Top 10 Notes: Death of a Salesman
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- It's the first play to win a Tony, New York Drama Circle Critic Award and Pulitzer Prize. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and in this installment of Mojo Notes, we'll be exploring ten pieces of trivia about Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman." Special thanks to our user WackyJack322 for submitting the idea on our Suggest Page at WatchMojo.com/suggest!
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As a senior this year, death of a salesman was one of the best plays/movies we ever studied. Great story
We read it my senior year of high school (1985) and I fell in love with reading plays because of it. It's damn near flawless.
I have been a commissioned salesman most of my adult life. This movie, and others like "Glenn Gary," and the "Salesman" a documentary by the Maysles brothers, are true to the core. Brutally honest. When you don't sell, you don't eat. Constant threats to "hit your quota or you're out." create a never ending life of uncertainty. These films dig so deep, I love to watch them, feeling that some have defined the true life of a salesman.
+Gus Gambatese Have you thought about pursuing another line of work?
It’s about a fathers love for his son and the guilt after destroying his image and the adoration his son had for him. A fathers unrealistic expectations and a sons attempt to be the man his father wants him to be. It’s about denial and false hopes. About knowing who you are and accepting it. Not being a fake and lying to yourself. It’s about having those difficult conversations before you can’t.
The suicide I think symbolizes the sacrifice a parent would think might be necessary for their child’s success.
I cry every time I watch the kitchen scene and biff kisses Willy on the neck...
I do as well. To me, as well as the love story between Willy and Biff part, it is also an everyman tale. It is that tension that can never be resolved between who we long to be and what the world wants from us. We are all Willy Loman to some extent. If we do not kill ourselves, we kill who we are everyday in an attempt to live this life. Life is killing us all, as some have paradoxically said.
"doesn't progress much in the novel?" It's a play, not a novel.
There is no novel, the original play has never been adapted into a novel.
yes, it has.
+MrSpencerMcIntosh What are you talking about? It's a play. Yes, it's been adapted for film and TV productions, but never a novel. Why do you insist that it has? I notice you didn't back up your argument with any links. The internet is vast resource at your fingertips. One minute googling the topic would have set you straight... smh
Yeah beacause why have school or anything? Just use Google instead of the book in your hand... pffft. I read the novel adaptation in like grade 11 AND my teacher played the audiobook that was made for it as well, quit being so dumb.
Well so I found out it’s also a play right after reading the novel. There’s definitely a novel, you can buy it online and i even prefer it to the play
the Pursuit of Happyness is the exact opposite of the Death of a Salesman
Yet one is still being talked about _fifty_ years later. Both films carry great archetypes.
Owl Eye in terms of script yes..
But i see guys like will smith bringing their "commercial emotion" in "Pursuit"..let him play a Frederic March in "Salesman" once in his life !!
the Will Smith movie? What a crap... Homeless man dreaming of becoming a speculating banker, whose job it is to put other people on the streets. American, fuck no.
Pursuit of Happyness is a shite American Dream propaganda. I hated that movie.
I've done scenes from three of his plays, "Death of a Salesman', 'All My Sons' and "After the Fall'. They're all fantastically written and I've done a number of times in different classes because they're so good and really test an actor's range.
Yeah no, I'm going to have to stop you guys right there. I've always disliked the love affair people have with Mrs. Loman. She isn't blind or naive or simply sympathetic to Willy. She is a force of destruction and debasement throughout to her two sons, especially so to Biff.
She's willing to cast them out, put up with her husbands lies, and live in abject unhappiness for the dream of a happy family and a unified marriage. She commits all the same crimes as Willy without the convenient excuse of mental illness. Her dedication to herself and her husband comes at the cost of her sons- she isn't a good mother or a good person. She is, in short, an enabler.
AndyHocvs bullshit, she sees all and plays her role to support her husband at all costs, no matter what truths she knows. She is as much a product of her time that Willy is. Both of them based on the horrors of toxic masculinity- if you know what that term actually means.
