Check out this OP-ED in the NY Times about Death of a Salesman.
Does this piece ring true in our current economy? The recent production of Death of a Salesman has been nominated for 7 Tony awards. Certainly we can attribute a great deal of the play's success to its talented director and cast, BUT, let us also entertain the idea that this story has connected with its audience despite the play's being written over 60 years ago. Why are audiences being brought to tears, in 2012, by Miller's words?
I have to disagree with the op-ed author when he says that the middle class can't sympathize with Willy Loman today. I am sure that when Willy Loman says "The competition is maddening!" it still sends as many "chills-down-the-spine" today as it did in 1949. My belief is that with this capitalistic style of government that America has, the middle class will never NOT have competition. Competition among the middle class will be forever until they are not middle class anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the American Dream also will last forever, although the meaning of success will differ with each person.
However, because of this immortal idea of the American Dream and competition among the middle class people, this play will always be able to wrench out peoples hearts because so many people can sympathize with what Willy Loman goes through to support a family and try to be wealthy.
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ReplyDeleteMany men in their 50s and 60s are losing their jobs, the financial equivalent to octogenarian breaking a hip; it's a death sentence. Competition IS maddening. Many young men and women emerging from their undergraduate studies are chomping at the bit to earn minimal salaries at complying companies who thus let go of six figure workers in their twilight years, hiring double the manpower for half the salary. And the potential work force is growing. Did you guys know that internships were once paid? Not anymore, because someone will always work for less...
ReplyDeletePresident Obama is going to run in this election on how his administration managed to save General Motors from bankruptcy, but are we aware that those working at GM took severe pay cuts and benefit cuts (if they kept their jobs) just to keep GM afloat? It may seem as if the economy is improving, but there are many in this country who are not only without work, but most likely, will NEVER recover and find a new position. If all the manufacturing jobs are moving abroad, what will Americans do?
The job market is dramatically worse than we perceive. It may not be in front of our eyes, but it is present. The competition IS maddening!
Gauntlet thrown! Ferencz out!
The play still rings true in our current economy. Willy Loman did what he thought was best to support his family but with rising competition of others and new technologies, he was driven out of a job.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Yejoon that "the middle class will never NOT have competition," the middle class American could easily be replaced by one of lower stature that is willing to work more for less. Audiences are still being brought to tears because Miller reminds them that no matter how hard they try to achieve their own take of the "American Dream", there is always a possibility of total failure.
lol I find it ironic how the people who would relate to the play probably couldn't afford to see it.
DeleteAdding to what Mr. Ferencz said; wouldn’t you guys agree that our generation’s “American Dream” would be to go to a good college and eventually make a good living? Didn’t Occupy Wall Street originate from college grads that couldn’t pay off their debts because of their pay, or even worse, lack of a job? I think those guys would work hard for a “comfortable existence purchased with a modest income.” Arguing this from a different perspective, we are slowly coming out of a recession and many “everymans” like Willy Loman were laid off during the recession; and although our current unemployment rate of 8.3 is the lowest since January 2009, it’s still twice of what it was during the late 90s. Perhaps this is the effect of the economy, corruption, or maybe even illegal immigration, but one way or another, I agree with Yejoon when he says “‘The competition is maddening!’ still sends as many ‘chills-down-the-spine’ today as it did in 1949.” -Ralphsun Nayem
ReplyDeleteYou may lolz at how those who relate cannot even view the play, but that is such a wonderful point. Death of a Salesman is considered high art, something to be consumed by the elite, paying exorbitant amounts of money to see a show about the plight of the proletariat man. It is fascinating irony splayed before us. Excellent observation sir.
ReplyDeletevia Ralphsun's comments
DeleteWell I guess there's a Charley for every Willy out there who can relate to Willy's plight as well.
