History YMMV / DeathOfASalesman

* RetroactiveRecognition: The 1984 version starring Creator/DustinHoffman features Creator/JohnMalkovich and Creator/StephenLang as Biff and Happy.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Most interpretations of Ben Loman see him as rather cruel and uncaring toward his kid-brother. On the other hand, one could say that Ben Loman cared more about his brother than Willy's own family, who did nothing to try and dissuade Willy from his own folly until it was far too late. One of the most pivotal scenes in the play is when Ben comes by and visits the family before they're to attend a football game Biff was playing in. He straight-up offers his brother a third of his mines in Africa (where Ben had found his riches) and the chance to escape from the vicious cycle Willy was caught in. It was Willy who refused and insisted he could make it big in New York. This was reinforced by Linda, who basically scolded Ben for the offer and insisted that Willy stay in New York.

** To what extent is Biff's failure in life caused by his disappointment in his father? Though he did chose not to retake the required math class and attend college shortly after discovering Willy's adulterous affair, it's also strongly implied that Biff's upbringing was setting him up for failure regardless. By his own admission, having Willy tell him repeatedly how he's destined for greatness gave Biff a sense of entitlement, to the point where he would become easily discouraged and quit the moment any job or task became too difficult.

** Between his memory loss, hallucinations, random emotional outbursts and difficulty operating even relatively simple machinery, Willy appears to be suffering from some undiagnosed form of dementia, possibly the early stages of Alzheimer's.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Chinese love this play about father-son relationships, which is why ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' see it performed when they go to China in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS16E12GooGooGaiPan Goo Goo Gai Pan]].

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Chinese love this play about father-son relationships, which is why it also shows up in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

* SignatureLine: "Attention must be paid"

** Between his memory loss, hallucinations, random emotional outbursts and difficulty operating even relatively simple machinery, Willy appears to be suffering from some undiagnosed form of dementia, possibly the early stages Alzheimers.

** Between his memory loss, hallucinations, random emotional outbursts and difficulty operating even relatively simple machinery, Willy appears to be suffering from some undiagnosed form of dementia, possibly early-onset Alzheimers.

* MyRealDaddy: Creator/DustinHoffman is considered by many to be the definitive Willy Loman.

* HilariousInHindsight: In 1999, Creator/LaurenceFishburne had [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cRPPn9OzXI&frags=pl%2Cwn presented]] Creator/BrianDennehy (whom Fishburne referred to as "the big man") the Tony Award for his performance as Willy Loman,]] then cut to ''Film/AssaultOnPrecinct132005'' where Fishburne and Dennehy both played the bitterest of enemies towards each other (which Dennehy's character refers Fishburne's character as a "piece of shit" and "dealer", an ironic way to call someone played by the actor who gave the former's actor the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play).

* HilariousInHindsight: In 1999, Creator/LaurenceFishburne had [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cRPPn9OzXI&frags=pl%2Cwn presented actor Brian Dennehy (whom Fishburne referred to as "the big man") the Tony Award for his performance as Willy Loman,]] then cut to ''Film/AssaultOnPrecinct132005'' where Fishburne and Dennehy both played the bitterest of enemies towards each other (which Dennehy's character refers Fishburne's character as a "piece of shit" and "dealer", an ironic way to call someone played by the actor who gave the former's actor the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play).

* MisaimedFandom: The play was initially scrutinized for its perceived anti-American message. So much so that Miller had his passport revoked when he was suspected of promoting socialist propaganda. This was clearly a case of poor reading comprehension, as 1) The play was meant to criticise people chasing a fruitless American Dream, not the American Dream itself, and 2) The play clearly portrays Charlie's son, Bernard, as the only successful character because he's financially well-off.

* MyRealDaddy: Dustin Hoffman is considered by many to be the definitive Willy Loman.
* OlderThanTheyThink: Willy Loman later starred in a popular American sitcom. They changed his name to [[Series/TheOfficeUS Michael Scott]].

* RetroactiveRecognition: The 1984 version starring Creator/DustinHoffman features Creator/JohnMalkovich and pre-‘’Film/{{Avatar}}’’ Stephen Lang as Biff and Happy.

