The Price

by Arthur Miller

Now a Broadway play starring Mark Ruffalo, Tony Shalhoub, Danny DeVito, and Jessica Hecht, Miller’s riveting story about family, sacrifice, and the struggle to make peace with the past.

Years after an angry breakup, Victor and Walter Franz are reunited by the death of their father. As they sort through his possessions in an old brownstone attic, the memories evoked by his belongings stir up old hostilities. The Price was nominated for two Tony Awards, including best play.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Classics, Fiction, Theatre, American, Audiobook

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1968

About the author

Works of American playwright Arthur Asher Miller include Death of a Salesman (1949), for which he won a Pulitzer Prize, and The Crucible (1953).


This essayist, a prominent figure in literature and cinema for over 61 years, composed a wide variety, such as celebrated A View from the Bridge and All My Sons , still studied and performed worldwide. Miller often in the public eye most famously refused to give evidence to the un-American activities committee of the House of Representatives, received award for drama, and married Marilyn Monroe. People at the time considered the greatest Miller.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_...

Reviews

[Luís · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arthur Miller's "The Price" is the story of estranged brothers Victor and Walter Franz, who are brought together at their father's death to sell his furniture and other effects. Victor is a policeman of limited means; Walter is a successful business owner. Over the years, they have grown apart. Walter's success makes Victor feel inadequate. Walter struggles to understand why Victor refuses to accept his help. The men try to find some understanding, but it is nearly impossible for them to communicate.

[Connie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play is about two brothers who come together to sell the family furniture to an antique dealer in Manhattan after their father's death. Victor is a policeman who gave up his college education in science to take care of his father after the stock market crash. Walter is a successful doctor who went on with his schooling, contributed almost nothing to help his father, but felt that his father had plenty of savings that he was not touching. Each brother is looking at the past and their father's needs in a different way--it's far from being black and white.

It's a well-written play about guilt and family dynamics. The furniture dealer adds some humor and down-to-earth wisdom. Some things make the play feel dated (since it was written in 1968) such as the value of money and historical events. But the emotions and family conflicts are just as true today as in 1968.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 1967 play by Arthur Miller I actually saw on tv in 1971 (!) with, I think, George C. Scott; not one of Miller’s best plays, but he’s one of America's best playwrights so it's still powerful. I heard it this time from LA Theater Works audio, with Richard Dreyfus in the leading role of Victor, who as a young man had given up going to college to support his father, who is now dead. He and his estranged older brother Walter get together to sell their father’s estate and look back at their lives and choices and different paths.

So there's the price of all this stuff, all of which has meaning for them, but then there's the price Victor paid in giving up schooling for his father as his older brother went on to get rich. Victor's wife Esther acts a bit like a chorus, or moderator in what is—- given the huge political events of 1967/68, a family drama about two brothers and their father. It's good, fine dialogue, and I of course read it through my life as I have brothers, I had a father, all that history and love and tension between us, in some ways, so I get it, but it's not as compelling as Miller's greatest plays.

[George K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Τρίτο θεατρικό έργο του Άρθουρ Μίλερ που διαβάζω, μετά τα "Ο θάνατος του εμποράκου" και "Ψηλά απ'τη γέφυρα" που διάβασα πέρυσι, μου φάνηκε και αυτό αρκετά ενδιαφέρον και καλογραμμένο, με συγκεκριμένα σχόλια για τις ανθρώπινες σχέσεις γενικότερα αλλά και τις οικογενειακές ειδικότερα. Πρόκειται για ένα σαφώς δραματικό έργο, με κάποιες πικρές και δύσκολες αλήθειες για τους συμμετέχοντες χαρακτήρες. Οι διάλογοι είναι πολύ φυσικοί και ανθρώπινοι, ενώ η όλη ατμόσφαιρα ίσως κάπως καταθλιπτική. Θα έλεγα ότι είναι ελάχιστα πιο αδύναμο σε σχέση με τα άλλα δυο θεατρικά έργα του Μίλερ που έχω διαβάσει, αλλά σίγουρα είναι ένα πολύ καλό έργο.

