willy loman american dream essay

The American Dream in 'Death of a Salesman'

What is the American Dream? It depends on which character you ask

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Some may argue that the appeal of Arthur Miller 's play "Death of a Salesman" is the struggle each character encounters as they try to pursue and define their American Dream.

The "rags to riches" idea—where hard work and persistence, coupled with high hopes and inner and outer struggles that often accompany it, should lead to success—seems timelessly relatable and represents one of the central themes of the story.

Miller fabricated the character of a salesman without an identified product, and the audience connects with him that much more.

Creating a worker broken by a vague, unfeeling industry stems from the playwright’s socialist leanings, and it has often been said that " Death of a Salesman " is a harsh criticism of the American Dream. However, according to Miller, the play is not necessarily a critique of the American Dream as our forefathers thought of it.

Rather, what it condemns is the confusion that enters when people take the material success for the end-all-be-all and elevate it above spirituality, connection with nature, and, most importantly, relationships with others.

Willy Loman’s American Dream

To the protagonist of "Death of a Salesman," the American Dream is the ability to become prosperous by mere charisma.

Willy believes that charming personality, and not necessarily hard work and innovation, is the key to success. Time and again, he wants to make sure his boys are well-liked and popular. For example, when his son Biff confesses to making fun of his math teacher’s lisp, Willy is more concerned with how Biff’s classmates react than with the morality of Biff's action:

BIFF: I Crossed my eyes and talked with a lithp.​​

WILLY [laughing]: You did? The kids like it?

BIFF: They nearly died laughing!

Of course, Willy’s version of the American Dream never pans out:

• Despite his son’s popularity in high school, Biff grows up to be a drifter and a ranch-hand.
• Willy’s own career falters as his sales ability flat-lines.
• When he tries to use “personality” to ask his boss for a raise, he gets fired instead.

Willy is very much concerned with being somebody and paying off his mortgage, which in themselves aren't necessarily bad goals. His tragic flaw is that he fails to recognize the love and devotion that surround him and elevates the goals prescribed by society above all else.

Ben’s American Dream

One person Willy really admires and wishes he was more like is his older brother Ben. In a way, Ben embodies the original American Dream—the ability to start with nothing and somehow make a fortune:

BEN [ giving great weight to each word, and with a certain vicious audacity ]: William, when I walked into the jungle, I was seventeen. When I walked out I was twenty-one. And, by God, I was rich!

Willy is envious of his brother’s success and machismo. But Willy’s wife Linda , one of the characters who can actually distinguish from true and superficial values, is frightened and concerned when Ben stops by for a brief visit. To her, he represents wildness and danger.

This is displayed when Ben horses around with his nephew Biff. Just as Biff starts to win their sparring match, Ben trips the boy and stands over him with the “point of his umbrella poised at Biff’s eye.”

Ben’s character signifies that a few people can achieve the “rags to riches” version of the American Dream. Yet, Miller’s play also suggests that one must be ruthless (or at least a bit wild) in order to achieve it.

Happy's American Dream

When it comes to Willy's sons, they each appear to have inherited a different side of Willy. Happy, despite being a more static and one-sided character, is following in Willy's footsteps of self-delusion and pretenses. He is a shallow character who is content with going from job to job, as long as he has some income and can devote himself to his female interests.

Charley's and Bernard's American Dream

Willy's neighbor Charley and his son Bernard stand in opposition to Loman's family's ideals. The protagonist frequently puts both of them down, promising his sons that they will do better in life than their neighbors because they look better and are more liked.

Willy: That’s just what I mean, Bernard can get the best marks in school, y’understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y’understand, you are going to be five times ahead of him. That’s why I thank Almighty God you’re both built like Adonises. Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want. You take me, for instance. I never have to wait in line to see a buyer.

Yet, it is Charley who has his own business and not Willy. And it is Bernard's seriousness about school that ensured his future success, which is in stark contrast with the paths of the Loman brothers. Instead, Charley and Bernard are both honest, caring, and hard-working without the unnecessary bravado. They demonstrate that with the right attitude, the American Dream is indeed achievable.

Biff’s American Dream

Biff is one of the most complex characters in this play . Although he has felt confused and angry since discovering his father’s infidelity, Biff Loman does have the potential to pursue the “right” dream—if only he could resolve his inner conflict.

Biff is pulled by two different dreams. One is that of his father’s world of business, sales, and capitalism. Biff is captured by his love and admiration for his father and struggles to decide what is the right way to live. On the other hand, he also inherited his father's sense of poetry and love for the natural life that Willy didn't allow to fully develop. And so Biff dreams of nature, the great outdoors, and working with his hands.

