Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller - 1949
Introduction
If but one text were chosen as the embodiment of the failure of an American dream, Death of a Salesman would be it. Arthur Miller's 1949 play is widely considered his masterwork and established him as a leading American playwright. Though it is also considered one of the most important plays of the twentieth century, it only took Miller six weeks to write. Originally produced on Broadway, the first production of Death of a Salesman was directed by Elia Kazan and starred Lee J. Cobb. It ran for 742 performances, and won Miller the Pulitzer Prize, several Antoinette Perry "Tony" awards, the Donaldson Award, and a New York Drama Critics' Circle award.
The drama focuses on Willy Loman, a sixty-three-year-old New York City-based salesman whose career and life have been an illusion of success. Willy has reached a breaking point. After working for thirty-six years for the same company as a somewhat successful traveling salesman, he has been reduced to working on commission, feels weary, and, during the play, is fired after asking to be placed in a job in the New York office. Willy relies on his neighbor and "only friend" Charley for the funds to cover his family's expenses, yet he resents Charley's support.
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