Death of a Salesman - Character Analysis

I was given this list of questions by a director of mine a long time ago to help actors analyze the characters they were going to play. While it is very instructive to actors, I have found the list of questions more helpful to me as a writer and as a reader of fiction who wants to find out what makes a character interesting. Think of the various characters in Death of a Salesman and what the answers to each of these questions may be.

A. A search for the objectives which the character seeks in the play.

1. What is the character's main goal?

2. What factors stand in thw way of his achieving his goal?

3. Does this goal change during the play?

4. What are the character's goals in particular scenes?

5. How do they resist to his long-range goal?

B. A concern for the basic motivations which guide the character in his attempts to fulfill his goal.

1. Why does the character desire to achieve his goal?

2. What methods does he employ to attain his goal?

3. Why did he choose these methods?

C. A determination of the major factors which contribute to the total development of the character

1. What changes take place in the character throughout the play/

2. Do these changes appear as variations in the character's physical condition, mental state, emotions, moods, or goals?

3. How does the character react to new situations?

4. How do these situations affect him?

D. A discovery of the influence of other characters on the character being analyzed.

1. How does the character feel toward other individual characters?

2. How does he express his feelings toward these characters?

3. How do his reactions differ from one character to another?

4. How do these relationships influence or otherwise relate to the character's long-range goal?

E. An awareness of the proper emotional responses desired from the audience.

1. What empathetic response does the character arouse in you?

2. What degree of sympathy is felt for the character?

F. Physical condition and appearance.

1. What is the character's age? Is this indicated through the character's description by the playwrigth, the character's own lines and actions, or comments made by other character's?

2. Is the character short or tall, lean or heavy, storong or weak, healthy or sickly?

3. Are the character's movements fluent or graceful or jerky and awkward?

4. Are the face and figure of a pleasing aspect or not?

5. Is a specific physical appearance demanded?

6. Are there any indications given as to the character's manner of speech?

7. Is colloquialism predominant and are there many common mispronunciations, or has the speech been trained? What about his speech reveals his character?

G. Psychological Attributes:

1. Is the character generally happy, cheerful and otimistic? Or is he pessimistic and cynical?

2. Is the character emotionally mature or immature?

3. Are certain emotions stronger than others, if so, which ones are they?

4. Is the character aware of emotional strengths and weaknesses, and does this have any bearing upon his emotional stability?

5. Is the role intelligent or unintelligent, fast or slow in thought?

6. Is the character puroseful and alert, or does a state of aimlessness and slackness prevail?

7. Does the character act rationally or does he act first and think later?

8. How does the character act on and respond to his environment? Does he more toward life? Withdraw from it? Or fight against it?

[Meaning and Art] [Stylistic Devices]

[Motifs] [Character Analysis][Verbal and Symbolic Technique]

[Narrative Technique][Study Questions]

[Quiz]

Got questions or comments? Contact Jay Edwards

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