There are several key elements to a play, such as the structure, setting, and theme. When watching a play, elements such as structure, theme, and setting may not come to mind, but when reflected on, their importance is significant to the understanding of the play. More key factors to consider when watching a play is the degree of realism or nonrealism. "Your discoveries here will enable you to describe the ways in which the play establishes its views and ideas about life and the world" (Edgar V. Roberts and Robert Zweig, An Introduction to Reading and Writing, Compact Edition). If the structure or theme of the play is not organized it is hard for viewers to understand the plot or idea of the play. For example, the audience may confuse the characters or their lines, making the understanding of the drama more difficult than necessary. There are several questions to ask when analyzing a play that involves the plot, characters, language, setting, symbolism, and theme. It is important to pay attention to the plot of the play and make sure the plot is arranged in a chronological, cohesive order that imitates reality, or mixes in and …show more content…
Death of a Salesman is a play written by Arthur Miller. The play takes place in the late 1940’s in New York, Boston, and the protagonist’s house. Willy Loman is the main character of the play, he is an aging salesman and father of two. Loman has lived with his wife, Linda, in the same house for twenty-five years. The house once set apart from other homes but is now surrounded by several apartment buildings, making Loman feel closed in. Loman often talks to himself, causing his wife, Linda, to be concerned about him. Willy is concerned about his sons, Happy and Biff, because they are not progressing in the work-force as much as he hoped they would. Happy has a job and his own apartment, but Biff is a struggling farmhand who does not make much