Analysis of “Death of a Salesman” Blackout Poem

The play “Death of a Salesman” written by Arthur Miller, is a play outlining a man’s memories, financial struggles and deteriorating relationships while coping with a mental illness. Willy’s wife and two sons make an effort to help him during this stressful and frustrating period. This play falls into the genre drama and is subcategorized as a tragedy because it demonstrates Willy’s life being dedicated to a specific objective, and once failed he continue to obsess over his previous life. A tragedy does not necessarily have to end with a death. However, in “Death of a Salesman” the play was finalized with Willy’s suicide. The blackout poem project uses symbols and keywords to illustrate the connection between “Death of a Salesman “and tragedy. One may choose to illustrate their blackout poem using significant objects or motifs from the play to create a visual design. It is important to remain capturing the tone from “Death of a Salesman” in both the embellishment and phrases in the blackout poem. One may choose to illustrate stockings to show Willy’s infidelity, a briefcase to represent his absence to the family and constant traveling to Boston, or simply drawing a window in place of the emptiness Willy feels from pushing loved ones away. The play revised in class “Death of a Salesman,” and the blackout poem assignment positively demonstrated the understanding of the poetry and play unit. Although the play ended with Willy committing suicide, the class was able to create a unique understanding of the ability to encapture an entire play with symbols while utilizing few words.