If you think this character have made mistakes, then I suppose you can come up with better ways to deal with the situations she was facing isn't that right? I mean it's only natural ... so what do you suggest?
I wouldn't say she is a force of destruction nor a product of toxic masculinity. I would say that she is, like us all, lacking in self evaluation. The hard truth that lies at the bottom of ourselves and how this stands in the world would drive most to madness. She is simply blind, willfully or not, to the whole picture unfolding in front of her. If hindsight is 20/20, watching a play of a family is even more divine in its omniscience. No, she is nothing more than a tragic victim of life. And as Miller pointed out when he was describing what makes a great drama, she is in an unresolvable conflict.
@@mountbrocken I disagree with your statement. The thing about old men...especially this character, is that they see any attempt of help an insult to their masculinity and a showcase of pity they simply can not tolerate, a man is taught that he's only a man if he was able to provide and help, so when he's old, he subconsciously realise that he's slowly becoming useless to those around him. That makes him feel less of a man, a thought he absolutely rejects even considering. His wife knows that very well as she lived with him and most likely suffered from his backlash when she tried to help him, and knowing him, he might have done something extreme. That is why she acts the way she does, knowing that it is impossible for her to help him and his sons, whom he still consider himself superior to them in every sense despite the age difference, will only make it worst should they try themselves.
@@ayouxy While it is the case that Willy is behaving from the assumption that he must take care of himself and his family and any sign of help seems a weakness to him, this is NOT the central theme. Even if he had taken loans from his neighbor or taken a less 'glamorous' (if we can use that term to describe his job) job, he, or anyone, would still be a victim of not only capitalism but Life itself. There are unresolvable conflicts in Life that go beyond feminist criticisms of patriarchy. For instance, just being an individual in a world that seeks to objectify someone for the sake of industry, beauty, family, etc. is tragic and this play encapsulates this perfectly. Does Willy Loman exhibit toxic masculinity? I am sure he does. He has an affair, overtalks his wife, and expresses strong masculine ideas about a man's role that is toxic. However, these are merely incidental to the larger theme of the person's, the everman's, struggle to find identity and meaning in a world that has neither.
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We handled this play at the university and you can talk about it for hours, especially since it really is timeless. We're all infected with this dream that anyone can make it if they just work hard enough, the "from rags to riches" fantasy.
Capitalism is a lot like playing the lottery: Everyone has a chance to win, but usually no one does or just one person. And those who succeed usually had a head start from the beginning, like rich parents paying their asses through the best schools, getting them into the best colleges, introducing them to their rich corporate friends and so on.
Yes you are correct. But as Miller states, it is more than that. It is about a love story between a father and his son. And as anyone who knows anything about love, once it materializes in life, it is ALWAYS tragic on some level.
Capitalism isnt like a lottery, its more like competitive gaming, those who learn from their mistakes and apply everything learned skillfully is the ones who get to stand on the top
Capitalism is far from from the lottery. As someone who comes from a family of immigrants they have all made it, they have all made the American dream. The American Dream doesn’t have to mean becoming a millionaire.
this is definitely one of my favorite plays.
I love the way Miller makes a vivisection on the offer-and-demand based society. Some could say he does a shallow work when compared to Radrigan's job, but still, key lines are there while Willy is boasting about this dream he fights for... a couple of key lines would be "The man didn't know who he was" " I know who I am"
I remember being forced to read it in school.
i remember watching a production of this and cried my way home in the car. it's ok tho like my professors say, plays are meant to be watched.
Did you enjoy it, or watch a screened version?
that's why half of us are here
I know your pain
I had to read A View from The Bridge. Didn't like it, and then I learned about this and loved it.
Arthur Miller stated many times that willy is not experiencing flashbacks but that those scenes are taking place in Willy’s mind. Those scenes are real to Willy and, since the play shows the toll that capitalism has on a person, they are real to the viewer as well.
I cant help but see Biff as Lennie
MyGuitargirl101 OMG YES!!!
