Death-of-a-Salesman

DeathofaSalesmanArthurMillerArthurMiller阿瑟·米勒Introduction•Borninamiddle-classjewishfamilyin1915anddiedin2005.•GrewupinDepressionandwitnessedhisfather'sbusinessfailurethatpushhimworkedatavarietyofproletarian（劳工）jobsforcollegetuition•HewoncountlessprizeinhislifesuchasPulitzerPrizeandtheNewYorktheatrecriticsaward.•MillerisconsideredasoneofAmerica'sgreatestplaywrightsMasterpieces•AllMySons（都是我的儿子）•AfterTheFall（堕落之后）•AViewfromtheBridge(桥头眺望）•DeathofaSalesman(推销员之死)•TheCrucible(萨勒姆的女巫)原名《炼狱》SpecialMarriage•In1956,MillermarriedactressMarilynMonroe(玛丽莲·梦露）andthetwodivorcedin1961,theyearofherdeath.•ThirdandfinalwifeisthephotographerIngeMorath(英格·莫拉斯)CharacterList•WillyLoman•LindaLoman（Willy'swife）•BiffLoman（olderson）•HappyLoman(youngerson)•HowardWagner(Willy'semployer)•UncleBen(Willy'sbrother)•Charley(Willy'slong-timefriend)•Bernard(Charley'sson)RelationshipTheanalysisofmajorcharactersinthisdrama•WillyLoman•Sons•LindaLomanWillyLoman•Aninsecure,self-deludedtravelingsalesman.WillybelieveswholeheartedlyintheAmericanDreamofeasysuccessandwealth,butheneverachievesit.Nordohissonsfulfillhishope.•WhenWilly'sillusionsbegintofailunderthepressingrealitiesofhislife,hismentalhealthbeginstounravel(瓦解).•Asasalesman,Willyfocusesonpersonaldetailsoveractualmeasuresofsuccess,believingthatitispersonalityandnothighreturnsthatgarnersuccessinthebusinessworld.BiffLoman•Thethirty-fouryearoldsonofWillyLoman,BiffwasastarschoolathletewithascholarshiptoUVA,buthedidnotattendcollegeafterfailingahighschoolmathcourseandrefusingtoattendsummerschool.•Afterfindingouthisfatherwashavinganaffairwithawoman,Biffhasbeenacontinualfailure,stealingandevenspendingtimeinjail.•Despitehisangertowardhisfather,Biffstillhasgreatconcernforwhathisfatherthinksofhim.HappyLoman•Heisnotcontentwithhismorestablelife,becausehehasneverriskedfailureorstrivenforanyrealmeasureofsuccess.•Happyisacompulsivewomanizerwhotreatswomenpurelyassexobjectsandhaslittlerespectforthemanywomenwhomheseduces.LindaLoman•Willy'sloving,dutiful（守本分）,obedient（顺从）wife.SheistheonepersonwhosupportsWilly,despitehisoftenreprehensibletreatmentofher.•Occasionally,sheseemstobetakeninbyWilly'sself-deludedhopesforfuturegloryandsuccess,butatothertimes,sheseemsfarmorerealisticandlessfragilethanherhusband.LINDA:Forgiveme,dear.Ican’tcry.Idon’tknowwhatitis,Ican’tcry.Idon’tunderstandit.Whydidyoueverdothat?HelpmeWilly,Ican’tcry.Itseemstomethatyou’rejustonanothertrip.Ikeepexpectingyou.Willy,dear,Ican’tcry.Whydidyoudoit?IsearchandsearchandIsearch,andIcan’tunderstandit,Willy.Imadethelastpaymentonthehousetoday.Today,dear.Andthere’llbenobodyhome.(Asobrisesinherthroat.)We’refreeandclear.(Sobbingmorefully,released.)We’refree.(Biffcomesslowlytowardher.)We’refree...We’refree...林达：亲爱的，原谅我吧，我哭不出。我不知道怎么回事，可就是哭不出。我实在不明白。你究竟为什么要这么做？救救我吧，威利，我哭不出。在我看来，你只是又去出差了。我一直在盼着你。威利，亲爱的，我哭不出。你为什么这样做呀？我想来想去，想去想来，就是想不明白，威利。我今天连房子的最后一期押款也还掉了。亲爱的，今天，没人在家。（嗓子哽咽了）咱们无债一身轻了。（哭得更畅，松口气了）我们自由了。（比夫慢慢向她走来）咱们自由了……咱们自由了……ThemesofDeathofaSalesmanRealityandIllusion.DisillusionoftheAmericanDream.Father-sonRelationship.OtherthemesTheThemeRealityandIllusionReality:losinghisworkabilityandhastoborrowmoneytopayinsuranceandmortgageIllusion:tobeasuccessfulsalesmanThemoreheindulgesintheillusion,theharderitisforhimtofacereality.DisillusionoftheAmericanDreamWillybelieveswholeheartedlyinwhatheconsidersthepromiseoftheAmericanDream-thata“weliked”and“personallyattractive”maninbusinesswillindubitablyanddeservedlyacquirethematerialcomfortsofferedbymodernAmericanlife.Healsoconsidershardworkwithoutcomplainttobethekeytosuccess.Actually,willy’sblindfaithinhisstuntedversionoftheAmericanDreamleadstohisrapidpsychologicaldeclinewhenheisunabletoacceptthedisparitybetweentheDreamandhisownlife.ThesicknessofAmericansocietyEveryonecanbesuccessfulFather-SonRelationshipIdealself-image&inheritanceMisleadssonsintheirprogressofvalue-formingTheconflictbetweenfatherandsonCausesthelossoftheirabilitytoobjectivelyevaluatethemselves&realityOtherthemes•Abandonment:Thenot-so-positivetransientnatureofmankind•Betrayal:Willy’sprimaryobsession(Biff)•GenderRelations•Madness•Thedangersofmodernity(Growth)•Nostalgia/Regret•OpportunityAbandonment/Betrayal•Willy'sprimaryobsessionthroughouttheplayiswhatheconsiderstobeBiff'sbetrayalofhisambitionsforhim.WhenBiffwalksoutonWilly'sambitionsforhim,Willytakesthisrejectionasapersonalaffront.•Willy,afterall,isasalesman,andBiff'sego-crushingrebuffultimatelyreflectsWilly'sinabilitytosellhimontheAmericanDream—theproductinwhichWillyhimselfbelievesmostfaithfully.WillyassumesthatBiff'sbetrayalstemsfromBiff'sdiscoveryofWilly'saffairwithTheWoman—abetrayalofLinda'slove.•WhileBifffeelsthatWilly,a“phonylittlefake”,hasbetrayedhimwithhisunendingstreamofego-strokinglies.GenderRelations•Womenaresharplydividedintotwocategories:Lindaandother.ThemendisplayadistinctMadonna/whorecomplex,astheyareonlyabletoclassifytheirnurturingandvirtuousmotheragainsttheother,easierwomenavailable.•Womenthemselvesaretwo-dimensionalcharactersinthisplay.Theyremainfirmlyoutsidethemalesphereofbusiness,andseemtohaveno