DeleteI completely agree with what Yejoon's comment. Competition plays a huge role in what has shaped America today.Without competition, America wouldn't try to be better than other countries and will eventually be taken over by those that are stronger such as China or Russia. The reason why people still are brought to tears by this play is because people today still can relate with Willy and know the pain that he is going through. Every year there are budget cuts and every year people are layed off, no matter how good the economy is or how amazing a president could be. As mentioned in the other comments, everyone is striving for the American Dream, and in Willy's case, he is trying his very best to achieve it and viewers could see how hurt and depressed Willy is and feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the article is true in what it says about the middle class, especially in one part where it states that "...a fight to the death for shrinking opportunities in so many realms of life renders the idea of fair competition an anachronism." The only way to stay afloat is if you are rich or poor; you won't be able to if you're in between. If you're above middle-class, you do not have to do much in order to keep your wealth. If you're poor, you may have resigned yourself to the indignity of doing menial labor jobs, and even those are quickly going to those willing to do them for close to nothing. People were moved to tears because they could identify with Willy in his struggle to proved something for his kids.
ReplyDeleteIf any of you can relate to the average middle-class American today, you know more than me. As a Stuy student in New York City, I feel like I've hardly even met the kind of person who fits Willy's bill, who has both a small income and a classic American life. Class lines aren't just drawn by income: I don't think a New York teacher, for instance, with a small salary (don't get me wrong; I have no idea how much you guys make, but I've heard that this is a problem in places) has a life like Willy's. I can definitely relate to Willy's problems: competition is obviously a central part of Stuy life. Without any experience of the life of, say, an accountant at a minor company in the Midwest, though, I don't know whether competition even plays into the life of the average working American. What if the only thing that separates dozens of equally-qualified workers searching for a single job spot is the capriciousness of the company hiring officer? America's widespread unemployment may have changed the scene, at least for a while, from the world described in DOAS.
ReplyDeleteYour question of "why are audiences still brought to tears" can be related to the stereotype of history. As we can all see, history repeats itself through controversy and war and politics but despite technological advancements or different governments, people are people. The economic society is somewhat similar to a food chain. There will always be someone above you. Unless of course you are at the highest level, but then again God can take away everything from you because "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Job 1:21). Like what everyone above said, this economy has turned into an environment of hostility and corruption rather than morals and righteousness. I know that I am sounding a bit unrealistic because this is the twenty-first century, but it was also what Willy Loman longed for: "a business based on respect and blah blah blah ..." (some page, Miller). The reason that people cried after watching this play is the connection that they see is projected between themselves and Willy Loman. As the author of the NY times article states himself, "No wonder those first audiences’ identification was so strong: they recognized Willy’s search for humanity within his profit-driven job." There is that sense of nostalgia and reverence that people long to return to a happy era, rather than one of economic hardship and when gas costs 4 dollars and 50 freaking cents.
ReplyDeleteThe reason that current audiences can relate to DoaS is that the text itself is timeless. In our age, instead of door-to-door salesmen we have mom-and-pop store owners. The internet is taking over our reality. In Doas, Willy finds himself outdated and overrun by technologies such as Howard's nifty recording machine. Now, we have an even faster acceleration of technological progress which is rendering many professions obsolete, even teaching. If I want to learn about economics, I don't have to go to school, I can go to KhanAcademy and get free lessons or watch an OpenCourseWare lecture.
ReplyDeleteThis is just one of many timeless themes present in DoaS. Others include the importance of family and working hard vs. getting rich quick.
Mr. Ferencz, in the prompt you ask, "Why are audiences being brought to tears, in 2012, by Miller's words?" This may be true but I believe in the article the author notes that it was the *first* run (i.e. in 1949) that was able to elicit such a reaction: "No wonder those first audiences’ identification was so strong: ... Mr. Miller recalled that after performances during the play’s first run, 'some, especially men, were bent forward covering their faces, and others were openly weeping.' It’s hard to imagine a similar reaction among audiences today."
In response to Zach's comments, obviously I was talking about how whenever I see Death of a Salesman, I am brought to tears and because of those tears in my eyes, it looks as if EVERYONE around me is also crying. So that's what I meant. By the way, jobs numbers came out today:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/business/economy/us-added-only-115000-jobs-in-april-rate-is-8-1.html?hp
Still above 8.1 percent unemployment if those figures are correct. Job growth is SLOWING down.
