Death of a Salesman (Viking Critical Library)

read the text at least five times. watched countless adaptations performed on the stage and for film. so many nuances. but the original text is a must-have to go along with watching the play or movie. For viewing, the Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich version is phenomenal. and whatever you think Arthur Miller was trying to say, is what he was trying to say. no one's interpretation is more valid than your own. Although, if anyone ever calls you Biff, and means it as an insult, they clearly haven't studied the work. If you wanna insult someone, call them Hap. Not Biff, and not Willy.

no reviews..Just an average guy but I've read it more than once and have seen the play. It a good story but difficult to read as we all weaken with age and become lesser men. I Liked Lee J Cobb's version best although Fredric March did the original I believe. Fredric was the star of "Inherit the Wind as Mathew Brady a different story but a similar theme.....Excellent Story but As Mick said what a drag it is getting old

In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller examines the American Dream through conflicts in the Loman family. Willy Loman epitomizes the disillusioned, having great dreams but suffering a dead end job and an ordinary life, and so transferring his dreams to his elder son Biff. Biff is the realist who accepts his limitations and despite trying to satisfy his father, only wants to be a farmhand. On the other hand, Happy the dreamer after his father, lusts for success and is willing to achieve it through less than ethical means. In America, we are taught to believe in our greatness, to reach for the stars, but Miller examines the question: What if we don't have the abilities to be the next Steve Jobs or Bill Gates? Should we be Biff, accepting our limitations and being content with "ordinariness?" Or should we be Happy, reaching for he sky by hook or by crook? For some, Biff may be a disgrace to the America Dream, for others, the model. Still, for others, the only way to live is be Happy. The issues that Miller looks at are as relevant today as it was in his time. Though some believe there are less opportunities today than four or five decades ago, the American Dream is alive and well. Both individual dreams and the collective Dream drive the U.S. forward, and when entrepreneurs prod through obstacles, companies like Google and Facebook result. Bit it is difficult to know when we have reached our breaking point, when we have dreamed the wrong dream. How may Willy Lomans are there for every Elan Musk? But perhaps the problem with Willy is not that he dreamed, but that he became contented with his job and not plotted his path and worked toward his goal. And that he tries to transfer his dream/burden to Biff. The power of Miller's play is that it raises some deep and timeless issues about American society: the social norm, the accepted values, the vision of success, etc. In this sense, Death of a Salesman is a classic.

The actual script of course but all the background behind the composition of the stage play.

Again, this book was ordered for my son as part of his reading requirements for the IB curriculum. Book arrived sooner than was promised, in new condition, and at a great price.

This edition provides a powerful edge to versions that contain the script only. The introduction is insightful and well-written, providing commentary on the most salient undercurrents of the play. In addition, the essays that follow provide further insight although their caliber is slightly uneven.

Book quality/etc was fine. I just wish I could read a book without some publisher giving up the ending before I even start reading. DO NOT read the title of this book if you plan to read it... Total spoiler.

Needed this for my son's AP English class his junior year of high school, I even read the books so it was well worth the cost.

le livre est abimé, la couverture à moitié déchirée, le texte est plein de d'annotations personnelles au crayon en marge du texte, d'innombrables lignes du texte sont soulignées en encre rouge, blanc ou noir avec des commentaires. Celui qui a expédié ce livre aurait mieux fait de le garder pour soi ou s'il voulait s'en débarrasser de le jeter à la première poubelle rencontrée

I like Kindle because you can share the reading on Zoom