* FamilyUnfriendlyAesop: Dreamers get crushed under reality's dirty heel. Deal with it.
** In addition to their obsession with popularity, Willy and Biff do not realize the amount of effort needed to achieve their dreams. To illustrate, Charlie's son Bernard works hard to become a successful lawyer and Uncle Ben goes into the jungle for four years to find diamonds and come out rich. On the other hand, Willy and Biff are always looking for an easy way out and that's why they ultimately fail in life.
** Sometimes it's okay to [[KnowWhenToFoldEm stop pursuing a dream]] when it's obvious your talents and passions lie elsewhere.
** If you set your sights too high, you're liable to end up disappointed.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Most interpretations of Ben Loman see him as rather cruel and uncaring toward his kid-brother. On the other hand, one could say that Ben Loman cared more about his brother than Willy's own family, who did nothing to try and dissuade Willy from his own folly until it was far too late. One of the most pivotal scenes in the play is when Ben comes by and visits the family before they're to attend a football game Biff was playing in. He straight-up offers his brother a third of his mines in South America (where Ben had found his riches) and the chance to escape from the vicious cycle Willy was caught in. It was Willy who refused and insisted he could make it big in New York. This was reinforced by Linda, who basically scolded Ben for the offer and insisted that Willy stay in New York.

* HilariousInHindsight: In 1999, Creator/LaurenceFishburne had [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cRPPn9OzXI&frags=pl%2Cwn presented actor Brian Dennehy (whom Fishburne referred to as "the big man") the Tony Award for his performance as Willy Loman]], then cut to ''Film/AssaultOnPrecinct132005'' where Fishburne and Dennehy both played the bitterest of enemies towards each other (which Dennehy's character refers Fishburne's character as a "piece of shit" and "dealer", an ironic way to call someone played by the actor who gave the former's actor the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play).

* OlderThanTheyThink: Willy Loman now stars in a popular American sitcom. They changed his name to [[Series/TheOfficeUS Michael Scott]].

** Bernard doesn't really feature in the story much, but his (successful) father, Charlie's line that: "My salvation is that I never took interest in anything" doesn't make him sound happy or self-actualized, but rather broken and demoralized. Perhaps to an even greater extent than Willie...
*** If your goal is to earn a living by being liked don't turn down the job your friend is giving you because they like you.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical: Some politically conservative and/or pro-capitalist critics have claimed that it is intended as a TakeThat to Capitalism in general. Though Miller in his earlier years had associated with individuals that were black listed, but to evaluate the play solely from this perspective would cause one to miss many of the aforementioned themes on this page and the Main Page. As a counterpoint, it is also worth mentioning that Biff does manage to find success within the capitalist system (though not through the traditional American Dream, which is what Miller's criticism, regarding its excessive materialism, is the intended target for), thus making the argument of this play as anti-capitalistic problematic.
** There's also the issue of the characters of Charlie and Bernard, who are more true capitalists then the Lomans are in that they value actual skill and talent more than personality or the ability to make an impression, not to mention being significantly more well-off, and are ultimately healthier people for it. Charlie even shows compassion by continuously bailing Willy out and repeatedly offering him a job to save him despite him clearly being unstable, which Willy won't accept out of pride and jealousy.

* NoAntagonist: All of Willy's problems are either his own fault or the result of forces beyond any one man's control. Even his boss who cuts his pay and fires him isn't out to get Willy, he's just doing what any business owner would do and getting rid of an underperforming employee.

* NoAntagonist: All of Willy's problems are either his own fault or the result of forces beyond any one man's control. Even his boss who cuts his pay and fires him isn't out to get Willy, he's just doing what any business owner would do and getting rid of a useless employee.

* NoAntagonist: All of Willy's problems are either his own fault orthe result of forces beyond any one man's control. Even his boss who cuts his pay and fires him isn't out to get Willy, he's just doing what any business owner would do and getting rid of a useless employee.

* NoAntagonist: All of Willy's problems are either his own fault of nobody's fault.