Biff explains this tension to his brother when he talks about both the appeal and the angst of working on a ranch:

BIFF: There’s nothing more inspiring or—beautiful than the sight of a mare and a new colt. And it’s cool there now, see? Texas is cool now, and it’s spring. And whenever spring comes to where I am, I suddenly get the feeling, my God, I’m not getting anywhere! What the hell am I doing, playing around with horses, twenty-eight dollars a week! I’m thirty-four years old. I oughta be makin’ my future. That’s when I come running home.

By the end of the play, Biff realizes that his father had the “wrong” dream. He knows that Willy was great with his hands (he built their garage and put up a new ceiling), and Biff believes that Willy should have been a carpenter or should have lived in another, more rustic part of the country.

But instead, Willy pursued an empty life. He sold nameless, unidentified products, and watched his American Dream fall apart.

During the funeral of his father, Biff decides that he will not allow the same thing to happen to himself. He turns away from Willy’s dream and, presumably, returns to the countryside, where good, old-fashioned manual labor will ultimately make his restless soul content.

• Matthew C. Roudane, Conversations with Arthur Miller. Jackson, Mississippi, 1987, p. 15.
• Bigsby, Christopher. Introduction. Death of a Salesman: Certain Private Conversations in Two Acts and a Requiem by Arthur Miller, Penguin Books, 1999, pp. vii-xxvii.
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Willy Loman and the American Dream Essay

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Introduction

Fuzzy definition, elusiveness of the dream, need for a more personal dream.

Anyone growing up in America, and many who only dream of growing up there, seems to have an idea of a promised ‘American Dream’ that floats in virtual space like a tasty dessert one only achieves if they have performed well. Although each person has a different idea of exactly what form that dessert make take – a bowl of fruit and cream, a brownie covered in fudge, ice cream and apple pie – there is a shared concept of something enticingly sweet, highly desirable, reasonably attainable and intended just for them. A great deal of energy and attention is given to the concept of the American Dream, but while most people seem to have this concept of a tantalizing dessert drifting just outside of their reach, few have any clue as to just what that dessert might look like for them. Because the concept seems to be universally understood, very few people discuss the idea of the American Dream to any great extent, but without any form of real definition, it remains puzzling just how anyone might be able to determine when or if they have ever reached it. Like the dessert that is sweet, desirable and attainable, the American Dream has some common elements such as a house, leisure time and the natural result of average effort, yet each individual must realize that their idea of home and their concept of leisure might be vastly different from another person’s. Without actually defining what comprises the individual dream, it is impossible to discover it just as a lack of definition regarding what comprises an elephant might lead one to chase a rhinoceros instead as it is also a large grey creature with four legs. In his play, Death of a Salesman , playwright Arthur Miller presents the story of Willy Loman and his last ditch efforts to achieve the American Dream he envisions for himself and his family. This paper argues that Miller’s play illustrates the problem of fuzzy definition, discovers the actual elusiveness of the American Dream as a common treat and that the play itself argues for an adjustment of our concepts of this term in favor of something more personal.

Throughout Miller’s play, Willy continues to compare himself to a vague notion he has of the American Dream. The idea of the house being an integral part of the Dream is brought in almost immediately as Willy observes to his wife “Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there’s nobody to live in it” (4). This statement reveals the emptiness Willy has found in the accomplishment of providing his family with a home of their own as his sons prepare to leave again. As Linda tries to soothe him, he reminds her “some people accomplish something” (4) indicating that simply owning a home and raising a family isn’t enough to give him the sense of satisfaction he’d thought he’d have at this point in his life. As he drifts in and out of his memories, Willy slowly reveals that while he had a vague notion of the American Dream as including the house and kids, there was also a significant element of something beyond this that equals ‘success’. It can be seen that Willy’s ideas are flawed as he talks with his boys in several memory scenes in which he is seen to be attempting to inflate his own importance and the prestige of his job, “they know me boys, they know me up and down New England. The finest people. And when I bring you fellas up, there’ll be open sesame for all of us, ‘cause one thing, boys: I have friends. I can park my car on any street in New England, and the cops protect it like their own” (18). As a result of his boasting, a great deal of what his family knows about Willy is based upon the image he feels he must portray of himself in order to bring himself in line with his fuzzy notion of the American Dream figure. At the same time, Willy reveals his impression of successful people lies in the degree to which he can impress others rather than anything tangible or helpful for society.

