Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" is actually one of my favorite plays. I read it last year just for shits and giggles in my AP English class. I am a big Miller fan in general. The first play that I auditioned for was "The Crucible" at the local University where I live. It was an exilirating experience and for this reason my love for the theatre blossomed. I also think this encounter with Miller's work made me want to read more of what he had written. Most of Miller's plays tend to have a lot of social commentary in them. Miller himself was not an idealist, though many of the characters in his plays are; for example Willy in "Death of a Salesman."
One of the reasons that I love reading "DOS" is because of Miller's very detailed stage directions. They add a whole other element to the play because when you are reading them they act as a referrence to subtle little things that apply to the current scene. Unlike in Shakespeare's plays, (ex: Tempest), Miller uses these stage directions frequently. (but not without purpose) I first began to think about this when reading Vanessa's Blog entry about the play. These detailed stage directions not only help the reader but also the actor performing the play.
One thing that I really love about reading plays is that there is so much dialogue, in fact all dialogue and a few descriptive passages. I hate reading novels mostly for the reason that they tend to dwell on detail rather than human interaction. "DOS" manages to find a perfect medium between the two elements of literature; description and dialogue. The main theme of the play has to deal with personal satisfaction in a quest to achieve what is known by society as the "American Dream." In the case of Willy and his family this dream is defined 2 ways and is not achieved by the root of either definition.
Comments (5)
I love "The Crucible". When I was younger I was interested in the Salem witchcraft trials and read the play then (I was about ten years old. I don't even know how I understood it).
Posted by Nessa | April 1, 2005 10:23 AM
Posted on April 1, 2005 10:23
Wow, that is so young to be readig such an in depth and complex play. Sounds like you and my youngest sister Christina have a lot in common. She reads at the level of a college junior and she is only 12 years old.
Posted by Leslie | April 4, 2005 6:09 PM
Posted on April 4, 2005 18:09
College junior level? Wow...she can tackle my next Shakespeare assignment, ok? haha
Posted by Nessa | April 4, 2005 10:29 PM
Posted on April 4, 2005 22:29
Yeah. She's a little genius. I'll have to give you her e-mail. lol. JK.
Posted by Leslie | April 4, 2005 11:49 PM
Posted on April 4, 2005 23:49
IN THE PLAY EVERYONE WAS TUGGING ON WILLY!
WILLY IS A BIT LIKE GEZZZZZZZZZAA THEY BOTH SEEM TO HAVE BOGEYES AND I THINK WILLY HAS A THING 4 ASSSSDDDAAA BUT HES MINE AND EVERONE IN THE PLAY IS RATHER MODDDDDYY ND RATHER LASPASOOOOOOOOOOO
GUARD ALARMS TO ALLLLLLLLLLLL
Posted by caitlin murphy | October 30, 2005 3:51 PM
Posted on October 30, 2005 15:51