The American Dream is a major theme in The Death of a Salesmen. Willy Loman is an insecure traveling salesmen and one of the plays's main characters. Willy genuinely believes the American Dream is about becoming a salesmen that is respected and loved by the people he sells to. He believes that, "The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead." (Act 1). This fantasy takes a heavy toll on the old man who starts to encounter economic difficulties and struggles to sell products and make a suitable commission to live off of. His American Dream also includes the accumulation of success, fame, and wealth (sound familiar Gatsby? Walter?) that, unfortunately does not come. His life motto to "Be liked and you will never want" (Act 1) is destructive and takes a significant toll on willy's mental health as he realizes he is not liked and has only one friends, Charley. His refusal to take a job working for Charley shows the type of person he is. He feels that it will damage his masculinity and be quite embarrassing. The tough circumstances he faced motivated him to take the coward's way out, suicide. I think the play's message to the read is to restructure/ reinvent your American Dream or pursue a another American Dream if your current life situation is not ideal, it may just save your life!!!
Arthur Miller and the American Dream
I think that Arthur Miller achieved the American dream. I think he did because he triumphed over many unfortunate events that occurred throughout his life. Many people’s American Dream consists of gaining great wealth. The “rags to riches” stories are often prophesied in American literature which inspires immigrants and current citizens to become successful in this “land of opportunity.” Examples of this common theme include works by Haratio Alger whose novels chronicled the rise from poverty to wealth. Miller, although being initially rich, lost most of his family wealth in the Great Wall Street crash of 1927 and had to be self reliant working for his college education and gradually become more affluent. This romanticized vision also contributed to the success of his first great work Death of a Salesman which went it and revealed a more realist and relatable situation in which an American businessmen did not become prosperous, fulfilling his American Dream. Despite, disapproval from critics on his first play and controversies with the House of Un-American Activities Committee taking away his passport he became successful. Lastly, verification of him achieving the American Dream would be that he obtained the triple crown of theatrical artistry (the Pulitzer Prize), the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and a Tony, and that he was able to marry the famed and historically inspiring actress Marilyn Monroe.
I think that Arthur Miller achieved the American dream. I think he did because he triumphed over many unfortunate events that occurred throughout his life. Many people’s American Dream consists of gaining great wealth. The “rags to riches” stories are often prophesied in American literature which inspires immigrants and current citizens to become successful in this “land of opportunity.” Examples of this common theme include works by Haratio Alger whose novels chronicled the rise from poverty to wealth. Miller, although being initially rich, lost most of his family wealth in the Great Wall Street crash of 1927 and had to be self reliant working for his college education and gradually become more affluent. This romanticized vision also contributed to the success of his first great work Death of a Salesman which went it and revealed a more realist and relatable situation in which an American businessmen did not become prosperous, fulfilling his American Dream. Despite, disapproval from critics on his first play and controversies with the House of Un-American Activities Committee taking away his passport he became successful. Lastly, verification of him achieving the American Dream would be that he obtained the triple crown of theatrical artistry (the Pulitzer Prize), the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and a Tony, and that he was able to marry the famed and historically inspiring actress Marilyn Monroe.