Although Willy seems to have a very unclear idea of what comprises the American Dream, his family seems clear in their belief in him as the epitome of the American man. Throughout the play, it can be seen where Willy’s wife or children have attempted to assure him that his importance to them has little or nothing to do with his ability to impress others or his level of financial success. All they want to do is spend time with him. The boys are seen, in Willy’s flashbacks, to constantly beg him to take them with him on his sales trips while Linda continuously works to reassure him and support him in everything that he does. “He’s the dearest man in the world to me, and I won’t have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue” (38), Linda tells Biff in adulthood. Unfortunately, Willy is incapable of abandoning the fuzzy ideas of his own youth regarding what makes a man great and thus remains trapped in a failed plan that has little or no hope of success. As he is finally brought to the realization that his slipping memory means he cannot work anymore, Willy finds himself grasping for a foundation within his family that cannot now be developed because of the way he has kept his true self hidden behind appearances. He must continue to keep up appearances as a great man in front of his sons even as his wife gently reminds him of the bills that need to be paid. This relationship he shares with his wife only serves to remind him of how much he owes her, telling her “you’re my foundation and my support” (18) even when he just finished belittling her ideas. Willy’s ideas of the American Dream seem to involve a strong, completely self-contained man who sacrifices all of his own inclinations in favor of providing his family with a decent house, the appropriate educational experiences and the money they will need to live on after he retires or dies, yet he has been unable to attain this status following the prescribed plan of working steadily and faithfully for a single employer. By exposing Willy’s failure, Miller points out that the American Dream as it is generally understood provides no assurances of success in any way even if it can be clearly defined by a man’s actions.

Throughout the play, there is little option for Willy to do anything other than what he does within the context of his personality and understanding of the American Dream. His absolute belief in the American ideal in which a father lived by certain principles to provide his family with their basic material needs is inextricably tied to his ideas of his status within the family unit itself. From Willy’s perspective, the only way to attain familial success is to first obtain business success. With the type of business success discovered by his brother, Ben, who walked into the jungle a poor man and walked out a diamond millionaire at the age of 21, a man could then work to develop binding relationships between himself and the family his money will support. Upon realizing he had not achieved business success, though, Willy can clearly not consider himself to have achieved any degree of familial success. This is emphasized in his continued disparagement of his son’s choices in life. His comments on Biff leave little room for doubt regarding Willy’s disappointment in his older son: “Not finding yourself at the age of thirty-four is a disgrace!” (5) while his rants at Happy seem to be directed more toward his own failures: “You’ll retire me for life on seventy dollars a week? And your women and your car and your apartment, and you’ll retire me for life!” (27). Willy’s belief that his family will receive a $20,000 life insurance benefit following his suicide is the only answer he can discover to finally achieve at least the first half of his concept of the American Dream. By clearing this hurdle, it is in only in his final moments of life that Willy is at last able to understand that his family, particularly Biff, really loved him all along simply because he was Willy. Because these are the final moments of his life, though, Willy is never able to directly benefit from this new appreciation of his life just as his death by suicide automatically voids the life insurance policy, thus leaving his family in greater debt than they had been before.

Through the story of Willy Loman, Arthur Miller illustrates that the American Dream everyone chases after is insufficiently defined to foster any real success. Willy thinks he knows what he means by the term – a house, a family, a career and a high level of respect among his peers – a definition that many could agree upon. However, he has an innate sense that this is not really enough; that what he really wants has more to do with loving relationships with others rather than awed respect or subservient dependence. This sense seems to be fueled by an understanding that the material accomplishments are not as fulfilling as he’d imagined. Unfortunately for Willy, he has bought into the concept that there is one sure way to attain the Dream, by remaining faithful to a given company for a number of years, accumulating respect and owed favors, until comfortable retirement and one can rest in ease in the love and joy of the family built. Although the American Dream is thought to be relatively easy to attain, Miller’s play illustrates how elusive it truly is. Finally, in Willy’s last moments, Miller argues that the individual needs to follow a more personal dream rather than buying into such a general concept as an American Dream. This argument for a personal dream is made all the stronger for Miller’s depiction of it as both insufficiently defined to provide an accurate measurement for success in Willy’s struggle for assessment and more elusive than one might think in Willy’s faithfulness to the ‘plan’ yet failure in attaining the Dream.

Miller, Arthur. (1949). Death of a Salesman. New York: Viking Press.

