Contains essays that explore the issue of suicide in Arthur Miller's 1949 drama "Death of a Salesman," and includes background on the author, as well as contemporary perspectives on suicide.
Content Note
[ch.1] Background on Arthur Miller. The life and career of Arthur Miller / Stephen A. Marino -- An overview of death of a salesman / L. M. Domina -- Miller and others comment on the impact of Death of a Salesman / Arthur Miller, Robert Falls, and Brian Dennehy, interviewed by Paul Solman -- [ch.2] Suicide and Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman as a tragic hero / Robert A. Martin -- Willy Loman is dying throughout the play / Harold Bloom -- The ambiguity of Biff's feelings for Willy / H. C. Phelps -- Many factors led to Willy's suicide / Sighle Kennedy -- Willy Loman had the wrong dreams / Joseph L. Badaracco Jr. -- Willy Loman is undone by the American dream / Thomas E. Porter -- Alienation from his work drives Willy Loman to suicide / Paul Blumberg -- Miller uses objects to convey failure and other themes / Marianne Boruch -- Death of a Salesman in China / Arthur Miller -- A student responds emotionally to Death of a Salesman / Meredith Kopald -- [ch.3] Contemporary perspectives on suicide. Suicide rates rise across the globe / The Economist -- A documentary about suicide sparks debate / Killian Fox -- The ethics of physician-assisted suicide / Renske Heddema -- Involvement therapy helps suicide survivors cope / Bob Condor -- Raising awareness of elder suicide / Ezra Ochshorn.