Response to the play "Death of a Salesman"

Biff finally says, "I know who I am." What does it mean to "find yourself" and is this ever truly possible? If so, how?

Feeling lost is probably one of the most common inner conflicts that every individual faces at some point in life. Truthfully, it may seem almost inevitable and feel like a constant struggle to "find yourself". To find oneself means reaching a place in life not only mentally but also emotionally where one is at peace and harmony with accepting oneself whole heartedly. Finding yourself however, does not imply JUST accepting "reality" because that could seem like complying to certain situations. Finding yourself exemplifies ones beliefs as well as undertaking new challenges through self assurance and faith remaining true to oneself and values. It can occur out of the blue without expecting it as graceful as en epiphany  such as it did with Biff when he realized that as he was sitting in that office awaiting a future that he himself knew was not right for him. On the other hand finding oneself can be an exhausting battle not only struggling with the confusion found at every corner in many aspects of life but also with one's pride such as Willy Loman does throughout the play. 

I believe finding oneself is an ongoing process that will never be complete. Its in our mere nature as humans to yearn for fresh starts, adventure and spontaneity. The older we grow, the more mature we become and the more we endure we find that we may reach a point of satisfaction but happiness is something that we always look because in life its important not to just "accept", but rather to strive. 

Brainstorm: Ideas For individual Project

Individual or Collaborative Project: Death of a Salesman

Burning question: Why must the title involve death? To what extent is death involved, fear or reality?

Main Idea #1: Scrapbook

Each chapter has:

-Specific theme

-Inspiring/cheerful/touching quotes

-Images painted by the author (show don’t tell)

-Characters might stand out more than others

-Person vs.: self/person/nature

All of these things will be organized in a scrapbook also separated by chapters.

This Project would allow me to learn about this unit by analyzing it from a different lens connecting it to me through a more personal perspective.

Main Idea #2: Puzzle

Each puzzle piece will have symbols that will come from each of the chapters. For example based on the movie something that is symbolic is the red chevy. Each of the puzzle pieces can have something as symbolic as that and at the end the audience will have to put the puzzle together using the recognized symbols to order out the chapters.

It would be better if the puzzle could be big, like life size.

This project would allow the audience to interact more making the presentation more interesting. As the pieces are puzzled together finding certain symbols and or features of the pieces would allow the audience to subconsciously analyze the story.

Main Idea #3: Before & After

The project for this unit could also focus on looking towards the before and after of all the major events.

The before and after could be shown in any artistic way, for example maybe a big book and or posters arranged in the form of a large book in order to show the process in which the story begins to go downhill. This could be due to the market crash, or the distant that grew between Bif and Willy.

This project would be more creative due to the ability of choosing to demonstrate and express the before and after in many different ways with no limits. Before and after’s can be perceived differently for everyone allowing ones ideas to be shared with everyone. 

The Introduction to Death of A Salesman

Before watching "The Death of A Salesman", the mere title provoked a burning question that was:

To what extent is death involved, is it fear, or physical death and the reality of it?

Analyzing various images with the same, simple, title lead me toward a path of foreshadowing that something bad was to occur in the play. Let it not be confused that the simplicity of the title does however trigger an inevitable curiosity embedded deep within the thoughts of the audience. Looking back to what I thought of this play, (before watching the play) never would I have guessed that a story with such a simple title would evoke an epiphany or promote a common theme of the challenges reality brings in its many forms. 

Examples of these many forms are developed throughout the relationships of the distinctive characters and the many conflicts they face including so much as inner as outer. The varying personalities are all representations of examples of truth that we as a society today try our absolute best to avoid or hide. Take Willy for example, he exhibits pride on so many levels, just as extreme as Linda, the representation of being silent, limited or even reprimanded. It was as if each of the characters were made to specifically emulate an unbearable truth representing a continuous pattern in many scenes; a pattern that is shame, found within all the characters and displayed in their actions. The characters ironically share hope, as much as hopelessness and are surrounded by an environment that seems to collapse on them from every corner as they are in search from what seems to be an irretrievable dream.

A dream of the good old days.
Nostalgia in my opinion, seems to be the backbone of the play as it is built off countless flashbacks. Flashbacks according to the dictionary is: a sudden and disturbing vivid memory of an event in the past typically as the result of psychological trauma. I found it very interesting how almost every other word in the definition had negative connotation, almost the same negativity felt after watching the play.

The play was not at all disturbing. The play was incredibly powerful especially once one analyzes the impact it made on society when it first came out. Its amazing to see how major events and key points within the play are found so often in todays society and in our daily lives. Constant struggles, overwhelming insecurity, proximate endings and floods of inner conflicts that can permanently mark us.

The ending of the play is what was most symbolic to me. The death in the form of suicide, the injustice situation that pierces the hearts of each of the characters is what I contemplated most. It meant many things, coming back to the same main idea that reality isn't pretty and truth can be detrimental.
It reminds me of a part of a quote that says, "only those who understand complexity can communicate simplicity". The author Arthur Miller did exactly this communicating life changing situations and common issues such as pride, giving in, struggles and loss (in many forms) in a highly revered play.