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Death of a Salesman

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The American Dream that anyone can achieve financial success and material comfort lies at the heart of Death of a Salesman . Various secondary characters achieve the Dream in different ways: Ben goes off into the wilderness of Alaska and Africa and lucks into wealth by discovering a diamond mine; Howard Wagner inherits his Dream through his father's company; while Bernard , who seemed a studious bore as a child, becomes a successful lawyer through hard work. Willy Loman 's version of the Dream, which has been influenced by his brother Ben's success, is that any man who is manly, good looking, charismatic, and well-liked deserves success and will naturally achieve it.

Over the course of his lifetime, Willy and his sons fall short of the impossible standards of this dream. But the real tragedy of the play is not that Willy fails to achieve the financial success promised in his American dream, but rather that he buys into the dream so thoroughly that he ignores the tangible things around him, such as the love of his family, while pursuing the success he hopes will bring his family security. By sacrificing himself at the end of the play in order to get his family the money from his life insurance policy, Willy literally kills himself for money. In the process, he demonstrates that the American dream, while a powerful vehicle of aspiration, can also turn a human being into a product or commodity whose sole value is his financial worth.

The American Dream ThemeTracker

The American Dream Quotes in Death of a Salesman

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Discuss the theme of the American Dream in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman

Table of Contents

Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman” is a thought-provoking exploration of the American Dream and its disillusionment. Set in the late 1940s, the play portrays the life of Willy Loman, a struggling salesman who firmly believes in the promise of the American Dream. 

The theme of American Dream in Death of a Salesman:- However, as the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the pursuit of success and material wealth can lead to despair and personal downfall. This essay aims to delve into the theme of the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman” and analyze how Miller challenges the idealized notion of success in post-war America.

1. Illusion vs. Reality: The central conflict in “Death of a Salesman” revolves around the dichotomy between illusion and reality. Willy Loman epitomizes the American Dream, driven by the belief that charisma and likeability are enough to achieve success. He idolizes the idea of being “well-liked,” equating it with prosperity and popularity. However, the play exposes the hollowness of these illusions. Willy’s relentless pursuit of the American Dream blinds him to the harsh realities of his life, leaving him trapped in a cycle of self-deception and disillusionment.

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2. The Pursuit of Success: Willy Loman embodies the relentless pursuit of success that characterizes the American Dream. He is convinced that financial success and popularity are the ultimate measures of a person’s worth. Willy’s fixation on the material trappings of success leads him to prioritize appearance over substance, valuing superficial charm over hard work. 

The theme of American Dream in Death of a Salesman:- However, Miller challenges this notion, showing that the American Dream is an unattainable goal for most individuals and can ultimately lead to emotional and psychological ruin.

3. The Corrupting Influence of Capitalism: In “Death of a Salesman,” Miller critiques the capitalist system and its impact on individuals’ lives. The play highlights how the commodification of human relationships and the relentless pursuit of profit erode human values and personal integrity. Willy Loman’s constant need to sell and make money reduces his relationships to transactions, leaving him emotionally detached from his family and friends. 

The theme of American Dream in Death of a Salesman:- Miller suggests that the American Dream, as promoted by capitalism, fosters a dehumanizing environment where individuals are reduced to mere commodities.

4. The Allure of the Past: One of the prominent themes in the play is the allure of the past and the failure to adapt to changing times. Willy clings to memories of past success, desperately trying to relive his glory days. He constantly reminisces about his earlier achievements, such as his encounters with the renowned salesman Dave Singleman. However, as the world changes and Willy’s career declines, his reliance on the past becomes a burden. Miller critiques the notion that past accomplishments alone can ensure a successful future, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the present.

5. The Demise of the Family Unit: Another significant aspect of the American Dream in “Death of a Salesman” is the disintegration of the family unit. The Loman family is portrayed as fractured and dysfunctional, with strained relationships and constant tension. Willy’s obsession with success drives a wedge between him and his sons, Biff and Happy, who struggle to meet their father’s expectations. The play suggests that the pursuit of the American Dream often comes at the cost of personal relationships and family bonds, leading to isolation and unhappiness.

Death of a Salesman “Summary”

“Death of a Salesman” is a renowned play written by Arthur Miller, first performed in 1949. It delves into the life of Willy Loman, a struggling salesman in post-war America, and explores themes of the American Dream, disillusionment, and the human condition. 

The theme of American Dream in Death of a Salesman:- The play presents a critique of the capitalist society and examines the destructive effects of blind ambition, societal expectations, and the pursuit of material success. Through the tragic story of Willy Loman, Miller provides a thought-provoking portrayal of the complexities and shortcomings of the American Dream and the human desire for recognition and validation.