[Mary Slowik · Rating 4 out of 5]

December of Drama 2015, day fourteen

"Well you live, and you die. Didn't mean a thing.
Didn't you just waste all your time?"
--Modern Castles, by Digital Leather

It's not every review that I open with a lyric, but that one seemed appropriate. This must be Arthur Miller's most pessimistic play, and it's great. Everything from the brevity to the set design amplifies the dramatic impact of the climax, and then the denouement-- a return to the absurd normalcy of denial-- seems painfully realistic. I had an interesting bit of overlap today, that is, a coincidence: I was watching Fight Club, what with Ed Norton's character initially filling the void in his life with stuff, compulsively shopping, and then later came across this line in The Price,

What is the key word today? Disposable. The more you can throw it away, the more it's beautiful. The car, the furniture, the wife, the children-- everything today has to be disposable. Because you see the main thing today is-- shopping. Years ago a person, he was unhappy, he didn't know what to do with himself-- he'd go to church, start a revolution-- something. Today you're unhappy? Can't figure it out? What is the salvation? Go shopping.

I love it.

[Astraea · Rating 3 out of 5]

هر زندگی یه قیمتی داره و من اونو پرداخته ام....

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy Arthur Miller's work, but this one didn't really work for me.

The Price is a two act play that takes place in the same scene. Victor and Esther Franz are selling off furniture that once belonged to Victor's father. When his brother Walter shows up, the play takes a turn from talking about the monetary price, and the metaphorical one we pay for the ones we love.

The book was just a play about three angry characters that felt scorned by each of the other ones. Solomon was just trying to buy some furniture, and he got stuck in the middle of a family drama. I like the message of the story, but I think Miller could have gone about it better. It felt long and dragged out, and I just got tired of reading about them arguing.

If you're looking for a good play, literally any other Arthur Miller play would do. This one kind of just missed the mark for me.

[Keith Bruton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Price by Arthur Miller (1968)
.
★★★★★
.
Fantastic play by Arthur Miller. Up there with his best works and might be my favourite along with Incident at Vichy. The play touches on many themes which everyone can relate to from guilt, regret and responsibility.
.
I read the play and got to see it performed at the Gate Theatre, Dublin which was breathtaking. The cast put on a stunning display and the production was brilliant.
.
Plot: It is about family dynamics, the price of furniture and the price of one's decisions.

[Olivia (Stories For Coffee)]

“We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house.”
- Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller

“There was no love in this house.”
- The Price, Arthur Miller

Oof.

[Hasan Abbasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

یک خانه ی مستهلک و یک عالم اثاثیه ... همه چیز درباره ی این نمایش نامه در همین دو عنصر نهفته است ... دو برادر پس از سالها دوری و افتراق برای فروش وسایل خانه پدری به هم میرسند ... یکی موفق ، ثروتمند و بی قید و دیگری متوسط ، پوچ و اخلاق گرا ... برادران به شیوه ای نزدیک به شیوه ی هابیل و قابیل شروع به خانه تکانی می کنند ...

[Nasim · Rating 5 out of 5]

یکی از بهترین نمایشنامه‌هایی که خوندم.

ترجمه حسن ملکی - نشر بیدگل

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It really makes you think about life and the events we go through...

[TraceyL · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two brothers argue while selling off old furniture. Meh.

