RHE: Lesson - Rhetoric in Theater

A photograph of the author and playwright Arthur Miller.Rhetoric in Theater

You’ve spent time learning about rhetorical strategies and how they are used in different time periods, from Shakespeare’s day to 19th century America. The 20th century saw a resurgence in theatrical production that highlighted some of greatest American dramatists, and these writers also made use of rhetorical strategies. One such playwright is Arthur Miller.

About the Author

Arthur Miller was one of the most well-known dramatists of the 20th century. Two of his famous works include The Crucible and Death of a Salesman. These plays were inspired by Miller’s own personal life and his struggles.

Death of a Salesman

At this point in the course, you will need to understand the text for Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman. There are a few ways to achieve this understanding:

  • Borrow/purchase a copy of the play. Death of a Salesman should be available at your school or local library, or it can be purchased from various booksellers.
  • Below, we have included a movie version of the play from 1951. If you search online, you can likely find many staged performances as well.
  • Listen to the play. Much like the written version, you can find an audio version to listen to as an audiobook.

Watch Death of a Salesman

The following video was shared under a Creative Commons license via Morningside Movies on YouTube. We are sharing it under the same license. This version is a film, rather than a stage production, but follows the plot and text of the original play.

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