The American Dream is a central theme in “Death of a Salesman.” Willy Loman, a dedicated but unsuccessful salesman, believes in the myth that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and charisma. He spends his life chasing the illusion of the American Dream, convinced that wealth and popularity will lead to happiness and fulfillment. 

The theme of American Dream in Death of a Salesman:- However, as the play unfolds, it becomes clear that the American Dream is unattainable for Willy and his family. The play challenges the notion of the American Dream as a one-size-fits-all concept, highlighting its flaws and the pitfalls of blindly pursuing material success.

Disillusionment is another prominent theme in the play. As Willy struggles with financial instability and a deteriorating mental state, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with his life. He realizes that his efforts have not led to the success he had envisioned and that his dreams are shattered. 

The theme of American Dream in Death of a Salesman:- This disillusionment not only affects Willy but also permeates the lives of his sons, Happy and Biff. The play explores the consequences of shattered dreams, the emptiness that follows, and the struggle to find meaning in a society that places excessive value on material wealth.

The play also delves into the human condition and the complexities of the individual’s relationship with society. Willy Loman grapples with feelings of inadequacy and a desperate need for validation and recognition. He measures his self-worth based on societal expectations and the opinions of others. 

The theme of American Dream in Death of a Salesman:- Miller critiques the pressure placed on individuals to conform to societal norms and ideals, highlighting the damaging effects it can have on mental health and personal well-being. Willy’s internal struggle represents the universal human desire for acceptance and the profound impact it can have on one’s identity and sense of self.

Additionally, “Death of a Salesman” examines the dynamics of family relationships and the strains caused by unfulfilled dreams and societal pressures. The strained relationship between Willy and his sons, Biff and Happy, reflects the complexities of generational expectations and the tension between the pursuit of personal dreams and the desire to live up to societal standards. The play explores themes of familial loyalty, forgiveness, and the consequences of unmet expectations within the family unit.

Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” delves into the theme of the American Dream and challenges the idealized notion of success in post-war America. Through the character of Willy Loman, Miller presents a critique of the relentless pursuit of material wealth, the illusory nature of success, and the detrimental effects of capitalism on personal relationships. Willy’s belief in the American Dream blinds him to the realities of his life, leading to a cycle of self-deception and disillusionment.

The theme of American Dream in Death of a Salesman:- The play highlights the tension between illusion and reality, demonstrating that the pursuit of success does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment. Willy’s fixation on appearance and likeability undermines the value of hard work and authenticity. Miller suggests that the American Dream, as promoted by capitalist society, reduces individuals to commodities and erodes human values.

Moreover, “Death of a Salesman” explores the allure of the past and the failure to adapt to changing times. Willy’s inability to let go of past achievements impedes his ability to navigate the present, ultimately leading to his downfall. Miller critiques the notion that past accomplishments alone can ensure a successful future, emphasizing the importance of adaptation and growth.

The theme of American Dream in Death of a Salesman:- Additionally, the play portrays the disintegration of the family unit as a consequence of the pursuit of the American Dream. Willy’s obsession with success drives a wedge between him and his sons, highlighting the sacrifices made in the name of personal ambition. The play suggests that the pursuit of material wealth often comes at the cost of personal relationships and family bonds, leading to isolation and unhappiness.

In “Death of a Salesman,” Miller presents a thought-provoking examination of the American Dream, challenging its ideals and exposing its flaws. The play serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the importance of authenticity, human connection, and the need to redefine success beyond material wealth. Miller’s exploration of these themes continues to resonate, inviting audiences to question the true meaning and value of the American Dream in the pursuit of a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Q: Who is the author of “Death of a Salesman”? 

A: The author of “Death of a Salesman” is Arthur Miller.

Q: When was “Death of a Salesman” first performed? 

A: “Death of a Salesman” premiered on Broadway on February 10, 1949.

Q: Is “Death of a Salesman” based on a true story? 

A: “Death of a Salesman” is not based on a specific true story, but it reflects the struggles and disillusionment experienced by many individuals in post-war America.

Q: What is the American Dream?

 A: The American Dream is a concept that suggests that every individual in the United States has the opportunity to achieve success, prosperity, and upward social mobility through hard work, determination, and self-motivation.

Q: How does “Death of a Salesman” critique the American Dream? 