I completely agree with Zachary's point that this text is timeless and at it's core it can be applied to almost any time period. I'd also add that the ideology of some parents is still very similar, although parents aren't as persistent nowadays. It's a given that parents want their child to be the best, smartest, strongest etc. DAOS puts this perspective in reality and shows us what to expect. Although its almost every parents desire to have a "majestic" son/daughter. This desire is also timeless. Daos sdisplays this desire and then shatters it, this is one of the several reasons audiences are brought to tears. Furthermore, today's audience isn't as melodramatic as the mid-twentieth century audience, but their reactions I assume would be comparable in their respective time frames.
ReplyDeleteDaos also relates to our current economy because as Zachary said, technology is on the rise and is affecting middle class and labor jobs.
Competition as yejoon said is also timeless. Not only does apply to adults it applies to us juniors as well. Instead of competing for jobs we are competing to get accepted to a good college. Although stuy kids tend to be competitors this competition is sickening because you're not only competing with thousands of kids across the nation but also with our friends in Stuyvesant.
^ I definitely agree with Vinit! The line "the competition is maddening!" holds true to not just the limited amount of jobs, but just schools, resources, and the whole system in general. I want to bring in the population factor as well. http://www.google.com/imgres?q=population+world&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1280&bih=602&tbm=isch&tbnid=U7QbaDZ_oG7fzM:&imgrefurl=http://one-simple-idea.com/Environment1.htm&docid=_nSEc27Vj9uaCM&imgurl=http://one-simple-idea.com/WorldPopulation.jpg&w=861&h=584&ei=P_elT5TlJa2N0QH19MynBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=592&vpy=269&dur=1623&hovh=185&hovw=273&tx=184&ty=75&sig=113731163331023080359&page=2&tbnh=115&tbnw=170&start=18&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:18,i:147. The world's population is increasing exponentially, and there is a lot of capable people with the same qualifications for the few jobs. There has always been competition, like Yejoon said, it's timeless, there's just different degrees of it. Half a century ago, it was tough, but I would argue today, it's even worse, which is why DoaS is so popular and relatable.
ReplyDeleteLike many people have said, I think there is still competition today, but I don't think the author is saying that there's no competition, and that's why modern audiences can't sympathize with Willy like they did in 1949. He says, "In 2012, a fight to the death for shrinking opportunities in so many realms of life renders the idea of fair competition an anachronism." I think our idea of competition has changed, because in Willy's time there was "fair" competition (i.e. whoever makes the most sales through hard work), but today we are indoctrinated into a new system of much more intense competition from the moment we're born. This competition for jobs as adults dictates our lives from when we're children. For example, in kindergarten my mom made me take placement tests to get into a special "advanced" program in my elementary school (and I think a lot of Stuy students can relate to this), but a child with less informed/ambitious parents may have never had the same opportunities. In the same way, we get into the best high schools and then the best colleges. Just the fact that there are SO many standardized tests shows how our society has created filters for its youth, because it is so competitive. Even at this stage in high school, most Stuy students are probably already "ahead" of most students from regular neighborhood high schools in our system. Therefore, as adults, we will NOT all have a fair shot in the job market.
ReplyDeleteand as Jennifer said, this is due to the drastic increase in population
DeleteI agree with Natalie. Competition is now determined by how much more advanced you were than the people around you in a shorter amount of time. If you advanced earlier in learning as a child or earlier stages in life, then it is expected that you are more advanced later in life. However times are still the same in that there's an American dream that everyone wants to achieve and parents are still trying to make their kids as successful as they can. Just like Willy Loman, our parents put much time and effort to make us more successful than they are, so that we can have a better life. The only difference is that Willy Loman was in a time when today's technology and today's ideology of working was just starting up, where quantity is worth more than quality, and he couldn't let the old American way of life go and embrace the new one.
DeleteThomas Cui
ReplyDeleteIn our current economy, there is still competition over jobs. Like Jennifer says, as population increases, more people are competing in all fields for the same jobs. The heavily populated middle class can relate to this play because they are going through similar stages in their lives. When this issue is brought to light, it would only make them more emotional. I agree with Natalie that parents nowadays are trying to make the lives of their kids better with any chance they have in order for them to have an advantage when competing for jobs.