[Mahdi · Rating 4 out of 5]

نمایشنامه‌ی خوبی بود اما ترجمه‌ی جعفر میرزایی و مریم حسینی به شدت بد بود... لحن هیچ‌وقت یه دست نمی‌شد... مثلاً یه دیالوگ با لحن عامیانه شروع می‌شد و همون دیالوگ از کلمات و افعال کتابی و ادبی استفاده می‌کرد... بعضی جاها جملات با اینکه معنا رو می‌رسوند اما ترکیب‌بندی‌شون تو فارسی گنگ بود و انگار با دیکشنری گوگل ماشینی ترجمه شده... غلط‌های نگارشی و املایی هم که فراوان بود... ایراد هـ کسره چندین‌بار تکرار شد... «راجع به» همه جا «راجب» نوشته بود... حتی مشکلات تایپی تو یک کلمه بارها تکرار شده بود و انگار هیچ‌کس متن رو قبل چاپ نگاه نکرده... نسخه‌ی فارسی‌ش شکنجه‌کننده بود.

[Melika_ara · Rating 3 out of 5]

سالمون: این روزا کلیدواژه چیه؟ یه بار مصرف.هرچیزی بیشتر دورانداختنی باشه،زیباتر به نظر میرسه.ماشین،مبلمان،زن، بچه... همه چیز باید یه بار مصرف باشه.چون میدونی اصلی ترین موضوع این روزا خرید کردنه.سال ها پیش اگه کسی ناراحت بود نمیدونست با خودش چیکار باید بکنه... شاید به کلیسا میرفت،شاید انقلابی رو شروع میکرد... یه چیزی در هرصورت.امروزه،خوشبخت نیستی؟نمی تونی وگیج و سردرگمی؟ سعادت چیه؟ برو خرید.

[Sookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miller puts his characters right at the brink of tragedy and rakes up a confrontation where the involved people are at their most vulnerable. Having lost their father, Walter and Victor reunite after decade of silence and go toe-to-toe with the choices they ended up making over the course of their lives.
The play starts with a furniture appraiser trying to make way with a lesser quote as Victor explains the pieces owned by his parents. Quickly understanding the dynamic between Victor and his wife Esther, Solomon, the appraiser under quotes. Victor wants to settle things down quickly and as that seems to be his nature, Solomon insists on closing the deal as soon as possible. Victor's brother Walter enters when curtain lifts for second act. Through the conversations between Victor and Walter, Victor's deep rooted bitterness for his brother and his recently deceased father surfaces.
The brothers finally have the talk that they should have had years ago when both took path what they seemed ideal. Victor quits college without thinking through the weight of his decision or talking with his brother. Walter alienates his brother and maintains cryptic responses to Victor's questions during their father's sick days.
Victor and Walter talk about responsibility to parents, the debt every child owes to their parents and the strain the relationship can put on the children. Miller strips off every good thing about the two men and bares their emotional vulnerability naked for everyone to see, judge. Its an excellent play that's sad and hopeless and realistic.

[mohammad · Rating 4 out of 5]

سالمون(سمسار): چون می‌دونه این اسباب و اثاثیه هیچ وقت قرار نیست بشکنن یا بلایی سرشون بیاد
ویکتور: آه، خواهش می‌کنم بس کن دیگه ! می‌شه لطفا؟ یه‌کم انصاف داشته باش
سالمون: پسرم، تو روان‌شناسیشو نمی‌دونی! اگه نشکنن که دیگه احتمالات و فرصت‌های بعدی نخواهد بود. برای مثال این میز مال تو گوش بده!(روی میز ضربه می‌زند) شما نمی‌تونی اینو حکرکت بدی. وقتی یه مرد سر این میز می‌شینه نه تنها می‌فهمه که ازدواج کرده، بلکه باید متاهل هم باقی بمونه.....هیچ فرصت و امکان دیگه‌ای وجود نداره.
(ویکتور میخندد)
می‌خندی، من دارم دقیقا واقعیتو بهت می‌گم. این روزا کلید واژه چیه؟ یه‌بار مصرف. هر چیزی بیشتر دور انداختنی باشه، زیباتر به نظر می‌رسه. ماشین، مبلمان، زن، بچه... همه چیز باید یه‌بار مصرف باشه. چون میدونی اصلی‌ترین موضوع این روزا... خرید کردنه. سال‌ها پیش اگه کسی ناراحت بود نمی‌دونست با خودش چی‌کار باید بکنه... شاید به کلیسا می‌رفت، شاید انقلابی رو شروع می‌کرد....یه چیزی در هر صورت. امروزه، خوشبخت نیستی؟ نمی‌تونی و گیج و سردرگمی؟ سعادت چیه؟
برو خرید

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Price" of the title is the legacy of the past. The past is dotted with choices, and the results of these choices govern the present.

