Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller, 1949

Death of a Salesman Review

About

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (1949) remains one of the most piercing examinations of the American Dream ever written. It’s the story of Willy Loman—an aging salesman whose illusions of success crumble under the weight of reality. Miller transforms ordinary life into tragedy, revealing how hope, pride, and failure intertwine in the pursuit of meaning.

Overview

Set in postwar America, the play unfolds over two days, blending memory and present time in a stream of emotional realism. Willy Loman is caught between what he’s been told to want and what he’s actually achieved. Miller’s writing captures the rhythm of ordinary speech but infuses it with mythic resonance, turning a modest salesman’s story into a reflection on human worth and self-deception.

Summary

(light spoilers) Willy clings to his belief that charm and optimism will bring success, even as his career collapses. His sons, Biff and Happy, embody different reactions to his legacy—one rebelling, the other conforming. As financial and emotional pressures mount, Willy retreats into memories of better days, blurring past and present. His final act, meant as redemption, becomes both defeat and revelation: that value can’t be measured in dollars or approval. The play’s ending leaves audiences with uneasy compassion—for a man destroyed by the dream he could never stop chasing.

Key Themes / Main Ideas

• The illusion of success — identity built on fragile dreams.
• Capitalism and self-worth — money as false salvation.
• Family and legacy — love strained by expectation.
• Reality versus delusion — truth resisted until too late.
• Tragedy of the ordinary — heroism in failure.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths — Emotionally devastating and timeless.
• Strengths — Masterful structure; poetic yet natural dialogue.
• Weaknesses — Some cultural references feel dated.
• Weaknesses — The relentless despair may deter first-time readers.

Reviewed with focus on themes, audience, and takeaways — Arthur Miller