staging

__Staging__

The play begins with the opening lines:

//"A melody is heard, played upon a// //flute. It is small and fine, telling of grass and trees and the horizon. The curtain// //rises." pg.11//

The soft tune being played from a flute engages a peaceful scene within the audience's mind. This provides direct contrast to the scene that follows, where Willy comes home from a less than successful business trip and must answer all of Linda's questions.

Music plays a major role in adding effects to the staging.

//"Uncle Ben...enters the forestage. He is utterly certain of his destiny, and there is an aura of far places about him. He enters exaxtly as Willy speaks." "Ben's music is heard. Ben looks around at everything" pg.44//

Ben is figment of Willy's imagination; a memory from the past. By having him enter as Willy simultaneously speaks, //and// with his own song, presents a feeling of mystique around him.

The majority of //The Death of a Salesman// occurs at the Loman's house. The effect of having most of the play staged at the house allows for the comparison of the relatively small confinements of the home to the vast lands of Africa and Alaska. To Willy, who dreams about these places, Africa and Alaska represent wealth and prosperity, and displays Willy's longing for a better livelihood.

Throughout the play, characters walk freely in and out of the house, without interruption, despite the fact they may be real or a part of Willy's imagination. These stage direction gives the audience insight into Willy's mind, which is very unstable. Willy can be seen talking to both Charley, who he is playing cards with, and Ben, an imaginary figment from his memory. Charley's surprise and anger can be seen when Willy is speaking to Ben (who is not there) and Charley believes the words are directed towards him.