Death Of Salesman By Miller

The American dream has been a dream of being able to grow to fullestdevelopment. .

..Epitomizing the democratic ideals and aspirations on whichAmerica had been founded, the American way of life ..

.developed for the benefitof the simple human being of any and every class." J.T. ADAMS - The epic ofAmerica (1938) Playwright Arthur Millers " Death of A Salesman" could bedescribed as a study in the American Dream ideology, a system that at times isindescribably brutal and at other times benevolent.

com/willy-loman-and-walter-lee-younger/">Willy Loman is a product ofthis ever increasing capitalist society, obsessed with making it, measuringsuccess by popularity and material wealth and unfortunately impressing thesemisguided principles upon his family. He is by no means a tragic hero but avictim; a naive and ineffectual man for whom we as the reader feel pity. ForWilly Loman, to be liked, and well liked at that was the definitive criterion oflife success. The American dream of affluence and fortuity became Willysdream, and once for the Lomans, it almost became reality. Now in his midsixties, Willy accepts that in fact he has lived his life in vain, neverachieving nor succeeding but remaining a mediocre shadow of his aspirations. Itis this sudden insight that spurs him into a fantasy world of reflection, afraidto face the future.

It is only through Willys failure as a salesman that hisinnate desire for the outdoors is exposed. At the end of the play, Charleymentions, "... He was a happy man with a batch of cement .

.. so wonderful withhis hands ..

. he had the wrong dreams, all wrong.". It has been often saidthat " the play romanticizes the rural agrarian dream" constantlyemphasizing that, perhaps the path not taken may have been the right one, stillWilly holds the inability to see who and what he is.

Miller has createdWillys wife Linda in such a way, that it is difficult to confirm whether sheis a positive or destructive force upon his psyche. It is puzzling to understandwhy she allows this masquerade to escalate to the level that it does. The loveLinda holds for Willy is relentless. She sees herself as his protector, allowinghim to laps into his illusionary realm where he feels contentment. But in herlove for her husband she is ironically his destroyer.

Linda in her admirationfor Willy also accepts his dream, which as it turns out, is lethal. Thecharacter most adversely affected by Willys pursuit of the "Great AmericanDream" is his eldest son Biff. Similarly , they are both idealists, benumbedby existence; one by the repercussions of disillusionment, the other byillusions themselves. Still hunting for his purpose in life, Biff persistsblundering, due chiefly to the "hot air" Willy fed him as a boy. While stillin high school Biffs future was assured, described as " a young God.Hercules something like that" and was tremendously well liked, but it allcame crashing down soon afterwards ("just because he printed University ofVirginia on his sneakers doesnt mean their going to graduate him!") -discovering his fathers "cheap philandering", shattering the vision he heldof him.

Biff, paralyzed by reality comes to the realization that in fact thereis more to life than being well liked and football. Now after a history ofwayward roaming, Biff comes to terms with exactly who and what he is: "... Istopped in the middle of that building and I saw the sky.

I saw the things Ilove in this world ... and I looked at the pen and said to myself, what the hellam I grabbing this for? Why am I trying to become what I dont want to be..

.Iam not a leader of men ... Pop Im a dime a dozen, and so are you.

" Happy,the youngest son of the Lomans unfortunately is not able to see him self forwhat he is. A direct opposite of his brother he never realizes his fathersfallacy of "be well liked and you shall never want". Less favored by natureand his family, he is constantly seeking out approval. " Im gettingmarried, Pop, dont forget it. Im changing everything.

Im gonna run thatdepartment before the year is up. Youll see, Mom." This statement showingthat Hap hasnt realized the phony part of his fathers dreams. He will carryon the "50 weeks of work routine" and live the life of salesman. ".

..Im staying right in this city and Im gonna beat this racket ...

he had agood dream. Its the only dream a man can have to come out number one man.He fought it out here, and this is where Im gonna win it for him." ArthurMiller sensitively realistic portrayal of the Loman family places emphasis onthe "little man" struggling to achieve the perfection that is the Americandream. It is not an attack upon the American system but an evidence of thesystems possible effectiveness.

A bitter reminder of what could have been,showing that upon steady utilization of ones ability ,the "AmericanDream" can be obtained. The American dream was not the Loman nightmare.Willys dream was. In the end, the decision is up to the individual.