Student's Last Name 1
Harps 1
Duncan Harps
Professor Munroe
ENG 102 (SWA 3)
5 November 2014
Death of a Salesman Analysis
Death of a Salesman is a play written by Arthur Miller; in this play stage directions are very important in the development and the performance of this story. In Death of a Salesman there is a very different story in terms of stage directions; Miller wanted the tale of Death of a Salesman to be one that touched upon real life. For example, all of the setting, the two story family house and the average car, as well as the characters; a husband working hard to provide the mother trying to do what she can at home and two sons trying to make the best out of what they have during their younger years. But to fully finish off this aim of reality Miller needed to include some stage directions that the reader can link too when the script is read through and also vivid imagery when the play is watched by an audience.
For example, stage directions in "Death of a Salesman" call for a complete house for the Lomans. An audience will not simply watch the action take place in the kitchen but can observe several rooms within the home. This sounds as if it would be distracting since an audience can view several things at once. After all, what should the audience look at? If more than one character is on stage, whom should the audience pay attention to? Miller solves this problem through lighting. Only characters that are talking or involved in direct action are lit on stage, all other rooms, characters, and props remain in shadow. The result is a vast number of rooms and props that can be utilized immediately. The audience...