Pawanraj Sadhwani

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is the story of Willy Loman, an ageing salesman who can no longer keep it together.

He tries to "keep it together" by being in denial. He denies the mediocrity and helplessness of his present - loudly and angrily - using his old "glories" as a means to escape the evidence all around him. He denies the mistakes he made that got him here by rationalizing them away. He denies help from friends by jealously ignoring their successes. He denies himself by ignoring what makes him happy - hanging on instead to his idea of the American Dream - that being well-liked is the key to success. He abdicates the responsibility of being a father to be liked. He denies that he isn't well-liked, by reminiscing about times when he was moderately successful, and idolized by his handsome sons Biff and Happy.

Who themselves continue to use the trick taught to them by their father, of living in denial and thinking the present away. They too, are dissatisfied with their lives but acknowledge it only partially at best.

And Willy's wife Linda - who knows that the ugliness of reality will catch up with Willy and devastate him, tries her best to protect her husband from it as long as she can.

Even though it was written in 1949, the play feels remarkably current. The idea of the American Dream - of "hustling to making it", is timeless. The proposition that success comes to those that are well-liked seems extremely pertinent in today's age of internet influencers. The failed struggle to succeed, the feeling of pedaling furiously to stay where you are, the obstinate refusal to accept failure are all modern malaises too. And the relationships among the Loman family will be found being played out in many a home today.

Reading this book hurt. And it will probably hurt you too.

It will take you back to times when you felt like a failure, felt abandoned, or were filled with overwhelming regret at a bad decision you made. It will make you deliberate upon your relationships with your family and loved ones. It will get you to reflect on your definition of success, happiness, family and self-worth. It might surface emotions that you might not want to deal with.

I don't think I can fully convey the complexity and depth of this short play in this review. Spend an hour to read it for yourself, especially if you're over the age of 30. Let the words take your mind where they will. Maybe you'll hate it. But you won't regret having read it 4/5 stars.