The American Dream in Death of a Salesman

Introduction

Since its inception, the American dream has come to symbolize the ideal social order in which every man and woman can achieve the highest position to which they are innately capable. (Bigsby 22). The American dream has always been secular and socially conscious, not founded on any particular religion. Since the American Revolutionary War, political liberty has been a major component of the American dream, particularly for wealthy white males in the twentieth century. Death of a Salesman has continued the pattern by treating the American dream trend on a purely secular level, omitting all references to religion. In Miller’s drama, Willy Loman is an American pursuing the American dream that is to obtain wealth, affluence and success. Loman suffers from misplaced and incoherent dreams. Similar to the average American, he is driven by the quest to acquire more money behind a perpetual need of possession and consumerism. The highlighted issues introduce the subject of failure to attain the American Dream, which does not just characterize Loman in Miller’s Death of a Salesman, but similarly of numerous average Americans in the country.

The Dream of America

Death of a Salesman pays attention to the dream of America and, in that case, Loman’s version of the dream. He is an unlucky salesman who believed in the American dream ideal that ended up in his predicament. Many other Americans believe in the American dream concept and its objective of changing individuals’ success. Loman could have gained success but something went amiss. He brought up his sons to believe in the dream and none of them became successful either (Miller 34). By the time, he was reaching his old age, his life was in a mess. One of his sons, Biff, dreamed hopelessly and was unable to maintain a job. An athletic scholarship could have made him successful but he blew the opportunity, as he had to attend school. His other son Happy had a job but was primarily all talk (Miller 42). Towards the end of his career, Willy discovers that his entire life was merely a joke and the hopes he had in the American dream were misplaced. By the end of the play, he only hoped to leave at least something for his family, particularly for Biff, by ending his life and leaving them the insurance money. Willy reasoned that he could attain success through his death and attain his dream.

Unfortunate and Pathetic

Arthur Miller gives a character who is both unfortunate and pathetic. Willy Loman spent his life pursuing a misguided dream, making him suffer from feelings of obsoleteness and inadequacy. In the modern world as he approached sixty, his life became outmoded. In the universe of persistent changes, a world in fluidity, he refuses to adjust and avows on remaining the same always. He is vehemently stating that he does not want a change (Miller 12). However, one of the key attributes of success is adapting to changes. The attribute also characterizes many ordinary Americans. Another attribute of his that is normally a character of the people that endeavor to attain the American dream is self-reliance. As Loman states, he never asked for a favor from any person (Miller 62). Although Loman is not entirely believable, his sense of self-efficacy and independence is admirable. Nonetheless, it may seem counterproductive because in the play, we are told that a great part of attaining success is through ’contacts’ (Miller 68). Thus, it is just a matter of personal approach whether one intends to attain his or her dreams or with the assistance of others.

Pride and Blindness

Out of his pride, Willy lets the audience remember him lashing on another character, Charley, who offered him a job after he was fired, shouting to him that he did not want his job (Miller 76). He thus opts to pursue the dream alone, not recognizing that at his old age, he would require assistance. He might not perceive the reality accurately, but his wife did so. Her wife knew his circumstances and he was an exhausted man (Miller 44). In some way, he perceives the fall of her husband in the future but cannot help him in any way. Loman is merely blind to the idea that the typical tale and the general American dream myth will be eluding him forever, that he might never attain it (Roudane 61). The highlighted issues introduce the theme of failure to attain the American Dream, which does not just characterize Miller’s Death of a Salesman but similarly of numerous average Americans in the country.

The Average American

The average American is often probably among the aging American population. Similarly, the children of the baby boomers comprise a large part of this population and are still mirrored in the age group of the average American. The average American earns a modest income and is characterized by intense consumerism and belief in affluence. However, the American Dream is only meant for a relatively limited group of people. The challenge is that the rest of the people are largely unaware of the impracticality to attain their dream goals, which in the end comes as a complete surprise. It is a challenge to tie one’s mind around the ideal that talent and effort alone are not a guarantee for success (Hochschild, 30). Moreover, people may attempt their hardest and still in the wake of failure face the risk of being supposed to lack will or talent. In sum, if an individual’s success stems from personal initiative, then their failure is thought to come from the lack of personal volition (Hochschild, 30). Thus, the failure to attain the American dream is seemingly undesirable and suggests failure of oneself.

Conclusion

To sum up, Miller’s Death of a Salesman has demonstrated a trend of the American dream, which is secularly based. The issue Loman faces is similar to what the average American faces. Thus, similar to the average American, Loman was motivated by the resolve to acquire, possess, and spend money. The issues have brought to the fore the issue of failure to attain the American Dream, which presents a challenge to people who disregard the impracticality to attain their dream goals, which in the end comes as a complete surprise.

Works Cited

Bigsby, Christopher. Arthur Miller: A Critikcal Study. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. London: Penguin Books, 1949.

Roudané, Matthew C. “Death of a Salesman and the Poetics of Arthur Miller.” The Cambridge Companion to Arthur Miller. Ed. Christopher Bigsby. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.