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Death of a Salesman Reader Response

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I. Given today’s reading on staging and/or reading of the production notes, cite and explain the importance of one of the staging elements in the play. A major theme of Death of a Salesman is the concept of reality vs. illusion. The staging elements are used to express to the audience which scenes occur in the present and which are simply figments of Willy’s imagination. When the action is in the present, the actors enter through the doors on the left. When the scene occurs in the past, the actors enter or leave through a wall. On page 44, Uncle Ben enters the stage from the right corner of the house. This informs the audience that what is being viewed is not reality, but rather a dream from Willy’s past.

II. Describe in specific detail a relationship between two characters in the play. Cite an example of dialogue for support. Linda and Willy are an interesting couple in that Linda serves as Willy’s moral support. Linda acts as Willy’s more realistic counterpart, and proves to be loyal to him in his worst times. She provides him with the moral support and reassurance that he craves. On page 36, Linda boosts Willy’s self esteem by telling him he is handsome and successful. This livens his spirits, and he begins to respond that she is what keeps him happy.

III. Identify and analyze a pattern of stage directions in the play. For example, you may want to focus on the stage directions employed for one specific character. Do you detect any parallels between specific thematic content and the stage directions used? Please cite your examples. Throughout one of the conversations between Linda and Willy towards the beginning of the book, a woman’s laughter is heard in the background. As Linda struggles to make Willy feel better about himself, the laughter continues and eventually grows louder. When Linda tells Willy how handsome he is, the laughter begins. It

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