Death of a Salesman, Act I
Exploring the elements of drama in Act
I of Death of a Salesman (p. 872)
• Plot: An important event has just happened before the play
begins. What is it? Why do you think Miller starts the play
with Willy’s return to the house? (The Loman’s house,
where most of the action takes place, is an incredibly
important setting in terms of theme and symbolism.)
• Character: What kind of a man is Willy Loman? Pick a few
lines in the first act that reveal essential information about
his character.
• Character: Do the same for Biff, Happy, and Linda. How do
these members of the Loman family interact with each
other? With Willy?
• Nomenclature: (Names that have thematic or symbolic
significance) What is the significance of the Loman family
name? Can you think of any other significant names in this
play?
Exploring the elements of drama in Act
I of Death of a Salesman (p. 872)
• Stage directions: In this play, Miller gives
extensive stage directions at the beginning of
Act I, and at several points throughout. What
do these stage directions (the parts in italics
that describe the set, lighting, music, and
characters’ actions/demeanors) do to enhance
your understanding of the characters, plot, or
theme? Give examples.
Linear? What’s Linear?
• This play consistently jumps back and forth in time, and at
one point, Willy exists in both past and present at the same
time. How does these memories of Willy’s illuminate the
events going on in the "present"?
• Places where we jump back and forward in time:
– p. 882 in the middle beginning with Willy’s “I been wondering
why you polish the car so careful,” line, we’re in the past.
– p. 887 at the bottom, Willy’s memory jumps to a conversation he
had with The Woman.
– p. 888 Willy is back to the past conversation he had with Linda
when Bernard enters with news about younger Biff.
– p. 889 we’re briefly back in the present when Happy comes
downstairs (notice how Millers uses the lighting change to
indicate the time shift).
– p. 891 Willy is talking to Charley (in the present) and recalling a
conversation with his brother Ben from the past.
– P. 895 at the bottom when Linda comes in while Willy is still
speaking to Ben, we’re back in the present for the rest of the act.
Applying Marxist Criticism to Death
of a Salesman
• What social and economic issues are at work on the
Loman family?
• What assumptions do these characters make about social
class and money? What, for them, is essential for
financial success and happiness? (Different characters
will have different answers… consider Willy's emphasis
on business and being liked vs. Biff's desire to be outside.
Also, consider Willy’s love of making things and doing
things with his hands.)
• In what ways does this play challenge or support the
system that it describes? What comment do you feel the
play is making about American business and capitalism?
How did you feel about that system after reading this first
act? Is this a critique of the idea of the "American
Dream"?