Throughout Death
of a Salesman each location is designed to convey the different emotions
and themes throughout the play. Firstly, the overall layout of the stage is
important in that it provides a setting for ‘Willy’s imaginings’, the walls of
the Lomans’ house are ‘imaginary’ signifying the fragility of their home and
the unlimited boundaries within Willy’s mind. The lack of structure in the
layout can also represent the lack of restrictions between the past and present;
between memories and reality.
Certain objects placed around the Lomans’
home signify different things; for example, the ‘silver athletic trophy’ in
Willy’s bedroom is used to represent his values of sportsmanship and the desire
to succeed in every thing. The fact that this is not an academic reward again
suggests Willy sees triumph through physical gain and popularity which is
supported further when Willy laughs at Biff’s behaviour at school and asks if
“the kids like it?” Also, the arrangement of the kitchen furniture in that
there are only three chairs at the table conveys a sense of isolation towards
Biff, as if he has been excluded from the family.
References to the garden are made throughout
the drama; Willy complains that he cannot “raise a carrot in the backyard” and
remembers about the two “elm trees” suggesting he feels like he should be in
the outdoors yet he later criticises Biff for wanting to be a farmer. The
feelings of being trapped are conveyed effectively by Miller as the ‘apartment
buildings’ can be seen looming ‘under and over’ Willy’s home stressing the fact
that they are in the city.
Howard’s office is an uncomfortable and
unfamiliar place for both Willy and the audience; objects such as the tape
recorder and the type writer are significant for the audience to compare them
to Willy’s belongings. The modern tape recorder is a contrast to Willy’s old
fashioned values and emphasises the age gap between Howard and Willy. The type
writer also shows Willy’s inability to move into the modern world; the contrast
of his simple house and Howard’s modern equipment is clear to the audience and
in a way belittles Willy.
The play’s settings alone have a huge
significance to the dramatic effect upon the audience. They supply the
surroundings and create an atmosphere which, when collated with the play
itself, forms a successful dramatic effect used to convey Death of a Salesman.
 |
