For your fifth essay of the semester, you may focus on Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. As in your previous essays, your purpose is to create an argument--a thesis that states what you believe the writer is saying about one of the central themes of the play. This thesis should reflect the opinion that you are going to support throughout the essay. Remember that--unless the topics below state differently-- we are interested in what you believe the writer is saying about capitalism or the American Dream, not what you believe about those issues. Avoid a thesis that is obvious, and, of course, one that is factual. If you choose a theme that we have discussed in class, be sure to explore your ideas well beyond what we have stated in our discussions. Support your views with four--note that this is one more than your previous essays--outside critical sources. By critical, I mean literary critics who write about Miller's work. I don't consider dictionaries, encyclopedias, the Bible, fiction, other plays and poetry appropriate to fulfill these requirements. Document your sources according to the MLA format found in your Diana Hacker text or on my web site. When you quote material, be sure to use in-text citations. This usually consists of the author's last name and the page reference. For example, Willy's son Biff frankly says to his father, "You were never anything but a hard-working drummer who landed in the ash can like all the rest of them" (Miller, Death of a Salesman 132). If you mention the author's name before the quotation, then there's no need to repeat "Miller." On the first reference to the play, make sure that you give the full name. Thereafter, feel free to abbreviate (Death 122). Since the play is in prose, you should not put a slash ( / ) at the end of the line. Just quote the lines as you would normal ficition. If you quote up to four lines in your paper, run them into the normal paragraph of your text. If you quote five or more lines in your paper, then indent the quotation ten spaces from the left margin. An indented quotation requires no quotation marks. The indentation alone tells the reader that the passage is a quotation. No more than 15% of your paper should be in direct quotations; this includes the critics' views. One important caveat: Please do not devote any time in your paper to Miller's biography. Focus on the play as fiction, and analyze it as such. Some Suggested Topics 1. In his 27 February 1949 article "Tragedy and the Common Man," in the New York Times, Arthur Miller sets forth his view of tragedy. Using Miller's criteria from that article, argue that Willy Loman either does or does not fit Miller's view of a tragic character in Death of a Saleman. However, if you believe the tragic character in the play is someone else, feel free to choose that character and create the same argument. Remember to use Miller's criteria about tragedy, not your own. 2. Rather than take the view that Willy Loman is a tragic figure, argue that Miller has--perhaps in spite of himself--created a character out of Naturalistic fiction of the late nineteenth century. Be sure that you understand what Naturalism in fiction is, state the basic tenets of it, then argue that Loman is a Naturalistic character. 3. Assume that you are the director of Death of a Salesman. Tell me whom you would cast as Willy Loman--and how you would have him play the part. For example--and these are just suggestions--would your Willy be overtly angry? Would he have repressed anger? Would he be a strong character who has temporary bouts of weakness, or would he be a pathetic character who is a victim of a system? Would he be a responsible Willy Loman, or has he given up responsbility--or perhaps never had it to give up? Be creative with this topic, but also be logical and intelligent, not whimsical. If the actor you choose, is not well-known, you should tell us something about him. Remember, of course, that Willy is sixty-three-years-old in the play. Check your syllabus for the due date for this essay. |