I agree with the point Natalie makes in stating that there's still competition today. However, the drive to become successful is making people turn to unfair methods. Unlike Willy Loman, they rip customers off working their way up in the chain. The pressure gets to their fellow employees triggering them to do so, too. Eventually you get an immoral corporation. Many are not aware of this and this play shows them the underlying meaning of the American Dream. Here's an article of Goldman Sach's executive director talking about how society changed so much that it made him resign.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opinion/why-i-am-leaving-goldman-sachs.html
I agree with Yejoon and Michael and all the others that believe this piece still holds true today. No matter what state our economy is in, there will always be the struggling middle class. Competition is unending and inevitable in all conditions because people are constantly striving to achieve the American Dream or maybe even go beyond and achieve more than what they originally wanted. With the pressure of having to make money and maintain stability within one's family is hardship that everyone will hold no matter what year it is furthering my point that whether viewers can PERSONALLY relate to WIlly Loman's story or not, there will always be sympathy and shared pain among the audience.
ReplyDeleteI think the large time gap between the writing of the original play and now might be a large contributor to the play's success today. It's in human nature to seek out accompaniment in times of trouble and discomfort. As they say, "misery loves company". Jejoon brought up a good point and said "the middle class will never NOT have competition." Americans are facing financial difficulties in life, and this play reminds them that they're not the only ones. It reminds them that these same problems existing today have also occurred 60 years ago, and will continue to occur until the destruction of the middle class.
ReplyDeleteErica Kwong Pd. 2
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sarah that this piece rings true in our current economy. Even though the times have changed, we still have a similar situation today. People still struggle to hold on to their job. And that’s not just because those industries are drying up; it’s also because of the growing competition. Referencing Mr. Ferencz’s link, there just doesn’t seem to be enough jobs to keep everyone employed. Also, there’s always the fear of someone who can do your job better replacing you. Another point is that the same values hold for today. It’s still all about business, like Howard said, in fact, more than ever in this recession. It takes hard work to keep your job; being well-liked and having connections with others won’t cut it. Therefore, the audiences of today can still connect to it. On one hand, they can sympathize with Willy’s situation but on the other hand, let Death of A Salesman be a lesson to us all.
I agree with everyone else here that the author of the article is wrong when he states that the competition is drying up when compared to the 40's and 50's. The competition now is greater than ever, since the U.S. is still recovering from the 2008 recession. However, I do somewhat agree with the sentiment that capitalism is slowly disappearing. This kind of ties back into the topic of how people are going to college for the sake of going to college. Nowadays, people aren't judged by the skill that they have, but rather the branding of when college that they graduated from. People aren't even allowed to apply for jobs that they do not have the "qualifications" for, even if they would be able to do a better job than any other person. Of the people who are trying to get those qualifications, the most important quality about them is that they can afford to go to school. In short, the rich stay rich because they are able to pay for those qualifications, and the poor stay poor because they can't really afford to go anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteThis piece does ring true in our economy and that actually answers the second question. The reason people are being brought to tears is that they can relate to the circumstances that Willy faced. Even though their is a general consensus that as time goes on everything is more distant and unrelatable, I think that as long as times are similar, watching the play in 1000 years would be like watching it in 1950. Thereore the author is wrong to say that nowadays people cannot be effected by this play. 99 percent of American people can relate to this play.
ReplyDeleteWillie Xu Period 10
ReplyDeleteDeath of a Salesman can definitely still be related to today. Many Americans are are still experiencing the effects of the recession and although most of us probably cannot relate to Willy's situation in the book, we know for a fact that there are people like him, who have lost their jobs and cannot find a way to improve their financial situations. As proof of this, not a week goes by without me seeing either a beggar or hobo along the 7 train line. Poverty still exists in this country and because people know this, they can understand Willy and appreciate the play. Death of a Salesman is truly "timeless" in that there will always be people who are suffering as he does and as modern technology grows ever more efficient, there may never be an end to this phenomenon.
Audiences still have a connection with Death of Salesman because it is a universal theme that will always be relatable. As Ryan stated above,Willy's struggle for success will always be relevant nevertheless the time era. This is because our society functions by having a wealthy class and a group of people who strive to become admitted to that class. Unless society changes the way people advance in social class, then Willy Loman's tragic story will continually be related
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