death of a salesman(《推销员跟死》)英语详细分析解析.docVIP

Key Facts FULL TITLE ? Death of a Salesman: AUTHOR ? Arthur Miller TYPE OF WORK ? Play GENRE ? Tragedy, social commentary, family drama CLIMAX ? The scene in Frank’s Chop House and Biff’s final confrontation with Willy at home PROTAGONISTS ? Willy Loman, Biff Loman ANTAGONISTS ? Biff Loman, Willy Loman, the American Dream SETTING (TIME) ? “Today,” that is, the present; either the late 1940s or the time period in which the play is being produced, with “daydreams” into Willy’s past; all of the action takes place during a twenty-four-hour period between Monday night and Tuesday night, except the “Requiem,” which takes place, presumably, a few days after Willy’s funeral SETTING (PLACE) ? According to the stage directions, “Willy Loman’s house and yard [in Brooklyn] and . . . various places he visits in . . . New York and Boston” FALLING ACTION ? The “Requiem” section, although the play is not really structured as a classical drama TENSE ? Present FORESHADOWING ? Willy’s flute theme foreshadows the revelation of his father’s occupation and abandonment; Willy’s preoccupation with Linda’s stockings foreshadows his affair with The Woman; Willy’s automobile accident before the start of Act I foreshadows his suicide at the end of Act II TONE ? The tone of Miller’s stage directions and dialogue ranges from sincere to parodying, but, in general, the treatment is tender, though at times brutally honest, toward Willy’s plight THEMES ? The American Dream; abandonment; betrayal MOTIFS ? Mythic figures; the American West; Alaska; the African jungle SYMBOLS ? Seeds; diamonds; Linda’s and the womon’s stockings; the rubber hose Analysis of Major Characters Willy Loman Despite his desperate searching through his past, Willy does not achieve the self-realization or self-knowledge typical of the tragic hero. The quasi-resolution that his suicide offers him represents only a partial discovery of the truth. While he achieves a professional understanding of himself and the