Death of a Salesman

Rumor has it that every night Death of a Salesman is performed somewhere around this planet. It has connected with the hearts and minds of everyone all over. Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat said in their review, “While critics have debated whether or not the play is a tragedy, a piercing social commentary, an affirmation of the American spirit, or a depiction of the salesman's life, individuals around the world have been emotionally touched and intellectually challenged by the drama's poignant portrait of human beings just like themselves.”

Famous playwright, Arthur Miller, won a Pulitzer Prize for this play, which premiered in 1949 and won both a Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. Brussat noted, “The drama was made into a film in 1951, has been translated into 29 languages, and is a staple item in the repertoire of professional touring companies around the globe.” This film is directed by Volker Schlondorff and originally broadcasted on CBS Television in 1985.

Willy Loman, played by Dustin Hoffman, is a dedicated salesman who after 34 years in his job has been taken off salary and forced to work only for commission. He is really depressed and humiliated by this turn of events and understandably concerned about his financial future.

Willie’s youngest, Happy, played by Stephen Lang, is kind of successful in business. His other son, Biff, played by John Malkovich, has tried different ongoing jobs over the years and is now home again, a shattered man at 34. He is annoyed of Willie’s high standards for him and still furious over the dark secret he found about Willie years ago.

Willie’s long-suffering and beloved wife, Linda, played by Kate Reid, tries to reconcile the fight between Biff and Willie, but the hatreds are skin deep for both of them. When Willy is fired from his job, Charley, played by Charles Durning, a friend of many years and neighbor, gives him a job opportunity but Willy says no.

Maintained by another aspiration of success – the kind his father taught him his whole life – Biff tries to get a loan from a former employer to start a new business. Like it has become a staple in his story, he fails. In a powerful moment where Biff tires to make Willy realize the truth about both of their lives, Biff reaches out to his father lovingly. However, since Willy is sunken so deep into depression, he kills himself so that his family can get the insurance money.

Brussat said, “No matter how many times one sees Death of a Salesman, it continues to yield new meanings. In this version, Willy, Biff, Linda and Happy all struggle mightily with change. Arthur Miller in Salesman in Beijing tells the Chinese actors working on the play, "The salesman motif is in some great part metaphorical; we must all sell ourselves, convince the world of a persona that perhaps we only wished we possessed."” Willy goes so far in order for him to be accepted by others and advises his son to pay attention to his surroundings and make a good impression. Brussat is right when they said, “But, of course, this comparison strategy only leads to immense disappointment.” Willy eventually realizes that he is a failure and even guesses that he is the outcast in his own family. Volker Schlondorff presents us with top notch performances from the entire cast, especially Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich.

Dustin Hoffman actually did this play when he was younger, because of his own father. I guess that he had relatable experience to it since he may have had a similar relationship to his father, in the same way of Willy and Biff. I can also say for sure that I can relate to Biff, since I have been struggling out there to find that right job. There have been several intern, seasonal, temporary and contract jobs that I have done, but none of them have led to permanent jobs, I guess you can say I have certain similarities to Biff, and my dad could be looked at as Willy, but not completely. I feel that maybe we have that sort of relationship, but we’re not in the same boat as Willy’s family is.

If you haven’t seen this movie, you must, it’s a powerful movie that will leave a huge impact on you, especially if you can relate to it. I would say this is another one of my favorites, since I can really relate to this story, but not in every way possible. So, like I have said with every single one of Hoffman’s films that I have reviewed, just don’t read my reviews, go out and watch him because they have to be seen to be believed.

Watch out next week when I finish off “Dustin Hoffman Month” with what might be the highlight of Hoffman’s career. I’m talking about a film that was so groundbreaking that anyone who mentions Dustin Hoffman’s name will immediately think of this film. You might even know what film I’m talking about, but I’ll just wait until next week to let you know.