"You have to make decisions," as one of the characters says here, "and you never know what's what until it's too late."

[Mohammed Fawzy (BookTuber) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ترجمة هايلة للراحل لويس جريس لأرثر ملير مسرحية نوعا ما كوميدية و ساخرة علي النظم الرأسمالية العفنة و مليئة بالأمل و الشجاع وعدم حب انفس والتضحية بجد تستاهل 5 نجوم

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 This is one of the few Miller plays I hadn't read or seen, but the imminent Broadway revival impelled me to check it out. Am actually a bit surprised any producers would venture to mount it these days (although both recent NYC Miller revivals did well, I guess). The work, although a classic example of the 'well-made play', is very talky and didactic, and a wee bit inscrutable, as people talk AROUND the main issues without them ever becoming crystal clear (at least to me) ... but I guess they are counting on the name cast (Mark Ruffalo, Tony Shalhoub and Danny DeVito) to bring them in - and it IS still relevant, since it's all about whether one sacrifices for the good of others (Ruffalo's character), or is a money grubbing all-for-me-first type (Shalhoub).  But DeVito's character is a borderline offensive Jewish stereotype (a cheap shyster appraiser/swindler with a thick accent)  ... surprised at Miller 'mocking' one of his own, so that knocked off half a star for me.  

[Stephen Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Price" is my favorite of all the plays I've read by Arthur Miller thus far. Within this drama, the characters are flawed, contradictory, disturbed, frustrated, in denial, good, and bad. Because I'm the same age as the protagonist / antagonist, Victor, I viscerally relate to the dilemma / mid-life crisis he's experiencing. Is it too late for that second chance--too late for Victor to actually make something of himself as he conceived when he was young and not so disillusioned? There's not much time left to act--the clock is ticking. The power struggle between the two brothers, Victor and Walter, manifests quite civilly--though the rage simmers, it is rarely violent. It could be said that Walter, the more "successful" of the two brothers, is also the more secure of the two. Walter has always known what he wanted and he goes for it; nothing stops him. Whereas Victor, being less sure, is propped up by the presence of his wife, Esther--who "thinks" for Victor. It's as if Esther functions as Victor's superego; perhaps Victor is not strong enough to face Walter on his own. Everything crystallizes in Act II (Walter appears at the end of Act I); in Act I, skeptical Victor is getting ripped off by Solomon, the appraiser. That transaction sums up the entire problem with Victor's life--he's a guy who's always settling, never risking for the potentially big payoff. On the other hand, possibly Solomon is doing Victor a favor, taking this junk furniture off his hands--maybe Solomon is relieving Victor of that chip on his shoulder he's been carrying around for all those years. In the final scene of Act II of "The Price", Solomon laughs hysterically and uncontrollably by himself, relieved of yet another day of insidious wheeling and dealing. Is he a madman? A saint? Or both? Postscriptum--Although the play is divided into two acts, in the Author's Production Note on the final page of this text, Miller writes that " ..... an unbroken performance is preferable".

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the valuation of their inheritance, two brothers fight - not for money, but for memory. Unequal information reduces experience to a neat narrative which cannot accept any new evidence. If a loan had not been refused then one of the brothers may have avoided the police force and gone to university instead. Or, had the loan already been implicitly denied by his reluctance to leave his ageing, but immoral, father? And, even if there was such a thing as subjective truth, would it alter either reality?