A: “Death of a Salesman” critiques the American Dream by highlighting the illusory nature of success, the corrupting influence of capitalism, the allure of the past, and the impact of the pursuit of success on personal relationships and family dynamics. The play challenges the idealized notion of the American Dream and suggests that it can lead to disillusionment and personal downfall.

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Willy Loman – American Dream

Willy Loman is a man on a mission. His purpose in life is to achieve a false sense of the “American Dream,” but is this what Willy Loman really wants? In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller analyzes the American Dream by portraying to us a few days in the life of a washed up salesman named Willy Loman. The American Dream is a definite goal of many people, meaning something different to everyone. Willy’s version is different from most people though; his is based more on being well-liked and achieving monetary successes rather than achieving something that will make him happy.

Willy never becomes part of the “American Dream” because he never follows his true dreams and aspirations. He chooses a career that will make him money, but not much, rather than a career that he will enjoy. This is the big mistake that Willy makes in his life and in the end he never overcomes it. Willy never becomes part of the American Dream because he tries to become successful and wealthy rather than spending his life doing something that would bring him and his family joy.

The American Dream ” is a term used to summarize the basic ideals held by the American public. Death of a Salesman focuses on this dream and analyses the dreams significance in the American social order. The basic principal behind the “American Dream” is the belief that if people have an aspiration and they work for it they will achieve their dreams. Furthermore, what lies at the heart of the American Dream is the desire to achieve wealth and power based on one’s looks and appearance rather than the value and quality of their work.

The American Dream is supposedly what everyone wants to end up with; a family, a house, a car and a well paying job. The problem is that not everyone wants these things. People all over the world desire to immigrate to America because they have heard of this “American Dream” and they want to be a part of a country that makes it seem so easy to make a fortune. The problem with this dream is the theory at the basis of it; the fact that success is not assured, but if people work for their dreams they will eventually achieve them.

People can work their entire lives thinking that they are contributing to humanity when in fact they are not. They believe that as long as they put something into civilization, at the end of their lives they will receive something in return. Many times this is simply not the way things work out. If people work their entire lives to achieve something that they can enjoy at the end of their life , they will miss the entire journey in between. “The American Dream” is the basis of American culture although some ideals at the heart of it seem incorrect.

Willy Loman’s dream is an adaptation of the American Dream. Willy believes that the only things that are important in life are the successes that he achieved and the amount of friends that he made. This is easily illustrated when Willy says ” It’s who you know and the smile on your face! … and that’s the wonder, the wonder of this country, that a man can end with diamonds here on the basis of being liked! ” (Movie). Success is an important part of the American dream, but Willy puts too much importance on the need to achieve success.

He neglects the needs of his family and chooses to remain in the mindset that as long as he is well liked he will achieve success. Although he has lost his ability to sell, Willy continues to believe that as long as he works hard good things will happen to him and his family. Willy’s wife Linda realizes this and conveys these thoughts to her sons when she says “He drives seven hundred miles, and when he gets there no one knows him anymore what goes through a man’s mind, driving seven hundred miles home without earning a cent? Movie).

Willy has delusional ideas about the American Dream. Even in the end Willy still believes that the only thing Biff needs to be successful is some money to start a business. We learn this when Willy says “Can you imagine that magnificence [Biff] with twenty thousand dollars in his pocket? ” (Movie). Willy thinks that as long as Biff has some money to start out with he will find it easy to become successful. Biff knows that his father’s ideas are wrong and all Biff wants is to enjoy his life and for his father to be happy .

Willy’s dream is focused entirely on being successful and popular which in itself is wrong. Willy Loman did not become part of the American Dream because he does not follow his own dreams. Willy is not a salesman at heart, he is happiest when he is working with his hands and Willy never realizes this. After Willy dies, Biff realizes that his father should have worked out in the open, where he could truly be free. We learn this when Biff says, “He had the wrong dreams. All, all wrong,” and furthermore when Biff says, “He never knew who he was. ” (Movie).

Willy thinks that since he can still conceivably work when he becomes eighty years old that a salesman job is the best vocation he could ever want. Throughout the play, we learn that Willy has obviously made a wrong decision about his career and the fact that he never realizes this is the tragedy in the story. Willy does not think about what he himself wants to do, he thinks more about what others have done and then wants to achieve the same heights they have. Willy is never content with just being himself; he always has to be something better.

