Death of a Salesman (Movie Review Sample)

Death of a Salesman
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PART 1:
The episodes in the play “Death of a Salesman” are organized in a chronological manner starting from Willy’s house. Only few scenes do not take place at Loman’s home in Brooklyn. Some events in the play are foreshadowed for example Willy being fired and meeting his son at the restaurant in Manhattan. However, Loman dominates most of the setting that perhaps shows how Willy cared for his family. He is determined to show that however misguided he is, his family is still at his heart. A good part of the play is set inside Willy’s mind. Many events that the audience experience are due to his subjective point of view. The blurred realities and flashbacks are from Willy’s school of thought. The play took place at a prime time after WW (II). At this time, America was trying to rebuild and achieve its dream. The play does not have a narrator that brings collectively the story to put through the story. The play is of a drama because it has pieces of literature spoken to the audience by different actors. It majorly bases on the trials of the Willy family. In this context, it qualifies as a family drama. The play also qualifies as a tragedy in that a misguided Willy causes pain and anguish by doing what he deems right. The protagonist in the play is Willy who differs in many ways from the traditional norm. The author wanted to show the sorrows that humanity goes through are there to strengthen us.
The tone of the play is in one part a mocking tone as Willy who blindly followed the American dream finds himself in trouble. The actors in the play also suffered a lot of pain. The title has several meanings; the most obvious one is Willy’s physical death. He also wanted a funeral with everyone beating his or her chests as what he saw in Dave Singleman’s funeral. Unfortunately, nobody comes to Willy’s funeral that shows how people never liked him. The title gives a wider perspective of the American dream and capitalism. Being a salesman, Willy represents American commercialism as it is depicted when he says, “…There’s more people! That’s what’s ruining this country! The competition is maddening! Smell the stink from that apartment house! And the one on the other side…” (Act 1, scene 3) The initial situation is not bound to last long. The conflict is that Willy is suicidal and his mental complications are worsening; Biff is told to get serious. A complication arises as Willy is fired and Biff does not get a job (Act 2: Scene 9). The climax of the play comes when Biff realizes that their family has been living a lie and gets into a more complex argument with the father. At last, Willy finds out that Biff loves him. The family thinks that everything is okay despite Willy suicide attempts. He hears Ben saying, “The jungle is dark but full of diamonds” but ignores the dark part (Act 1: Scene 13) From the title, Willy’s death is predicted and Linda knew about it. In the end, it is rife that Willy was wrong on his ideas. Biff realizes that his father chose the wrong path. Happy on his side supports his father’s dreams and practices them.
PART 2
The play has many issues of contention. The major conflict in the play is the confusion and frustration of Willy Lowman. His feelings are caused by his inability to confront the realities of the modern society. Willy’s point of view asserts that success is dependent on one’s popularity and personal attractiveness. He builds his entire life around this idea, and all his children are taught this idea. When he was young, Willy met Dave Singleman, who made a living by staying in a hotel room. Willy has been trying to emulate this idea his entire life. In the play, at one point he tells his family how well he is liked and how important he is to New England.(Act 1: Scene 5)
I would pick Linda Loman from the play. She is Willy’s wife who refuses to see through her husband’s lies. As the fight cools, she helps Willy realize the love that Biff has for him and tries to get Willy go to bed. Linda is clueless of the full picture, from Willy’s job to his mistress. She marries the American idea that everyone is capable of achieving his or her dreams. Compared to Willy, she shows more preoccupation with talent and dedication.( Act 1: Scene 5) She further expresses concern over the poor performance Biff recorded in mathematics, and the tendency of stealing anything that will fit in his pocket. Her statement “we are free” shows the cluelessness in her.
The play stages Linda in different contexts. Hearing that Willy early from work, she inquires why the trip ended so quickly. She is preoccupied with his husband's recent behavior that she thinks is due to the husband’s exhaustion. Inside Willy’s hallucinations, Linda meets him from a sales trip and he tells her how connected he was during the trip. During the trip and she earned some money during the travels. (Act 2: Scene 7)She brings out that Willy has been trying to commit suicide in car accidents and asserts that his life is in Biff’s hands. By doing this, she piles pressure on Biff.
The cultural and historical setting of the play is the coined to the American structure. When the Second World War ended, America descended on an aura of economic propensity attributed to the spread of industrial revolution. Happy was a sales clerk, and Biff was a farm worker, collectively, they represented the American workforce...