PLAYGOER’S GUIDE Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller directed by Marc Masterson August 30 - September 29, 2013 Segerstrom Stage Prepared by Production Dramaturg Kimberly Colburn and Assistant Dramaturg Andy Knight TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: The Play Characters Synopsis Style and Structure Selected Production History PART II: The Author Biography The Plays of Arthur Miller PART III: The Production Meet the Cast World of the Play Part IV: Context: Post-War America Part V: Questions for Discussion Part VI: Resources Other Online Study Guides Websites for Further Study of Death of a Salesman and Arthur Miller Books Part I: THE CHARACTERS THE PLAY Willy Loman, a traveling salesman who clings to the American dream of success, SYNOPSIS wealth and legacy Linda Loman, Willy’s faithful illy Loman once wife whose support of her considered himself to husband masks her own be the best traveling perceptive nature salesman in New England. Biff Loman, Willy’s adult son But he’s been on the job who, after his glory days in Wfor over thirty years now, and he high school, cannot seem to is tired. After he returns home to find success Brooklyn from a failed trip late one night, Linda, Willy’s wife, urges him Happy Loman, Willy’s adult to talk to his boss, Howard, about a The famous publicity image from the original son who spent his childhood position that doesn’t require travel. 1949 production. in his older brother Biff’s Willy agrees: the long drives have shadow become grueling and dangerous; it’s time to swallow his pride and slow territories in Africa and Alaska. Charley, down. a successful business owner Linda, Biff and Happy all recognize and Willy’s neighbor Willy wanders into the kitchen for a the seriousness of Willy’s unraveling. Bernard, snack, and his muttering wakes up Linda reprimands Biff for resenting Charley’s son and Biff’s his two adult sons, Biff and Happy, his father so openly and reveals former classmate who are home on a visit. Biff, the that Willy has attempted suicide on oldest, has returned to Brooklyn numerous occasions. In an attempt Uncle Ben, after a string of odd jobs out West; to hearten his father, Biff agrees to Willy’s older brother and a Happy works for a buyer in the city. talk to his old employer, Bill Oliver, self-made man of success They are both disenchanted with the about a loan to start a sporting and wealth workaday world and fantasize about goods business with Happy. Willy living off the land and raising cattle. is overjoyed at the news and, with The Woman, a newfound optimism about the Willy’s mistress Willy’s ramblings grow louder. His future, agrees to speak with Howard Howard Wagner, memories are so vivid that he can’t about getting a local job. Willy’s boss help but get lost in them. He relives the boys’ high school years, when But neither meeting goes as expected: Jenny, Biff was the star of the football team. Bill Oliver doesn’t remember Biff, Charley’s secretary They were a happy family then: and Howard fires Willy. Later, over Willy still brimming with optimism dinner at a steakhouse, Biff erupts Stanley, and dreaming of opening his own at his father for not facing reality. a waiter business. The episode forces Willy to relive Miss Forsythe his most painful memory—the day and Letta, But the memories sour when Willy Biff, failing math and looking for his two young women recalls the past’s troubles. Business father’s support, caught Willy in a was never as good as he pretended; hotel room with another woman. Biff struggled in school; and everyone has gone to bed, Willy— Willy betrayed Linda with another Back at home, Biff decides to leave aware that his family can collect his woman on numerous occasions. and cut off contact with the family. $20,000 life insurance policy when Willy also thinks of the success He then breaks down in his father’s he’s gone—crashes his car and kills of his recently deceased brother, arms—a gesture that touches Willy himself. But despite his belief that he Ben, an adventurous man whose and affirms for him that his son’s was “well liked,” very few mourners wealth came from taming unknown love never truly went away. After come to Willy’s funeral. STYLE AND STRUCTURE Death of a Salesman is no doubt “With A Streetcar and so his family never understands Willy Loman’s play. He is, after Named Desire, his truth. Szondi observes that all, the Salesman; he is rarely ever Tennessee Williams Miller gives “…credence to Balzac’s off stage; and his 1949 debut gave comment….