When Does Death of a Salesman Take Place?

Set in the late 1940s, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman takes place over the course of several months. The main character, Willy Loman, is a traveling salesman attempting to support his family; however, he is unable to make ends meet as he falls further and further into debt. The play examines the themes of the American Dream—in this case, success through hard work—and the death of the salesman, or failure. The play is considered a modern classic because it has become a symbol for people who struggle with financial problems and are unable to achieve their goals due to circumstances beyond their control. The play Death of a Salesman won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949. The play has been adapted for film and television several times, most recently in 2012. It is currently being revived on Broadway and will run through August 29 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City. The play is taught in high school and college classrooms across the country, including a performance by students at Notre Dame Academy in South Bend, in on October 5. It is considered to be one of the greatest American plays of all time and was ranked number one on a list of America’s best dramas by Time magazine in 2007.