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Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is a deceptively simple play. The simplicity of the play, however, quickly dissolves into a respectful ambiguity through Miller's ingenious stage directions, nonverbal expressions and, most importantly, his musical design. From the opening notes to their final reprise, the audience is enormously attracted by what Tennessee Williams called the "plastic theatre" (Williams 213). The use of musical expression complements the textual version of the play creating a more lucid production. …

…sounds contribute to the musical motifs that underlie and support the overall theme that Miller is addressing. From the conflicting nature of the flute to the controversy of whistling, Miller magically addresses the disillusionment of the American dream through Willy Loman. Barnet, Berman, Burto, and William E. Cain. "Death of a Salesman." An Introduction to Literature. New York: 1997.Williams, Tennessee. "Production Notes of Plays, The Theatre of Tennessee Williams, vol. I. New York: New Directions, 1971.