Challenges & Opportunities of Teaching Death of a Salesman

Even if your students have trouble connecting with the play from Willy Loman's point of view, we're guessing that Biff will prove to be a window that few will be unable to look through. Most everyone knows what it's like to try to live up to the expectations of their parents. Though every family isn't exactly like the Lomans, the basic family dynamics found in the play tend to be pretty universal

The play is also a great example of Miller's concept of the tragedy of the common man. Creating a unit in which students explore the tragedy of Willy Loman alongside that of a classic Greek hero like Oedipus provides a great opportunity for comparing and contrasting.