Survey for those not in America please

[Sharnita]

I am writing a fairly lengthy paper on Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman. I have run into a few sources stating that in American drama, this is the best known American play outside of America.

I would like to know from the non-American e-hellions if they've read and/or seen the play. If you respond, please let me know where you live, if you read it or saw it and what you thought of the play. thanks.

[Twik]

OK, sounding in from Canada here.

I've read it in school, and I think we saw a video of it at the time, but I've never seen it live. I liked at a lot at the time, although thinking back on it the message may have been a little over-hammered, if you get my drift.

I agree that it might be the best-known non-musical American play. I'd say the classic musicals that have been made into movies, such as Oklahoma, would be better known. In the non-musical field, a little play called Our Town is pretty well known, but I must admit that we didn't study that in school.

[T'Mar of Vulcan]

I would like to know from the non-American e-hellions if they've read and/or seen the play. If you respond, please let me know where you live, if you read it or saw it and what you thought of the play. thanks.

I had to read it in high school. I went to high school in the south of Johannesburg (South Africa). I still live in Johannesburg.

We were told what a fantastic play it was, yadda, but all I can remember about the story is that I was hoping the guy would hurry up and die already so we could put him out of our misery! (Yes, I know I'm mangling that saying - trust me, it's on purpose.) That had to be one of the most boring plays I've ever read. No wonder high school English puts people off reading for life! Snore-fest of note; sorry.

FYI, we also had to read Hamlet (which I quite enjoyed), Romeo and Juliet (teenagers are stupid; gee, this is NEWS?!), Sons and Lovers (a book about *nothing* - I read Waiting for Godot in university and it was more exciting than that stupid book) and Cry, the Beloved Country (dude, use decent punctuation!). Why oh why do education muckety-mucks torture students?!

I teach Grade 6 and we're currently reading Dracula. The kids seem to be enjoying it.

[Bethalize]

I am writing a fairly lengthy paper on Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman. I have run into a few sources stating that in American drama, this is the best known American play outside of America.

I would like to know from the non-American e-hellions if they've read and/or seen the play. If you respond, please let me know where you live, if you read it or saw it and what you thought of the play. thanks.

I have heard of it. I have a copy of the DVD that came free with the paper (never watched it). I have a copy of the play (never managed to finish it).

We studied Broken Glass at university.

[hollasa]

In Canada - heard of it, read a synopsis, not interested enough to watch it.

I will point out that in the sentence, "I have run into a few sources stating that in American drama, this is the best known American play outside of America", you could completely leave out the "in American drama" phrase...

[blue2000]

Canadian here. I have read it, and watched the movie. I found it mildly interesting. Not enough to watch it a second time, though.

There are other plays that are much better known (and liked). But I don't usually pay attention to what country a particular play comes from, so I couldn't say if this is the best-known American one.

[Twik]

Whoa, wait, wouldn't Cat on a Hot TIn Roof be more famous than Salesman? 

[Leprchn]

Another Canadian chiming in - Tried to read it in school, bored the living You-Know-What out of me.  Never did finish it and am not at all interested in finishing it.  He's a salesman, he's miserable and depressed.  Shocking. 

[sammycat]

I live in Australia but went to school in New Zealand (although final 2 years in Australia).  I've definitely heard of "Death of a Salesman" but haven't read it (was it also a film starring Dustin Hoffman?).  At high school we studied "12 Angry Men" in English class, but I don't recall anyone ever studying "Death of a Salesman".

[Telmereth]

Speaking from England, all I can say is that I've heard of it (thought that was on an American TV show)
Never read it or seen it unfortunately!
If we study plays in school where I live, nine times out of ten it will be Shakespeare!

[lady_disdain]

If by America you mean the United States (sorry, a bit of a pet peeve, don't mind me)...

I've tried to read it - seriously. I gave up and went back to Ibsen.

I asked my friends and no one had heard of it.  It is basically unknown in Brazil.

[blue_bunny_paz]

I'd say The Crucible or Streetcar were better known.
And by Miller maybe View From The Bridge...

You can say one of the best known, if you like.

I'm a Brit, if that helps.

[White Dragon]

Canadian chiming in here.

In the 2 provincial school systems that I have worked in, I've never seen it presented for study. Most schools seem to lean towards Shakespeare, in my experience.

Having said that, when it comes to secondary references ie: In a short story the characters discuss a play, then Death of a Salesman is in the top two. The other that comes to mind are Glass Menagerie. As another poster pointed out, musical dramas, such as Fiddler on the Roof are more likely to be referenced.

Good luck with your paper!

St Monica

[T'Mar of Vulcan]

Having said that, when it comes to secondary references ie: In a short story the characters discuss a play, then Death of a Salesman is in the top two.

Ah, those secondary references. Does Buffy count? In one episode Buffy makes a comment like, "I don't want to go all Willy Loman..." Joss Whedon often did that, and only those who were well read tortured in school would even get that!

I liked it better when Buffy said, "My spider-sense is tingling," and Giles went, "Your... spider... sense?" And Buffy replies, "Pop culture reference. Sorry."

[Telmereth]

Tee hee, T'Mar, that's exactly where I had heard of Death of a Salesman! So glad it's not just me!