Death of a Salesman ACT 1

Language:
Though this play is set in the "New York and Boston of today" The language used sets an obvious dating to the play. The interactions between father and son would seem like a timeless interactions but they way they discussed their lives isn't common in today's world.


Argument:
Each member of the Loman family seems to have at least one type of significant life complication or another. Their differing problems make finding common ground to connect upon difficult.
Willy's financial, and in turn personal reactions, are making his home life difficult. Mounting that on top of his slipping psychological health makes agreement with his children and honesty with his wife difficult.
Linda's worry for her husband's obvious troubles and trying to hide hide her knowledge for the reality of their situation. She is trying to sustain her husbands dignity throughout his spirally problems. She wants to be the peacekeeper between her husband and his children (Biff in particular) but her worry for him is swaying her decisions and views in his favor.
Biff's unstable lifestyle has become a problem not only for himself but has added worry to his father's world. a primary reason why their relationship has such a strain. Growing up Biff seemed to have viewed his father as a hero, an idol, someone to be held up on a pedestal but as time has gone on his opinions have veered drastically from their original tracks. Biff's new financial plan has given him a new goal to strive for and therefore he seems more upbeat as he is saying goodnight to his father and mother.
Happy's problems primarily stem from his unhappiness with where he is in life. He doesn't like his job but doesn't have the courage to simply leave with Biff when it is offered to him. He feels that he has to prove himself in the business world before he can go off and do what he want in the world, even if that professional success doesn't lead him to happiness. He feels like he is helping his parents but when he finds out just how bad of a situation they are currently in it seems that he has a twinge of guilt bubble inside of him. He could be doing so much more for them.


Structure:
The structure of this play is definitely made more understandable when viewing. Willy's random flashbacks and dream sequences can get somewhat confusing and therefore a visual depiction helps. the discussion between Charley and Willy (and in some ways Ben) shows the pure complexity of what is happening in Willy Loman's mind.

Another day another dollar:
This old term completely applies to the primary plot of Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman's unsuccessful career is no longer bringing in a livable wage and he isn't enjoying it. He is simply doing what he can to make as much money as possible. Which in this case is not very much. His entire life has turned into a race for enough money to simply pay his bills.