This is evident when Linda tells Willy “be happy right here, right now. Why must everybody conquer the world? You’re well liked, and the boys love you” (Movie). Willy never listens to his heart and because of this, he follows the wrong dream. Willy was never really a part of the American Dream. In the end, we see Willy’s foolishness for killing himself. Willy has too much pride to take a job from Charley and would rather end his own life than work under his friend for money. Willy thinks he is helping everyone by giving them his life insurance money but everyone would rather have him still alive than the money.

Striving for his dream of becoming well liked and successful leaves Willy with nothing that will make him happy. In the end, Willy’s dream ends up being for Biff to achieve everything that he himself could not achieve. Willy’s plan backfires though when Biff chooses the opposite of what Willy wants and leaves the city to try to find out what will make him happy. In the end, Willy’s obsession with the American Dream is his undoing. Willy never really becomes part of the American Dream because he never understands what he needs to make himself happy.

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Willy Loman and His American Dream: Essay on Death of a Salesman

Introduction.

In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, we see a devastating portrait of a man, Willy Loman, consumed by the wrong dream. For him, the “American Dream” is the pursuit of material wealth as “the whole reason for being.” His obsession is to become a great salesman. This obsession comes at a tremendous cost to his family-particularly, his son, Biff. This paper will attempt to show this all-consuming “vision” of Willy Loman’s by examining 3 scenes where he interacts with Howard his neighbor, his son Biff and his “mythical/imaginary” brother Ben. Willy Loman’s name is a pun on the term “Low Man” he is an ordinary American caught in the rapture of the American Dream. Regardless of when exactly the play is set Willy is an early 20 th Century average American who aspires for his own, his own house, a car, and other material possession. To obtain these ends he chose the path of the salesman. According to Willy the man he hoped to emulate died in his 80s an immensely successful man and people from three states came to visit his funeral. In his youth he had every right to dream, he was in the process of owning his house, his son biff was a promising football player and because he was still young and vigorous he was doing well as a salesman. as the story begins he thinks all his dreams will still come true. In truth, Biff has been a listless vagabond for years, Happy is a charlatan and towards the end Willy is a fired for being a failure of a salesman. Willy Loman’s pursuit of the “American Dream” is doomed by his inability to connect with reality.

Willy Loman’s role model is a deceased salesman who died wealthy, loved and helped so many different people. He glorifies the life of a salesman several times, in the beginning of the play, in flashbacks to his early years and even towards the end. He is enthralled by the life of a salesman and the benefits it can bring. This quote is from act two in Howard Wagner’s office.

“ And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ‘Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?”

Commentary 1

Willy is citing the life of legendary salesman David Singleman, who according to him, died the noble “death of a salesman”, a death that Willy aspires for. This is a glimpse of both Willy’s psyche and the distorted truth of the “American Dream”. The “American Dream” focuses of accumulating material wealth, being well liked and loved. It idealized the concept of working hard, dutifully paying ones mortgage and other loans to eventually acquire the good things in life. In fact, in a later scene both Willy and his wife Linda sigh in contentment when they learn that they have finally paid off their mortgage and finally own their home. The same home that they have lived in since at least the time Biff and Happy were in high school. The dream is narrow-minded Willy only sees glory Singleman’s death, well liked. He fails to see that Singleman was still working at the ripe age of 84. Willy in his 60s is idealizing a life of still working twenty years later and still being a salesman. But the “American Dream” is blind to this reality, it prefers to see the ideal picture of a happy family owning its own home and the father working dutifully to provide for his children. The reality is that Willy is in his 60s by the time he finally paid off his mortgage, his sons are listless vagabonds and he is such a pathetic salesman that he no longer bothers to go do his normal rounds because he knows he will just be turned away.

Research Quote and Commentary 1

The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. (Adams, 1931). Willy Loman seeks an American Dream. We all seek an American Dream. Like him we dream that we will someday do well in whatever field we chose. We believe that if we study hard we will find a good job and will earn enough to get our own house, car and more. The American Dream does not discriminate. We all want a better life and we desire our own means of accomplishing it. We believe that whatever profession we chose we will eventually succeed. Unfortunately for Willy, he failed utterly but it was not his professions fault.

Uncle Ben and Willy share a strange relationship. Ben got rich allegedly finding diamonds in Africa. It is never revealed how he truly amassed his wealth. Suffice to say, if Willy’s imagining of Ben are true, he is rich but never shared his wealthy with Willy.

When I was seventeen, I walked into the jungle. And by twenty-one, I walked out. And by God, i was rich!