What, like of mice and men?
kiayeoja no resemblance at all if you're referring to Lennie Small from Steinbeck's novella
Same. Especially in the 1985 film of the play before the 1992 version of John Steinbeck’s novel
Tell about the rabbits dordge 😂
Consider that a working title for the play was "The Inside of His Head"... Truth, perception, reality, memory - all major motifs in this. Consider that every flashback is how Willie remembers it... how true is it? How good of an athlete was Biff? He got in to UVA, but how hard was that at the time? Might Willie remember his "heroics" wrong? He did get in a fight with Bernard - confirmed by real-time Bernard, how much of an "anemic" was Bernard? other thoughts... What if Linda know of the affair? What if Willie has the affair trying to get in better with clients (she always puts him through to the buyers)?
"Doesn't progress much in the novel" ...ummm "Death of a Salesman" is a PLAY not a novel
Joe M Lol no, the play was adapted into novel format, like many of Shakespeare's plays
What? There are no official novels of Death of a Salesman or any of Shakespeare's plays. There are some materials that summarize plots for, say, younger readers, and in general, to aid in the study of these works (ie. Cliffs Notes), but calling them novels is a huge stretch. If that's not what you're talking about, then please provide a link.
Poor Finian you're right and they're wrong. Just because a play has been printed into a book format and can be read does not make it a novel
What Is Life? Is’t this s play by Arthur Miller??
I don't see why most people i know dislike Death of a salesman, i really enjoyed it
This is a really good summary and analysis. Helped me a lot, thanks!
For me, Lee J. Cobb is automatically associated as Willy Loman, since he portrayed him in more play and theatrical adaptations than anyone else.
Yep This is one of my class assignments in my community college's curriculum. we even watched the 1985 dustin hoffman movie in class back in 2003.
This came out a day after my exam on Death of a Salesman :T
Just a heads up. Willy had tried to commit suicide previously and the insurance company proved through witnesses that he drove of a bridge intentionally. Meaning his sons will most likely not getting the money because of his previous record.
That is impossible to say. But even if it is true that the insurance doesn't pay out due to suspicion of fraud, it is likely that Biff would still move out West and Happy will continue to be like his father.
@@mountbrocken It's made clear at the end that the insurance company will not honor the policy. In short, it was all for nothing.
@@kennethwayne6857 I was just reading the end and couldn't find where it made that clear. I mean Linda kept saying they were 'free and clear' that they had just finished paying most everything off and all he needed was a little more to pay off all their debts. But I didn't see an explicit statement on the insurance company. It doesn't seem likely they'd pay, but I just didn't see where it states it explicitly.
I remember how much I hated reading this in school at the beginning, but as we got into it it became one of my all time favorite stories. I don't know what soul would be willing to hate it T.T
Man, I cried my eyes out when I saw this movie! The only other time in which I came close to crying while watching a movie (didn't cry though) was with Titanic, but this, you just can't hold it.
This play keeps sticking in my mind along with Our Town. I'm not sure why. The theatre people out there might have to enlighten me.
+Susan Hales - Two things. Form and content. Both of these plays balance the two in a way that communicates with both sides of our brain; the realistic and the imaginative. The reality of it plays out in the tale itself, manifested by the content; the words being spoken, and what those words reveal about the people speaking. The imaginative side of it plays out in the way that time and space are altered, manifested by the form. Willy Loman has 'episodes' that propel him into his own past, and we're taken along for the ride. We know, deep in our gut, that Willy's brother Ben isn't really 'there,' yet we're forced to deal with the fact that just for Willy and us, he is actually present. This has a way of shifting our perceptions of what is happening right in front of us. None of this imagination nonsense going on when you're standing in line at WalMart, or washing your dishes. It's all just three-dimensional reality that we've grown accustomed to. It is my contention that these two linger in your brain, because they both have a unique way of altering your perceptions of what is real. "Salesman," I think, has an added component, related to its content. Willy's struggle, throughout the play, is about coming to grips with the essential difference between one's dreams and the realities of everyday life. Each of these (dream and reality) is unique to specific individuals, both in the way that an individual manages to match them (or not) and the way we handle the result (how successful we are at realizing our dreams). It's not just a Willy Loman struggle we're watching, which is very specific to Willy's dreams and reality and the way he, as an individual copes with the result. It is a universal struggle that's a recognizable ("sticking in your mind") part of human existence.
