Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

by Bloom, Harold; Berg, Albert A.

• ISBN13: 9780791075647
• ISBN10: 0791075648
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-12-01
• Publisher: Chelsea House Pub

Summary

- Comprehensive reading and study guides for some of the world's most important literary masterpieces- Concise critical excerpts provide a scholarly overview of each work- "The Story Behind the Story" details the conditions under which the work was written- Each book includes a biographical sketch of the author, a descriptive list of characters, an extensive summary and analysis, and an annotated bibliography

Table of Contents

Introduction	7	(3)
Biographical Sketch	10	(4)
The Story Behind the Story	14	(4)
List of Characters	18	(5)
Summary and Analysis	23	(47)
Critical Views	70	(30)
Mary McCarthy on Willy as a "Capitalized Human Being"	70	(2)
Tom Driver on Miller's Failure to Explore the Roots of Willy's Downfall	72	(2)
Dennis Welland on the Weak Evidence for a Marxist Interpretation	74	(3)
Eric Mottram on Ambiguity in Miller's Presentation of Tragedy versus Social Reform	77	(5)
Benjamin Nelson on Miller's Use of Dramatic Form	82	(3)
Leonard Moss on Miller's Language	85	(2)
Arthur Miller on Producing Death of a Salesman in China	87	(3)
Brenda Murphy on the Original Production of Death of a Salesman	90	(2)
Matthew Roudane on the Effects of Stage Setting and Directions	92	(4)
Fred Ribkoff on the Functions of Shame and Guilt in the Identity Crises of Willy and Biff	96	(4)
Works by Arthur Miller	100	(3)
Annotated Bibliography	103	(5)
Contributors	108	(2)
Acknowledgments	110	(2)
Index	112

Excerpts

Arthur Miller's Pulitzer Prize-winning play addresses family conflict and the loss of American idealism in post-World War II United States was considered groundbreaking for its time. It remains a staple of drama classes and theaters around the world.