and their outlook is rather sexist - how they’ve been brought up thinking they are the shit does impact this and possibly not all blame can be on them. These are just some thoughts.
Lastly, despite being quite short (114 pages) it did somewhat drag on in some parts. As a beginner to plays I don’t think this was the best choice but all in all it did make sense and concluded in a understandable manner.
It was okay with some important points but lacked characters I could bring myself to care about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
kennie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity