Death of a Salesman Curriculum Unit

In "Death of a Salesman", the author has created a contemporary tragic hero and theme. willy Loman, derived from Arthur Miller's observations of human behavior of known people, possesses an image of himself which he cannot fulfill within ethical bounds. Tragedy lies in his inability to evaluate himself justly and in the effects of his "dream" image on others. The flow lies in his mistaken view of his rightful status in his world, in his confusion between dreams and reality. This drama with its motifs of the American dream and ethics is a most important and relevant literary work for today's high school students, living in an era in which national attention is focused on ethical standards at every level of human existence. Students will be drawn into greater awareness of the need for an individual ethical code, without which there is damage to oneself and others. Beyond the major motifs, this drama offers many other aspects for study: language, music, marital and family relationships, setting, point of view, mini-motifs, omission of humor, and major events of the era. By the Center For Learning.