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teaselkie's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Very much a product of its time; feels almost naïve by modern standards. Willy is, in the most true sense of the word, pathetic. I can see how this may have ruffled some feathers during its heyday, and while the overarching message is still relevant today, I don't how well this would place against other, more modern works dealing with similar themes. I truly can't imagine any 'working-class' Americans being dazzled by the so-called American Dream in this day and age.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide
zoekerpics's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity
thirdtimesacharm's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity and Classism
sandy_21's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
All my homies hate Willy Loman
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, and Death of parent
katkatniss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“[caged, wanting to escape]”
Because of the title, I thought this book would be like one of O’Henry’s short stories. Instead, surprisingly, it has the same desperation of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. But don’t get me wrong though, they speak of quite different themes. Miller is truly a genius.
Because of the title, I thought this book would be like one of O’Henry’s short stories. Instead, surprisingly, it has the same desperation of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. But don’t get me wrong though, they speak of quite different themes. Miller is truly a genius.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Car accident
jlebon's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is an interesting text for me.
Despite being on my to-be-read list anyway, I decided to read this play for the purpose of comparing it to 'The Great Gatsby' for my English Literature A-Level exam this month. This was certainly a good idea with there being many parallel themes surrounding the failed pursuit of the American Dream. Furthermore, the resemblance between the final chapter of 'The Great Gatsby' and the requiem of 'The Death of a Salesman' are so similar that I implore anyone to read both texts and see for themselves.
With that being said, whilst I found the premise and ending of the play to be exceptional, I can't say that I enjoyed this text as much as I think I should. I attribute this to be in part down to the formatting of the text as a play. Whilst I can imagine that seeing a production of this text would be phenomenal, I found the sequencing of the narrative quite difficult to follow - reality and illusion, present and flashback all blending into one. This was likely intentional from Miller, trying to present a similar disorientation for the reader as that felt by the protagonist Willy Loman (due to his slow descent into madness). Nevertheless, I think as a play (or alternatively written in the format of a novella) the narrative may have been easier to follow, therefore allowing the reader/watcher to engage to a greater extent with proceedings.
To reiterate, this is not a criticism to rubbish the text as a whole - I feel very fortunate to have read this work by Miller and I think it is completely deserving of its place in the literary canon. However, this does not elevate the text beyond fault and I can't help but feel reader enjoyment would've been improved with a greater clarity in formatting.
Despite being on my to-be-read list anyway, I decided to read this play for the purpose of comparing it to 'The Great Gatsby' for my English Literature A-Level exam this month. This was certainly a good idea with there being many parallel themes surrounding the failed pursuit of the American Dream. Furthermore, the resemblance between the final chapter of 'The Great Gatsby' and the requiem of 'The Death of a Salesman' are so similar that I implore anyone to read both texts and see for themselves.
With that being said, whilst I found the premise and ending of the play to be exceptional, I can't say that I enjoyed this text as much as I think I should. I attribute this to be in part down to the formatting of the text as a play. Whilst I can imagine that seeing a production of this text would be phenomenal, I found the sequencing of the narrative quite difficult to follow - reality and illusion, present and flashback all blending into one. This was likely intentional from Miller, trying to present a similar disorientation for the reader as that felt by the protagonist Willy Loman (due to his slow descent into madness). Nevertheless, I think as a play (or alternatively written in the format of a novella) the narrative may have been easier to follow, therefore allowing the reader/watcher to engage to a greater extent with proceedings.
To reiterate, this is not a criticism to rubbish the text as a whole - I feel very fortunate to have read this work by Miller and I think it is completely deserving of its place in the literary canon. However, this does not elevate the text beyond fault and I can't help but feel reader enjoyment would've been improved with a greater clarity in formatting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
arcadering's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Death, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
literaryinluv's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
a haunting tale about a family's destruction at the hands of the american dream
2nd time reading
2nd time reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Dementia, and Car accident
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
menomica's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
WILLY [turning on him now in an uncontrolled outburst]: I am not a dime a dozen! I am Willy Loman, and you are Biff Loman!
This play is so weird. I definitely think it would’ve been easier to appreciate as a play itself and not just the playbook (the score is pretty prominent throughout). There’s a lot happening and it switches time pretty often, so it’s a bit confusing sometimes to keep track of what’s going on.
Willy’s a looser!
Linda was kinda sad cause she kept making excuses for her (cheating) man and I think that speaks to how wifes (especially of that era) we’re basically stuck with their husbands so they’d try to justify all their actions or whatever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Infidelity and Dementia
letiross's review against another edition
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent