Death of a Salesman
(The Inside of His Head)
Arthur Miller
1949
The dramatist is an artist whose medium presents him with some severe
limitations, especially compared to the novelist or poet. While the latter two have the
advantage of voluminous description, narrative progression, direct comment, and
penetration into the characters’ minds, the dramatist must use his setting, his
characters and their language, and the force of direct conflict to properly guide the
audience’s response to the play.
Presumably, Miller intended to portray to the audience the process by which
Willy Loman achieves self-realization and consequently, commits suicide. This overriding concern lead Miller to choose an expressionistic setting to complement his use of
real memories as opposed to flashbacks to control the audience’s awareness of the inner
workings of Willy’s head. The play was originally titled The Inside of His Head.
As Miller said, “I wanted to create a form which would literally be the process of
Willy Loman’s mind. Not flashbacks.”
Again, Miller said, “The structure of the play was determined by what was needed
to draw up Willy’s memories like a mass of tangled roots without end or beginning…If I
could make him remember enough, he would kill himself.”
In order for us to understand the techniques Miller used to help us get inside
Willy’s head and thus accompany him on his strip down memory lane to death, we need
to look at several aspects of this play. We could spend many days on such a complex
play, but to save time, we will use groups to explore different areas. Each group will be
responsible for several different aspects of the play. After using the play to explore these
aspects, we will come together to discuss how Miller took us along with Willy as he
came to a full realization of who he was and wasn’t.
Each group will:
 find quotes to elucidate a statement about the play or a technique used in the
play.
 write sentence themes and supporting quotes.
 analyze a given character, providing supporting quotes.
 turn in one typed copy and present information to class using the Prezi as the
vehicle for your presentation.
Presentation Day: Tuesday, May 17th
Group Assignments
Group I:
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Write an explanation of the following statement, using 4 or 5 examples that
back up the statement: Willy’s past actions have created the inescapable
position he is in now. (What is that inescapable position?)
Themes or subjects: Alienation in modern business; corruption (heartlessness)
in modern business. Write a sentence theme and find 5 quotes that deal with
each.
Find 4-5 quotes that portray Biff. Discuss the symbolism of his name. Find
as many different aspects of his character as you can.
Group II:
 How do the set’s appearance, sound, lighting, and the actors’ placement and
movement facilitate the suggestive switches in time in Willy’s mind? Find 45 examples.
 Themes or subjects: Father/son conflict; questionable morality. Write a
sentence theme and find 5 quotes that deal with each.
 Find 4-5 quotes that portray Willy. Discuss the symbolism of his name
“Loman.” Find as many different aspects of his character as you can.
Group III:
 Linda must take part of the blame for the tragedy of Willy. Explain, using 4-5
quotes and examples.
 Themes or subjects: Personal attractiveness and success; nature or country vs.
the city. Write a sentence theme and find 5 quotes that deal with each.
 Find 4-5 quotes that portray Linda. Find as many different aspects of her
character as you can. What is she a symbol of?
Group IV:
 Biff’s success is Willy’s sole purpose for living, and it becomes his sole
purpose in dying. Explain this statement and use 4-5 quotes from the play to
do so.
 Themes or subjects: Truth vs. illusion; lament for the past. Write a sentence
theme and find 5 quotes that deal with each.
 Find 4-5 quotes that portray Happy. Discuss the symbolism in his name. Find
as many different aspects of his character as you can.
ALL GROUPS: To think about: At least two characters have made a journey to selfrealization. One meets with a negative end; the other, a positive one. Who are they?
Explain their progress.