The film Death of A Salesman is directed by Volker Schlondorff, 1986.Death of a Salesman can be perceived as a drama of the common man being defeated by society. The story is told partly through the mind and memory of Willy Loman. The structure of the film emphasizes the difference between illusion and reality, as well as giving the audience a deeper understanding into the meaning of the story, by way of lighting, colors and shape patterns. I will use these three codes to divulge deeper into what you get from the film experience of Death of a Salesman.

I see the story below the surface of Death of a Salesman, as the ongoing struggle to conquer the American dream, fame, fortune and family. In reality Willy Loman just wanted to be happy, but because of his twisted beliefs that success only comes to those who are “attractive” and “well-liked”, he never took the right path towards the goal of his dreams.

The film begins with Willy driving his car apparently exhausted, returning home early from a sales trip. The use of light plays a big part on how certain scenes are perceived. In this scene all you see is darkness and two small beams of light. As the scene fades in, the light incre

Back at the house, Willy is in the garden working when Biff and Happy walk into the kitchen where Linda is waiting. She is furious that the boys left their father alone in the restaurant. Meanwhile in the garden, Willy talks to his brother Ben about killing himself for the twenty thousand dollar life insurance policy for his family. He even speaks of his funeral and that people from all-over will come to pay their respects. In this scene while Willy spoke of his grand funeral, the director used front lighting to bring out the sincerity of what he believed would happen at the end of his life. Willy’s brother Ben as usual was lighted from the back creating a kind of silhouette of his body, which is normally used for the supernatural which emphasizes the fact that Ben is dead. Soon Biff goes outside to confront his father, he tells Willy that he is never going to see who he is and there is no use carrying out his illusions anymore. Biff goes on to say, “We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house!” Biff blames Willy for the many failures in his life as he continues to say, “ I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air, I could never stand taking orders from anybody!” He also disperses Willy’s idea that the Lomans are special, “Pop! I am a dime a dozen, and so are you!” Biff finally breaks down crying with his head in his father’s lap and begs Willy to forget him. As they let go of their

When Willy steps in the door, Linda, his wife gets out of bed to greet him. She asks why he is home so early from his trip and worries that he might have had another accident. She then leads him upstairs while he shares the story of his day. Linda then returns to bed while Willy goes down to the kitchen to get something to eat. In their upstairs bedroom you see the use of lighting, most of their bedroom is cast in shadows which represents something about the character’s mental state, which goes back to Willy’s state of mind which, as we will see in the film is most times shadowed from reality. The dull use of color implies the depressing mood, or aura that their bedroom has. The subtle shapes in the room are repeated patterns of vertical lines both on the walls and on Willy’s, as well as Linda’s pajamas giving a sense of imprisonment in their life.

In Biff and Happy’s bedroom where they awaken from sleep hearing the loud ramblings of Willy, they talk about their lives in the good old days when they were young.

Some topics in this essay:
Biff Happy’s, Willy Loman, Soon Biff, Biff Happy, York City, Whereas Linda, Charley Willy, Death Salesman, Charley Bernard, Volker Schlondorff, willy loman, death salesman, scene fades, scene willy, biff happy, flashback scene, family reality, garden willy, sales trip, life insurance,