Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

By Bright Summaries

Unlock the more straightforward side of Death of a Salesman with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!

This engaging summary presents an analysis of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, a tragic drama centred on the character of Willy Loman and his turbulent relationship with his eldest son, Biff. Over the course of the play, flashbacks or dream sequences are used to reveal the reasons why their bond has disintegrated to such a degree, focusing on Willy’s obsession with material success and Biff’s rejection of the narrative of the American Dream to illustrate the stark contrasts between their personalities and attitudes towards life. Arthur Miller is considered one of the most influential dramatists of the 20th century, and Death of a Salesman is one of his best-known plays. It remains popular today, and new productions of the play are frequently performed.

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This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:

• A complete plot summary
• Character studies
• Key themes and symbols
• Questions for further reflection

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• Language: English
• Publisher: BrightSummaries.com
• Release date: Mar 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9782808015691

Book preview

AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT

Born in Harlem, New York City in 1915.

Died in Roxbury, Connecticut in 2005.

Notable works:

All My Sons (1947), play

The Crucible (1953), play

A View from the Bridge (1955, revised 1956), play

Arthur Miller is one of the most celebrated figures in the world of 20th century drama, and his four major works remain a part of the theatrical canon across the globe. Born into a modestly wealthy home in New York, Miller supported himself early in his career with work writing radio plays and at other menial jobs; he was in his early 30s before he reached his current level of renown with the play All My Sons. His life was marked by a certain degree of celebrity, having been called to testify before the House of Un-American Activities at the height of McCarthyism and having been married tumultuously to Marilyn Monroe (American actress, 1926-1962), with the troubles that plagued their relationship being chronicled in the 1967 play The Price.

Despite having written only 17 plays throughout his career, none of which matched the success of his early, now canonical works, Miller enjoyed a long and multi-faceted career as an essayist, short story writer, and screenwriter. Throughout his life, Miller’s works never strayed far from the concerns that first brought him to the stage: he continued to question growing tides of nationalism, xenophobia, and modernization in his post-war country, and his eye remained ever-fixed on the average person fighting for a small, dignified life even in worlds of chaos.

1949 RECIPIENT OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR DRAMA

Genre: play (tragedy)

Reference edition: Miller, A. (2011) Death of a Salesman. London: