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 * ** Possible points of comparison for the Paper 2 comparative essay ** ||


 * __** Elements **__ || __** Death of a Salesman **__ || __** A Streetcar Named Desire **__ ||
 * Background / writer / publication date / social context / genre || Published in **1949** in America by **Arthur** **Miller** following the great depression in the US and the Second World War. The ideals of ‘the American Dream’ were still being held as widespread beliefs in the US, which told people that hard work and risk taking would result in riches. || Published in **1946** by **Tennessee Williams** in America, cultural tensions are high. The play was written after World War II, when many people were still recovering from the events that had just proceeded. The old south, including New Orleans where the play is set was in a state of reformation as ‘old south’ ideals from pre-civil war times were just starting to die out. ||
 * Subject matter / content || Death of a Salesman debunks the validity of ‘The American Dream’. Willy Loman has worked hard all his life in pursuit of the American Dream, but his work has not paid off substantially. The play goes against the ideals of American society. || A Streetcar named Desire touches upon the ideals of the old south compared to post-world war 2 American society, as well as ideas concerned with feminism, love and mental illness. How the characters interact show conflicts between the old culture of the south and the new culture, as well as gender conflict. ||
 * Themes / ideas / authorial intent || * The American Dream
 * Appearance versus Reality
 * Abandonment and Betrayal
 * The Role of Women
 * Superficiality of Relationships
 * Individual Belief versus Societal Expectations and Beliefs || Williams wanted to show the conflict between the old ideals and values of the south with the newer idea of industry.
 * Appearance versus Reality
 * Psychological Realism/Human Struggle with Reality
 * The Link between Sex, Desire and Death ||
 * Characterisation || Characters in Death of a Salesman portray a realistic, average American household. Characters can often be seen as satirical. Willy’s distorted vision of the American Dream can often be touchy to the audience, as is the role of Linda, or the confrontation along with the complex relationships between Biff, Happy and Willy.


 * Willy Loman **
 * Willy Loman is the first character we are introduced to and he seems to be a little confused, at first exclaiming that his son Biff is lazy, and then commenting on how Biff could never be seen as lazy. He seems to be slightly bigoted and his wife, Linda, is seen to put up with a lot of his antics. Willy is set in his ways, and this is established when he refuses the American cheese that Linda has bought, and demands Swiss cheese instead.


 * Linda Loman **
 * Linda Loman is the wife of Willy and is quite level-headed. She is the core of the family and holds them all together because their emotions seemingly overflow a number of times.


 * Biff Loman **


 * Happy Loman **


 * Charley & Bernard **


 * The Woman **


 * Howard Wagner **

The characters in SND are meant, to an extent, to satirise the different mindsets following the fall of the ‘classic’ south. Blanche represents the old south, and is in direct conflict with Stanley who represents the new wave of immigrants come in to follow the American dream. Blanche is a woman who is very insecure, possible due to a past of people taking advantage of her. After the suicide of her husband which she believes to be her own fault she turns to promiscuity and alcoholism in order to fill the gap he has left in her life. This leads to her being an outcast from her town and seeking refuge with her sister.
 * Ben Loman ** || 
 * Blanche Dubois **


 * Stanley Kowalski **


 * Stella Kowalski **


 * Mitch **


 * Eunice and Steve **

Willy & Biff
 * The Mexican Woman ** ||
 * Character connections || The relationships in the story are focused mainly around Willy Loman. These include his relationship with his wife, sons, mistress and work partners. Each type of relationship helps show a different aspect of the superficiality of his life.

Willy & Linda

Willy & The Woman

Willy & Ben

Willy & Charley || Mitch and Blanche

Stanley and Stella

Stella and Blanche

Steve and Eunice

Stanley and Blanche || Blue Piano
 * Narrative structure / technique || The play is in two acts, plus a requiem. The requiem occurs after Willy dies, but the first two acts are fairly linear. || The play is in 11 scenes, spanning over a period of approximately 7 months. Lots of important details occur before the story, mostly concerning Blanche. We learn about her first love with the gay boy, and her promiscuity throughout the play. ||
 * Time scale / sequence || The play jumps forward and back, and incorporates numerous flashbacks and memory sequences which do not follow the traditional linear structure. The play takes part over a few weeks. || <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The play is spread out over many months. Because Blanche is an unwelcomed guest, we can see tension rise throughout the entire play. Blanche gradually loses her sanity over this time. ||
 * Setting || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The average suburbian American house represents the ordinary, like in A Doll’s House, again making the play relatable to the audience. || <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">New Orleans, in a working class neighbourhood typical of the ‘decaying south’. The setting helps contrast Blanche’s ideals from Stanley’s. ||
 * Lighting || <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Dim lighting is used in all of Ben's appearances, highlighting his distinction from real life. || Lighting is extremely important because Blanche is a closet vampire and does not like the light. The light is linked to Blanche’s aging physique, and so she avoids the light. ||
 * Sound || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A flute is used to show memory sequences but also as a way to set the mood at the start and end of acts. A full orchestra is meant to be used with the play. || The Blue Piano represents depression, and the Varsouviana polka represents immenent danger. The polka was played when Allan killed himself, and so alludes to this.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Trumpet

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Varsouviana ||
 * Style of language / techniques || The style of language used is very idiomatic-American which adds to the realism of the drama. Willy is of the Jewish faith and uses some very idiomatic expressions that reinforce this. ||  ||
 * Symbolism / motifs || The **stockings** which Willy Loman gave to 'the woman' is symbolic of Willy's career and self-worth. For Biff, however, it represents Willy's integrity, and the principles of the 'American Dream' which Willy preaches obstinately to his sons - violated through its lost, to the woman.

The **seedlings** which Willy plants is representative of Willy's desperate act of leaving something tangible, as his **legacy** for his family.

The **wire recorder** in Howard Wagner's office represents mechanical, 'business is business' world. It is the lack of sympathy and the worthlessness of human connection in the modern business world that drive's Willy's failure, deterioration of mental health and, in eventuality, Willy's suicide.

Biff's emphasis on the wish to "**mix cement on an open plain**" is symbolic of the down-to-earth, realistic qualities of life that Biff himself wishes for. This is brutally juxtaposed with the superficiality of Willy's 'American Dream' wish for his children, and his distorted views of success.

The **modern apartment buildings** surrounding Willy's traditional home highlights Willy's pressure in his career, and his failure to achieve success in the modern world.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Car in ‘Death of a Salesman’ symbolises the American Dream and Willy’s life in general. The car stands for Willy’s failed dreams. The pipe represents Willy’s lost will to live. || The use of ** light ** The **Varsouviana** is symbolic of the haunting memories of Allan for Blanche.

The **blue piano**

The streetcars, **Desire** and **Cemetery**, represents Blanche's own personal journey.

Blanche's regular, rigorous **bathing** symbolises her vain attempts at "washing away her sins".

The use of **colour symbolism** -
 * Blanche often wears **white**, and her happiness in the bathroom, as well as her **hygiene habits** all serve to highlight Blanche's need for purity and cleanliness.

Blanche is linked to the moth – a nocturnal, frail creature. In contrast, Stanley is a wild animal, and is constantly compared to an ape. He is the king of his ‘jungle.’ Wildness also links to his wild libido when he rapes Blanche. ||
 * Mood / atmosphere || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The mood is largely contributed to by instrumentation used. The mood is perhaps depressing, but it is not overly grim. Instead the play is more remnicent of Willy’s life, which has not gone the way he perhaps planned it to. This may be particularly effective to the audience, as it is very realistic and relatable for them. || <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The mood is grim, decaying, morose, sombre, etc. The constant ‘Blue Piano’ running in the background in a minor key emphasizes the negative depressing atmosphere. Out of all of the plays, this one is perhaps the most dark in atmosphere and mood. ||
 * Openings || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The openings in Death of a Salesman are often accompanied by a soft flute playing, which helps set the feel for the scene. ||  ||
 * Closings ||  ||   ||
 * Costumes ||  ||   ||
 * Genre / style || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Death of a Salesman is also a realistic play but also incorporates conventions from the ‘impressionistic’ genre. || <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A Streetcar named Desire belongs to the ‘Southern Gothic’ genre, which involves “ <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">deeply flawed characters, decayed or derelict settings, and other sinister events relating to or coming from poverty, racism, and violence.” ||