Death of a Salesman is a 1949 stage play written by the
American playwright Arthur Miller. The play premiered
on Broadway in February 10, 1949, running for 742
performances. It is a two-act tragedy set in late 1940s
Brooklyn told through a montage of memories, dreams,
and arguments of the protagonist Willy Loman, a travelling
salesman who is despondent with his life and appears to
be slipping into senility. The play addresses a variety of
themes, such as the American Dream, the anatomy of truth,
and infidelity. It won the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and
Tony Award for Best Play. It is considered by some critics
to be one of the greatest plays of the 20th century.
Arthur Asher Miller
(October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005)
Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock in the 1949
Tony Award-winning production of "Death of
a Salesman."