Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
The stage drama Death of a Salesman was written by American writer Arthur Miller in 1949. In February 1949, the play had its Broadway debut and ran for 742 performances. A traveling salesman named Willy Loman, who is dissatisfied with his life and seems to be aging, is the protagonist of this two-act tragedy set in 1940s New York and recounted in a montage of recollections, nightmares, and disputes. Not only to Willy Loman and the depressing facts of his life as a meager traveling salesman and the illusions that barely keep him afloat, but also to Miller's magnificent contemporary tragedy about the average Joe. This one smacks the audience in the gut repeatedly because it lets us see his heartbreaking final fall while simultaneously letting us peek into his head to ostensibly sense his deep-seated suffering. It is both gritty naturalistic and ethereally dream-like.
A number of topics, including the American Dream, the nature of truth, and infidelity, are present in the play. It investigates the protagonist's psychological disarray and the effects of capitalism society on his existence. It received the 1949 Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Some critics believe it to be among the best plays of the 20th century.
The play has received four Broadway revivals since its debut, earning three Tony Awards for Best Revival. It has been adapted for the big screen ten times, including a Fredric March-starring 1951 version from a screenplay by Stanley Roberts.
Written by: Arthur Miller
Created: 1949
