Opening Stage directions
Key quotes
Set and staging
Lighting
Sound
"small and fine"- shows fragility of their lives, haunting and solemn to heighten the tragic nature of the story that will unfold
The flute (signifier) is a metonym for Willy's father thus he is the first presence on stage and casts a shadow over the tragedy
Father's immediate presence in form of the flute shows Willy's family values first as characters cannot know themselves until they know where they came from
Willy relies on memory of Ben and the flute as it is all he can remember of his father
Willy is lost because the father passed on incomplete values
The presence of his father may also indicate Willy's end of life on Earth so Willy is fated to die from the opening
"telling of grass and trees"- music suggests a natural setting and this is juxtaposed with the actual, urban setting
"towering, angular shapes"- suggest urban environment with no life or character
the ambience of the lifeless buildings contrasts how it was when they first moved and juxtaposes their "home" that has warmth and character as it is from another time
"angry glow of orange"- glow of city and contrasts the natural world that Willy thrives in; because of his surroundings feels forced into this urban life that he is not suited to
Orange lighting connotes industry so unnatural light.
Contrasts with the blue tones of nature highlighting the contradiction between Biff and Willy's ideal states
"small, fragile seeming home" suggests delicateness of their lives as they have never been secure
in an urban world the house is old and insubstantial
"barely visible"- they are barely seen by others; no one acknowledges their troubles as they are just a common family
"under and over it we see the apartment buildings"- urbanisation surrounds them
the buildings on all sides make their home out of their depth mirroring how Willy is drowning in his career
the buildings are high and established but Willy isn't and he is out of reach of this esteemed way of life like his house is out of reach of the sky scraping machines for living
Characterisation
characterises Linda in a way more suitable for prose
promotes understanding of characters and events
constructive and crowded city- why Willy's mind is detached from overwhelming reality. They were crammed in for practicality, cramming Willy out of the workplace
Ben's theme suggests an aura of success through the music that Willy admires
descriptive language creates an unsettling home for a broken family- pointless dreams are suffocated by the reality in the setting
transparency and lack of consistency and with the setting of the Loman household make a confusing setting to match Willy's mind
lack of financial security emphasised by simplicity of kitchen- fridge reminds Willy of how we has not achieved the American Dream
lighting accentuates the family's disillusionment
brightness and boldness of the orange is more impressive than the Loman's meek home
light symbolises their dreams and house represents the fragility of their family- thus the lighting emphasises futility of their dreams as it is contrasted with humbleness of their home
blue lights also express a sombre tone
stage directions generally convey symbols and messages
"dressed quietly"- reiterates his status as a common man who does not fall from nobility but a state which we are all capable of- we are all capable of tragedy
Linda's devotions to Willy emphasised and her disregard for his behaviour emphasises the love and also her passivity
expressionistic- only composed of elements useful to the story like the boiler
House is somewhere he can imposed his beliefs as he has the control he lacks in wider society- showing what is going on inside his head.
Miller was going to set it inside his head and name the play based around that idea
"lets his burden down"- cases represent work and this direction symbolises his work is a burden as it doesn't suit him so he cannot achieve the status he strives for
Willy described with an aura of exhaustion
contrast between house and tall buildings shows the conflict between past and present in the world and particularly in Willy's mind