‘We all die unknown.’” dramatic literature a new kind of had printed a tragic hero. But Salesman is Willy’s license to speak at These structural elements are often play not just because it is about him full throat, and it identified as touches of dramatic but also because much of it is told helped strengthen expressionism, an artistic movement through him. me as I turned to that developed in Europe in the Willy Loman…I had early 20th century. Expressionism In his essay, “Memory: Miller,” known all along that examines and defines reality literary scholar Peter Szondi this play could not through the perspective of the compares Salesman’s style and be encompassed by expressionist—or, in the case structure with the playwright’s first conventional realism, of drama, the protagonist. The success, All My Sons. Both plays look and for one integral examination is vigorous, with the into the past, but Miller deviates reason: in Willy, the protagonist usually recognizing his from strict realism in Salesman. or her place in the world after a Instead of having the characters past was as alive as difficult journey of self-discovery. come to terms with their history by what was happening at Early dramatic expressionism discussing it in the present—as they the moment, sometimes is found in the plays of August do in All My Sons—Miller brings the even crashing in to Strindberg, but playwrights like past to life on stage through the use completely overwhelm Eugene O’Neill (The Hairy Ape) of memory. his mind.” and Sophie Treadwell (Machinal) —Arthur Miller from his 1987 brought the movement into the This technique accentuates Willy’s autobiography, Timebends: A Life American theatre. deterioration, and it makes Salesman all the more heartbreaking. While the Similar to the characters found in play’s reality only recounts the last true; they are his alone and filtered other expressionistic works, Willy is days of his life, the audience learns through his perspective. And ultimately destroyed by his reality. a great deal about Willy through his while they might give the audience But his death is not in vain: Miller memories. They permeate reality, a deeper understanding of his tells Willy’s story with ardor and and Willy can’t control when they condition, they ultimately alienate compassion—and gives voice to the surface. But they are not necessarily Willy from the other characters, middle class “dime a dozen.” Charles S. Dutton, Billy Eugene Jones, and Ato Essandoh in Death of Salesman. Photo © Joan Marcus, 2009. 2010 Weston Playhouse Production From left to right: Lynn Milgrim, Don Took, Allan Miller, Michael Reilly Burke and Simon Billig. 1997 South Coast Directed by Steve Stettler, with Repertory Production of Death of a Salesman. Directed by Martin Benson. Christopher Lloyd as Willy Loman. NOTABLE PRODUCTIONS OF DEATH OF A SALESMAN Death of a Salesman has enjoyed numerous productions Although the play has been adapted for the screen on a since its 1949 premiere, including successful stagings in few occasions—including a the first film adaptation in Germany, Italy, Mexico and Korea. In 1983 Arthur Miller 1951—the play’s enduring success is mostly due to its directed a production of his play in The People’s Republic frequent stage revivals. Here is a look at some notable of China—an experience that inspired him to write the productions: book, Salesman in China. 1949 Original Broadway Production 1999 Broadway Revival Directed by Elia Kazan, with Lee J. Cobb as Willy and Directed by Robert Falls, with Brian Dennehy as Willy Mildred Dunnock as Linda and Elizabeth Franz as Linda 1949 Original London Production 2005 London Revival Directed by Elia Kazan, with Paul Muni as Willy Loman Directed by Robert Falls, with Brian Dennehy as Willy and Claire Higgins as Linda 1969 South Coast Repertory Production Directed by Martin Benson, with Jack Davis as Willy Loman 2009 Yale Repertory Theatre production Directed by James Bundy, with Charles S. Dutton as 1975 Broadway Revival Willy Loman Directed by and starring George C. Scott as Willy Loman 2010 Weston Playhouse Theatre 1983 Beijing Production Company Production Directed by Arthur Miller, with Ying Ruocheng as Directed by Steve Stettler, with Christopher Lloyd as Willy Loman Willy Loman 1984 Broadway Revival 2012 Broadway Revival Directed by Michael Rudman, with Dustin Hoffman as Directed by Mike Nichols, with Philip Seymour Hoffman as Willy, Kate Reid as Linda and John Malkovich as Biff Willy, Linda Emond as Linda and Andrew Garfield as Biff 1997 South Coast Repertory Production Directed by Martin Benson, with Allan Miller as Willy Loman Part II: THE PLAYWRIGHT BIOGRAPHY Arthur Miller’s (1915-2005) seven- Luck, was a failure and closed after audience exploded….They cheered, decade career left the theatre changed only four performances. But the young hollered…and would not stop.” Death forever. His dramatic writing exhibits playwright quickly bounced back, of a Salesman ran for 742 performances.