“All these years we’ve been saying, once we get the pension we’re going to start to live… It’s like pushing against a door for twenty-five years and suddenly it opens… and we stand there.”

They have each given themselves over to righteousness, relying on self-invention and fabrications, never managing to deceive anyone more than themselves. Perhaps this is why it is only the salesman who, with a healthy dose of ironic distance, remains unscathed. Going broke no more than a hiccup to a man who puts no faith in the system, but to the father… “Well, some men don’t bounce, you know”?

[L.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play explores the humanity of the two brothers who both come from different moral dilemmas. What each want is to reclaim the opportunities lost to time and to shake off the regret and guilt that they both harbor. That's impossible of course, so in the face of this impossibility they rage at each other to avoid the crushing reality of the harsh truth.

I would love to see this play performed.

[Illiterate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miller suggests the roles we get trapped in are the prices we pay for our past decisions.

[Anton Segers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bij momenten aangrijpende radioversie van dit later werk van Arthur Miller over hoe kapitalisme en hebzucht families uiteen kunnen halen.
Krachtig conflictdrama met knappe dialogen, genuanceerd en eerlijk, maar die voor een modern oor soms te expliciet en randje melodramatisch klinken.

[Samuel Felton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow do I love Miller. I think there is a beauty in how accessible Miller is to the average reader. Though it isn’t one of his most well known plays, the deeper meaning behind this play hits home. I honestly didn’t want the play to end.

[Rodrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus I loved this masterpiece,
"you believe what you see, maybe that's why you are still going"

[Paul Gaya Ochieng Simeon Juma · Rating 2 out of 5]

People who love money don’t give it away.

When our parents die. This novel is about when our parents die. Siblings turn against each other because of money. Others use it as the time to catch up and see one another. Depressing. The scene opens with Victor and Esther. The former has not talked with his brother for 16 years. Walter, that is his brother’s name. He is successful, influential, and selfish. He is the one who does not give money away easily. Family dynamics. Esther is Victor’s wife and they are poor. Money is always on their minds. Talking about it and dreaming about it. Especially Esther, she can’t help but compare her situation with others. Victor on the other hand has learned to content himself with what he has. Great! But, Esther is a drunkard.

The only thing you can do today without a license is you’ll go up the elevator and jump out the window.

Solomon says that. He is comparing his days with the days that are. The difference. He is ninety years old and has seen it all. He talks to people but no so much. That is how society is. Modern society. People leave. When they call, it is about a divorce or somebody that is now dead.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this two-act play, brothers Victor and Walter Franz, estranged for sixteen years, meet to dispose of their parents' belongings; the setting is the attic of a brownstone slated for demolition, peripheral characters are Esther, Victor's wife, and Gregory Solomon, the aging dealer who has come to make them an offer for the furniture.

Walter and Victor have led very different lives, the former as a wealthy and successful surgeon, the latter as a police officer struggling to make ends meet. But Victor, too, had dreams of college and a career in science, which he abandoned in order to support his father, who had been devastated by the combined tragedies of his wife's death and the 1929 stock market crash.

Walter wishes to extend the hand of friendship, to overcome their shared past resentments; sadly, Victor cannot see Walter as anything but the son who did as he pleased, while he, himself, did as duty dictated. The brothers' perspectives on their family and their lives are vastly different, and their exchanges, combined with the observations of Esther and Solomon, give rise to compelling questions: What is true and what are the lies we tell ourselves? And if we could see the difference, how would it affect our choices, if at all?

In his stage notes, Arthur Miller recommends that the play be viewed as one continuous act - I would suggest reading it in the same fashion. Excellent, sad, frustrating, thought-provoking.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a family member dies, the items left over represent more than just furniture and knickknacks. For Victor and his brother Walter, there was a price paid for everything but the cost was much more significant. The two must overcome their bitterness in order to settle the estate of their dead parents but they find that the past has a way of creeping into the present in life-altering ways.