Death of a Salesman: the setting contributing to dramatic effect.

   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.