Death of a Salesman: Difference between revisions

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=== This play provides examples of the following tropes: ===

* [[The All American Boy]]: Biff as a kid. As he grows up, not so much.

* [[The All-American Boy]]: Biff as a kid. As he grows up, not so much.

* [[American Dream]]: Deconstructed as the pursuit of this is ultimately what leads to Willy and his sons' failures. In the end, Biff rejects the American Dream, convinced that it will only lead him to ruin.

* [[Anachronic Order]]: The past and present get put in a blender, and set to puree. There aren't even any scene changes between them, just sepia-toned or other lighting switching on. This is probably because Willy is starting to go insane.

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* [[Jaded Washout]]: Willy Loman

* [[Jerk Jock]]: Young Biff.

* [[Know When to Fold Em]]: Willy doesn't. He's really not cut out to be a salesman at all and would have had a far better life as a construction tradesman. On the other hand, this is the lesson that Biff learns by the end of the play.

* [[Know When to Fold'Em]]: Willy doesn't. He's really not cut out to be a salesman at all and would have had a far better life as a construction tradesman. On the other hand, this is the lesson that Biff learns by the end of the play.

* [[Leitmotif]]: The stage directions specify a flute tune at the start of flashbacks as part of [[Painting the Medium]].

* [[Lonely Funeral]]: For Willy. He was liked... but not well-liked.

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* [[The Unfavorite]]: Happy Loman.

* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Young Biff but he loses faith in his father, and in life, when he {{spoiler|catches Willy in an affair}}.

* [[Wham Line]]: {{spoiler|"Pop, I'm a dime a dozen and so are you!"}}

* [[Wham! Line]]: {{spoiler|"Pop, I'm a dime a dozen and so are you!"}}

* [[Who's Laughing Now?]]: Bernard is, once he becomes a successful high-flying lawyer. Willy Loman, who once looked down on him, comes crawling to him for help.

** Averted in that Bernard is not cruel or condescending, and gives Willy advice.