Commentary 2

This quote is the best explanation Ben ever gives as to how he became rich. He claims that he was headed to Alaska to find their father but wound up in Africa and got into the diamond business. Assuming Ben and his wealth are real then, at best, he caught a lucky break. It is more likely that Ben is a charlatan who acquired his wealth through the scams that were prevalent in 20 th century America. In any case he represents a tantalizing fantasy like David Singleman. Both Ben and David struck it rich and Willy aspires to be big like them.

Research Quote and Commentary 2

The American Dream, that has lured tens of millions of all nations to our shores in the past century has not been a dream of material plenty, though that has doubtlessly counted heavily.(Adams 1931). Conventionally, the American Dream means the Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness. Yet the truth is ask anyone and they will equate the American Dream with the accumulation of wealth. How can we not considering that those whom we idolize as having achieved the American Dream are or were amazingly rich, people like Bill Gates, John Astor and Donald Trump. This is a flaw that afflicts us as it afflicted Willy. Ben got rich and there is nothing wrong with aspiring to be rich too. Just so long as cost is not our entire lives in blind pursuit.

Willy had every reason to be proud of Biff in High school. He was a successful football player who was going to college on his gridiron merits. A caveat was that the flunked math and had to take remedial classes which he never did and he never finished high school. Instead he gets stuck in a dead end job and eventually uncovers this epiphany.

I saw the things that I love in this world. The work and the food and the time to sit and smoke. And I looked at the pen and I thought, what the hell am I grabbing this for? Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be… when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am.

Commentary 3

Biff wants to break free of the accursed “American Dream”. He realized that the dream is actually a nightmare. He is no longer the poster boy of success that his father thinks he is. Instead he is a traumatized man. At a point in his life when he came to grips with the need to take remedial classes he travels to meet his father and inform him of the good news. However, he discovers that Willy is having an affair, trysts-for-stockings. Biff is so devastated by what he saw that he remains listless for years to come; Willy is giving this woman stockings while his mother has to darn her stockings. The horror is made more tragic by the fact that stockings are among the products Willy is selling. Biff at this point comes to the realization that he doesn’t want what Willy and society is shoving down his throat. He has found contentment where Willy, and tragically Happy, will find nothing but the pursuit of non-existent pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Willy later commits suicide successfully to give his family a little money to start over. Prior to this there is a dramatic scene where Biff and Happy promise to reform and finally make something of themselves. In death Willy is visited only by his neighbor and his family. The scene is a poignant contrast to the huge crowds that supposedly saw David Singleman to his final resting place. In this scene we find that Biff is on track to be something in life. Happy on the other hand is doomed to repeat the faults of their father. He defends Willy and promises to succeed where he failed. Willy’s obsession with the “American Dream” is going to continue with Happy.

Research Quote and Commentary 3

A CNN poll found out that more than half of those surveyed, 54 percent, considered the American Dream unachievable (CNN poll 2006). Amidst all the sham, drudgery, and disenchantment in the world it is not surprising that so many people no longer believe the American Dream can be achieved. The old formula of study hard to get a good stable job is no longer so true. Even more so today, many people are jobless and as the recession looms more are likely to find themselves on the streets. Where in the tragic context of today’s moribund economy can hope of the American Dream be found? Beyond the lottery, perhaps the American Dream now subsists only in the hearts of the young and idealistic.

Conclussion

In Conclusion, Willy Loman’s pursuit of the “American Dream” is doomed by his inability to connect with reality. He insists in seeing an ideal vision of himself and his family and is blind to the fact that the ‘ideal’ no longer exists. Over 60 years old and a failed salesman, he still imagines that he will one day die a celebrity like David Singleman. He imagine Biff will still be a football star decades after the boy dropped out of high school out of frustration for Willy’s womanizing. In the end Willy is nothing more than a dead salesman.

The Bedford Introduction to Literature, Eighth Edition, Michael Meyer.

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.

Hurell, John D. Two Modern American Tragedies: Reviews and Criticism of Death of a Salesman and A streetcar Named Desire. New York: Scribner.

Sandage, Scott A. Born Losers: A History of Failure in America. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

Mexico, Roger Characters and Themes of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.

Cardullo, Bert Death of a Salesman and Death of a Salesman: The Swollen Legacy of Arthur Miller . Web.

Adams, James Truslow. Epic of America, 1931.

Rethinking the American Dream . Web

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Death of a Salesman — The Illusion of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman

The Illusion of The American Dream in Death of a Salesman

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Home / Essay Samples / Entertainment / Willy Loman / The Impact Of The American Dream On Willy Loman’s Life

The Impact Of The American Dream On Willy Loman’s Life

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