Beautifully said. Thank you so much!
Ha! Great timing, I have a test over this tomorrow.
I love this series, I've always been a big reader but for some reason I've never gotten around to the "classics" and such because I already know the ending and I just can not bring myself to stay interested in a book if I know what happens. I'm glad this series exsit because now I can at least some what enjoy the ride of classic books because of my inability to actually read them
Wow! One of mine actually made it through. Thanks Mojo!
Good choice, one of mine went through, waiting to see if another will go.
*THE JUNGLE IS DARK BUT FULL OF DIAMONDS, WILLY*
I remember watching this in college, specifically the 1985 film. A fantastic movie and play.
This is on my midterm next week. Thanks, WatchMojo! Lol
This was a pretty good quick analysis! There should be one on A Streetcar Named Desire (Tennessee Williams) or Arms and the Man (George Bernard Shaw)
Saw a version in Sydney Australia 2 weeks ago staring Anthony La Paglia and Alyson White. remarkable!
I watched the version with Dustin Hoffman at High School and loved it :)
This would of been helpful yesterday, I just had my test today
:(
Had to read and perform a scene on this play back in my high school days. Definitely worth the read. Also if you've read Death of a Salesman, you'll definitely love All My Sons.
Wow I just finished reading this book and seeing this movie in school a month ago
oooh i love high school readings, please do more. memories came pouring in, can relate a lot. the only thing that killed the mood was my English teacher was also our acting teacher and made us watch the all the adaptations to "spot the differences"
IKR, the "spot the difference" folks are invariably wet blankets.
@@waterhead1027 To some. Personally I enjoy the 'spot the difference' games, I feel being exposed to multiple versions of classic plays enhances my understanding and enjoyment.
Ugh I hated having to read this play. It was so depressing. Every time you thought there was a moment of relief it got depressing again.
its a tragic story.
..”And thinks he is a lot better at job than he really is” @4:21
Incorrect information, he was the best at his job. Yet thrown out mercilessly when age caught up with him.
In a cutthroat profession like sales, you can't be a delusional asshole with only imaginary friends. In "personality" professions, you must plan ahead for when you've lost your edge. By Willy's age, and with his disagreeable personality, it would have been best to have a job away from the lean young wolves playing with a full deck.
The 1966 version is my favourite
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Dear Watch Mojo, please note, it is a play not a novel, as it was refered to in the Happy section
I think it's taken as a work of literature
the PLAY is a work of literature
MojoNotes can be it's own channel.
please do a top 10 notes on The Things They Carried :3
The revival with Brian Dennehy (1999 Broadway/2000 on PBS) was 1000% better than the Dustin Hoffman version!!!!
Loved reading it and saw the 1985 movie, which was also good.
Of course it's subjective, but I thought it was Dustin Hoffman's greatest role.
Thank You so much
My Dad was talking to an insurance salesman, and said that he was an fire insurance salesman, too. He then revealed he was a Baptist preacher.
:-D
I love this
Heavy. Just breaks your heart.
I like that you guys throw a bone or two to really influential shit. Did you do one on Birth of a Nation or Akira Kurosawa movies?
I studied Death of a salesman at school. Brilliant piece of work. Dustin Hoffman does a brilliant job with willy. No cgi. no gimmicks. Just acting, Timeless
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By: Mark Twain
Please do that book, it is wonderful and interesting.
I really liked this play. Also why didn't you talk about Willy's father? He is an essential character to the play....
Do you mean Ben, his brother? Cause his dad isn't mentioned much
yeah sorry I meant Ben. :P
ottomaticification Or not mentioned at all.
As123 He is, actually.
This movie scared the crap out of me in H.S. That was a good thing as it helped me make better choices in life.
