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A review by landonwittmer
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
5.0
In my twentieth century theater arc.
Parts of Death of a Salesman definitely feel dated (Willy's monologue about how "they don't give stand-up men a job anymore, and the jobs they do have will fire them and not care about how stand-up they are!"), but I don't think "dated" here is synonymous with "aged poorly." With a little recontextualizing, this play's depictions of vocational drive usurped by the lust for commercial profits, and the death of the American dream, remains poignant today.
Also, did not expect painful, heartfelt recollections of Willy's past depicted in what I assume were bouts of Alzheimer's or something similar? Gives him a King Lear quality that adds to the efficacy of the "death of the American dream" idea.
Fantastic read.
Parts of Death of a Salesman definitely feel dated (Willy's monologue about how "they don't give stand-up men a job anymore, and the jobs they do have will fire them and not care about how stand-up they are!"), but I don't think "dated" here is synonymous with "aged poorly." With a little recontextualizing, this play's depictions of vocational drive usurped by the lust for commercial profits, and the death of the American dream, remains poignant today.
Also, did not expect painful, heartfelt recollections of Willy's past depicted in what I assume were bouts of Alzheimer's or something similar? Gives him a King Lear quality that adds to the efficacy of the "death of the American dream" idea.
Fantastic read.