Arthur Miller in his play “the Death of a Salesman” aimed to discuss what is known as the American Dream. The writer seems to focus on the failure of the American Dream. Willy Loman and his family, his wife Linda and his two sons Happy and Biff, are the main characters of the play. They represent an example of a family that failed to turn that American Dream into reality. The remaining characters are relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers. We can find Ben, Willy’s brother, their neighbors, Charley and his son Bernard, His boss Howard, and few secondary characters. Most of the characters are successful in their life due to different reasons, mainly hard work, determination, and luck sometimes. The play focuses on the main reasons for which Willy’s family failed to realize the American Dream. In fact, we can find many reasons related to social conditions, materialistic behavior, and an exerting overall situation. Willy’s downfall took place for some reasons.
First of all, he has some wrong beliefs about the American Dream. Willy thinks that just appearance traits are enough to assure success. He thinks that being physically strong and handsome are essential and sufficient traits to be successful. For example, he thought that many Universities will run behind his son Biff and admit him just because he was a good sport player. Although he was not admitted by the university because he failed the Math test, Willy did not get rid of that illusion. Another example is when Willy was always stressing on the fact that his son Biff should not have to worry because he is handsome to get that job. While his sons have blown up every job they had ever been working at, Willy was still considering that his sons can enjoy a successful business only if they could just manage to acquire the appropriate start-up capital.
Second, Willy has high expectations about people and life. He never admitted low profile jobs or moderate career targets. When he used to talk with his sons about their future job, he was stressing always on having very successful businesses. The examples he used to give to them were about the most successful and well known businesses like Lehman Brothers. Another example is concerning the people he chose as prototypes of success for himself and his sons. He was always giving examples about people who were able to make huge amount of monies or those famous players. In addition, Willy had kind of illusions about his relationship with people. He mixes personal and business interests. For example, when Howard denied his request for an office job, he just tried to put kind of emotional pressure on him when he reminded him about his father and their relations. Furthermore, when Charley offered him a job that he was badly in need of he refused. This refusal was purely for personal reasons, for the offer was for a comfortable and well paid job. His jealousy of Charley and his son Bernard were the main reasons behind rejecting the job offer.
Third, another major reason for Willy’s downfall is that he was greedy and unrealistic. Although he is considered to have an acceptable personal financial standing, he was not satisfied with that. For example, he almost has his mortgage totally paid, but he never looked for that as a positive point. Instead, he argued about being surrounded by high rise apartment buildings, which could be considered as a positive factor that may lead to the increase of his property value. As another example, he had his car in a period of time when few people had their cars, yet he looked to his car as scrap. In addition, he had his refrigerator, but he argued why he did not buy a better trade mark. Furthermore, Willy was untruthful towards himself, his sons, and his friends. For example, Willy deeply knows both his potential and that of his sons; however, he continues planning for unrealistic projects. While both Happy and Biff were declaring their failure in the several jobs they had, Willy was still suggesting huge and sophisticated projects for his sons to realize. Another example is when he told Charley that although he was borrowing some money, this was because he did not want his wife Linda to know that he withdrawn from the saving account that did not exist in reality.
In conclusion, the Death of a Salesman is a realistic play, which has dealt with the American Dream from different perspectives. Although this dream is realizable for some people, definitely it is not for all of them. While America is not an easy fortune for everybody, people who have the appropriate characteristics could make it. Willy failed to achieve that dream for many reasons, mainly because he had wrong beliefs about that dream, he had unrealistic expectations about people and circumstances, and he was untruthful and greedy. I think that any person has the right to dream and to find the niche on earth to achieve his dreams. However, to be able to achieve our dreams or to cope with failure, we should be truthful, realistic, determined and adaptable. In addition, we should know ourselves deeply and try to plan for our life plan accordingly.
First of all, he has some wrong beliefs about the American Dream. Willy thinks that just appearance traits are enough to assure success. He thinks that being physically strong and handsome are essential and sufficient traits to be successful. For example, he thought that many Universities will run behind his son Biff and admit him just because he was a good sport player. Although he was not admitted by the university because he failed the Math test, Willy did not get rid of that illusion. Another example is when Willy was always stressing on the fact that his son Biff should not have to worry because he is handsome to get that job. While his sons have blown up every job they had ever been working at, Willy was still considering that his sons can enjoy a successful business only if they could just manage to acquire the appropriate start-up capital.
Second, Willy has high expectations about people and life. He never admitted low profile jobs or moderate career targets. When he used to talk with his sons about their future job, he was stressing always on having very successful businesses. The examples he used to give to them were about the most successful and well known businesses like Lehman Brothers. Another example is concerning the people he chose as prototypes of success for himself and his sons. He was always giving examples about people who were able to make huge amount of monies or those famous players. In addition, Willy had kind of illusions about his relationship with people. He mixes personal and business interests. For example, when Howard denied his request for an office job, he just tried to put kind of emotional pressure on him when he reminded him about his father and their relations. Furthermore, when Charley offered him a job that he was badly in need of he refused. This refusal was purely for personal reasons, for the offer was for a comfortable and well paid job. His jealousy of Charley and his son Bernard were the main reasons behind rejecting the job offer.
Third, another major reason for Willy’s downfall is that he was greedy and unrealistic. Although he is considered to have an acceptable personal financial standing, he was not satisfied with that. For example, he almost has his mortgage totally paid, but he never looked for that as a positive point. Instead, he argued about being surrounded by high rise apartment buildings, which could be considered as a positive factor that may lead to the increase of his property value. As another example, he had his car in a period of time when few people had their cars, yet he looked to his car as scrap. In addition, he had his refrigerator, but he argued why he did not buy a better trade mark. Furthermore, Willy was untruthful towards himself, his sons, and his friends. For example, Willy deeply knows both his potential and that of his sons; however, he continues planning for unrealistic projects. While both Happy and Biff were declaring their failure in the several jobs they had, Willy was still suggesting huge and sophisticated projects for his sons to realize. Another example is when he told Charley that although he was borrowing some money, this was because he did not want his wife Linda to know that he withdrawn from the saving account that did not exist in reality.
In conclusion, the Death of a Salesman is a realistic play, which has dealt with the American Dream from different perspectives. Although this dream is realizable for some people, definitely it is not for all of them. While America is not an easy fortune for everybody, people who have the appropriate characteristics could make it. Willy failed to achieve that dream for many reasons, mainly because he had wrong beliefs about that dream, he had unrealistic expectations about people and circumstances, and he was untruthful and greedy. I think that any person has the right to dream and to find the niche on earth to achieve his dreams. However, to be able to achieve our dreams or to cope with failure, we should be truthful, realistic, determined and adaptable. In addition, we should know ourselves deeply and try to plan for our life plan accordingly.