You guys should please do a top ten heavyweight boxers
Death of a Salesman is one of my favorite plays, everyone that dreams about material wealth needs read this terrific story.
***** Yet
Thank you for doing the classics. Although I thought Dustin Hoffman was wrong for the part. The part calls for a strong all American types like Brain Dennhay or a James Stewart but the play is more relevant now than ever before after the Great Recession we just had!
Old post. I said "F$%# it" awhile back and started posting replies to posts I like anyway. Appreciating the arts is a lifelong process. Jimmy Stewart would have been excellent. The Loman's plight may be relevant again soon, we're coming into rough days. I had good friends ruined in the last recession, and they were young. There may be an abundance of Willy's in the near future.
@@waterhead1027 Always have been Willy Lomans, always will be.
top 10 notes about the glass menagerie by tennessee williams! or at least a streetcar named desire
Great story
My teacher always told me that Willy had dementia!
you guys should do top ten notes on slaughterhouse five!
I actually really like this movie. Dustin Hoffman did a fantastic job we had to read this as an assignment but got to watch the movie first which didn't make doing the work so bad
Yes, release this when my English test from last year was based upon this movie :(
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I loved the play, even though it's scary. Just shows who the financial system with "money upon money" can f@#k people up, but also human beings being daydreaming creatures, liars, hypocrites. It's also scary to me on personal level, as if I talked to, or at least saw, these people.
Dammit WatchMojo my literature test on this was a week ago
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Nice one
7:31 Willie makes it to first base.
Do another top ten sports streaks
The 1985 film was strange. I swear the camera men fell asleep because it zooms out to reveal the whole set at times.
There were also holes in the walls to reveal the set too, like at 1:55 where there is a gap in the wall on the left.
Unless all of this was symbolic(?)
the set on stage was supposed to have this sort of "transparent" look to it, like you cant tell where the set ends and the stage begins, representing willy not being able to tell the difference between reality and dreams
I could of sworn the guy in the image for this video was Matt Smith
This actor was with me in GCSE (Lennie from of mice and men) Now he is here in A-levels as Biff. crying 😂😂
HIS VOICE
I love this movie
I thought the title said ' Top 10 death notes of slender ' that's why it has one more view
There is a great BBC radio version starring David Suchet and Zoe Wanamaker
Death of a salesman certainly takes a very bleak out look on the "American Dream" of where if someone works hard enough then they can become successful. Willy believed he could become successful like his late brother Ben, who made his fortune in diamonds, but failed to realize that he fell short of his expectations. Spending his entire life to achieve the "American Dream" but soon began to realize he was never going to achieve it and believed he was worth more dead than alive.
Which is rather tragic since many who try to become successful may not achieve what they desire and feel it isn't fair how others achieved the "American Dream" but they didn't.
Hay would you be able to do a watchmojo notes on the crucible because I'm in it at college. I play Marshal Herrick so if you could mention that character it would be great. Thanks :D
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wow i just finshed this book for my english 3 class how ironic
This may just help me pass my exams
omg i love this play ?
Where was this last semester!
Watching this for AP Lit :(
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If we want this story in written form to write in exam then where we search it ? Pls send me some link
You forgot to say the Willy Loman has dimensia...
plzzz top ten notes: a song of ice and fire
My teacher is forcing me to read it. And watch the movie. And watch the play. And watch the pursuit of happiness. Haha
Oh wow theres a vid for this
Do a top 10 notes: 1984 video
The Salesman (2016) - By Asghar Farhadi
Ol' Gil Gunderson from the Simpsons?
what year was this movie made? I understand its a play but this video is particular looks good. :)
1953, 1983.
***** yes. but the dustin hoffman one was a remake. the original is from 1951.
GamingRisen
Which was based on the original 1949 Broadway adaptation.
Willy Loman = Willy Low Man = Crazy Depressed Man
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So no one sees the correlation between the death of a salesman and the play fences
George Preston like movie "fences" as in African American who used to be good at baseball and his son plays football
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