Death of a Salesman: Introduction. After a long period of economic prosperity, the US economy experiences a devastatingly sharp decline in its economy. Linda says goodbye to Willy, telling him that the house has been paid off—that they are finally free of their obligations—but now there will be nobody to live in it. Contexts of Death of a Salesman THE CONTEXT OF THE PLAYWRIGHT • Arthur Miller was born in New York in October 1915 into a Jewish Polish family. Willy always tells his sons that all that matters is being well-liked and having an attractive personality, and by doing so, he encourages Biff not to study and rely heavily on his athletics. The play examines the cost of blind faith in the American Dream. Historical Context of Death of a Salesman Economic prosperity The Cold War Created an atmosphere where wartime manufacturing had to be continued Created tension \\ home \ Death of a Salesman: Historical Context . This play has been viewed by many as a caustic attack … The immense international success of Death of a Salesman comes from the intellectual force of the play’s central idea prevailing over the glaring defects of Arthur Miller’s execution.

Death of a Salesman is a play that consists of a HISTORICAL background which is key to understanding the play. \\ home \ Death of a Salesman: Main Characters. A Teacher’s Guide to Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller 3 INTRODUCTION Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (1949) is arguably the most powerful American tragedy of the twentieth century. Historical Context of Death of a Salesman Notes The conditions that we see in Death of a Salesman are extremely representative of the post-World War II period: ! Death of a Salesman: Plot Summary. Death of a Salesman, Miller’s most famous work, addresses the painful conflicts within one family, but it also tackles larger issues regarding American national values. Why It Works: Study Efficiently: The lessons in this chapter cover only information you need to know. • In 1929, during the Depression, his father’s business was ruined and the family moved to a house in Brooklyn, which is thought to be the model for the Loman’s house in Death of a Salesman. Death of a Salesman and Death of a Salesman: The Swollen Legacy of Arthur Miller Bert Cardullo.

A concise biography of Arthur Miller plus historical and literary context for Death of a Salesman. Introduction: Death in Two Senses. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. The American Dream in context of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman, an austere satire, brought Miller artistic success as well as international recognition. • United States experiencing economic prosperity: After WWII ended in 1945, the United States experienced unprecedented economic prosperity driven by the increase Arthur Miller initially had the concept for "Death of a Salesman" when Miller was 17 years old and working at his father's company. While part of the drama’s strength draws on its confrontation with the The original story was about an aging salesman who has no luck with his sales and is ridiculed by his potential customers. Willy Loman Willy Loman is an unsuccessful salesman, who deludes himself and his family by saying that he is in fact very lucrative. Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Complete your review with the Death of a Salesman Historical Context chapter exam.

A time period can be defined as a stretch of time that is bracketed off for a specific purpose. Biff is adamant that Willy died for nothing, while Charley elegizes Willy as a salesman who, by necessity, had nothing to trade on but his dreams. It was written in 1949, just a few years after the World War ll was over, meaning the United States, where the play occurs, was going through many changes.