美国戏剧7、American Drama.pptVIP

American Literature Diversified:from 1945 – the 21st Century I. American Drama II. Eugene O’Neill (1888-1953) A. Introduction B. Literary Career C.Characteristics D. Comments III. Long Days Journey into Night (1956) B. Characters C. Analysis Death Of a Salesman Arthur Miller Context Character list Structure Themes Morals Context The play examines the cost of blind faith in the American Dream. The basis for the dramatic conflict in Death of a salesman lies in Arthur Miller’s conflicted relationship with his uncle, Manny Newman, also a salesman. Newman imagined a continuous competition between his son and Miller. Newman refused to accept failure and demanded the appearance of utmost confidence in his household. Character list Structure The play is divided into three main parts, Act I, Act II, and the Requiem. Each section takes place on a different day in present-day. Within Act I and Act II, the story is presented through the use of Willys flashbacks. This use of flashback is fundamental to the structure and understanding of the play. The story starts at present-day and Willy then lapses in and out of the past. Each flashback is somehow related the present. Very often, the contents of the flashback offer essential background knowledge for understanding why the present-day problems in the Loman family are occurring. Themes 1. The American Dream. Willy believes wholeheartedly in what he considers the promise of the American Dream--- that a well liked and personally attractive man in business will indubitably and deservedly acquire the material comforts offered by modern American life. Willy’ s blind faith in his stunted version of the American Dream leads to his rapid psychological decline when he is unable to accept the disparity between the Dream and his own life. Morals Follow your heart: Willy was well aware of the joy physical labor brought him, but he suppressed those desires to fulfill the meaningless position of a salesma