Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. The play premiered on Broadway in February 1949, running for 742 performances, and has been revived on Broadway four times, winning three Tony Awards for Best Revival. It is considered to be one of the greatest American plays of the 20th century.
The story revolves around Willy Loman, an aging salesman who is in the midst of a mental breakdown. He is delusional and believes that he can still achieve the American Dream, despite all evidence to the contrary. As his world crumbles around him, Willy clings to his dreams even as they turn into nightmares.
Death of a Salesman is a tragic story about the failure of the American Dream. Willy Loman is a salesman who has dedicated his life to chasing after an elusive goal. He is a man who is desperately searching for success, but he can never seem to find it. In the end, his pursuit of the American Dream costs him everything.
Willy Loman is not just a character in a play; he is Everyman. He represents the common man who tries to make it in America. He is someone who works hard and strives for success, but he ultimately comes up short. Death of a Salesman speaks to the human condition and asks what it means to be successful.
Most people in the United States are aware of certain expectations that they are supposed to satisfy. For many, this is a positive and respectable belief. Although, in some cases, individuals can become so preoccupied with the ideal that it becomes a burden. As a result, they are unable to realize their ambition. There are two essays on this topic: one is by Howard Fuller titled “A Salesman Is Everyone,” and the other is by Harold Clurman titled “The American Stage.”
In Fuller’s essay, he states that “the salesman is a tragic figure in our society because he is the necessary man.” This is in response to Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Clurman believes that “the American public wants to see success glorified on the stage.” He goes on to say that this play was not successful because it did not display the idealistic American dream. Although both essays make valid points, I believe that Death of a Salesman depicts a more accurate view of the American dream.
The American dream is based on the fundamental idea that anyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, can succeed through hard work and determination. Death of a Salesman follows Willy Loman, an aging salesman who is struggling to make ends meet. He is constantly chasing an impossible dream, one that is just out of reach. The play highlights the harsh reality that not everyone can achieve the American dream, no matter how hard they try. This is a painful but important lesson to learn.
The character of Willy Loman is a key factor in understanding the message of the play. He represents the everyman, someone who is easily relatable and sympathetic. We see ourselves in him and his struggles. His downfall is a cautionary tale, one that reminds us of the dangers of chasing an unattainable dream. Death of a Salesman shows us that the American dream is not always possible, but it doesn’t mean we should give up on it entirely. We must remember that success is not defined by materials possessions or accomplishments, but by happiness and fulfillment.
The American Dream and its connection to Death of a Salesman are discussed in these two essays. Willy Loman, the protagonist, lives by his own ideals, which ultimately lead to his downfall. Willy’s life is driven by his quest for the American dream rather than actual living it.
This desire leads to his failure to achieve success in his life, as well as why he fails to realize his country’s dream. Willy Loman has pursued the American dream throughout his life. Harold Clurman claims that “Death of a Salesman” is “a thorn in the side of the American ideal.”
Willy’s idea of the American dream is to be successful and have a good job that pays well. He has worked for over thirty years as a salesman, but has never been very successful. His son, Biff, was always his hope for achieving the American dream. Biff was a star athlete in high school with a bright future ahead of him, but he flunked out of college and has been working odd jobs ever since.
The American dream is something that is sought after by many people, but it is not always attainable. Death of a Salesman shows that the American dream is not always what it seems. It can be an ideal that one chases their whole life, but never catches. It is possible to live the American dream, but it is not always easy.
“The American dream has been perverted to the desire for business success.” Willy Loman is on a quest for riches and acclaim. The conventional meaning of the American dream was freedom and prosperity for all, and Willy was a firm believer in this. Working hard, though, could not guarantee him access to everything he desired or believed he deserved. He appears to evaluate himself as well as others using material possessions.
Willy Loman is the embodiment of the American dream gone wrong. He is a man who has worked hard all his life but has little to show for it. He lives in a world where appearances are everything and where success is measured by material possessions. Willy is unable to see that his values are no longer relevant in a world that has changed since he was a young man. His obsession with the dream has led him to neglect his family and has ultimately destroyed him.
The American dream is still relevant today, but it has been distorted by our obsession with materialism. The dream should be about happiness, not success. Our society needs to focus on what truly matters in life, and that is relationships and connection. Death of a Salesman shows us the tragic consequences of chasing the wrong kind of dream.”
Willy honors his brother Ben in his efforts to seize the American dream. Ben stumbled upon his fortune, but Willy feels that Ben worked hard for it and wants his sons to do the same: work hard and be like Uncle Ben. “What’s the answer?,” Willy asks Ben, alluding to the American ideal. He has acquired a significant sum of money without having done anything exceptional. Despite losing his job, he continues to deceive himself and his family, hoping against hope that things will turn out well in the end.
Death of a Salesman is a story that tells the struggles one man has in following his dreams. Dreams are what America is all about, and it’s what keeps people going. Even when times are tough, people still have faith that their dreams will come true. Death of a Salesman shows that sometimes people’s dreams do not always turn out how they want them to, but they should never give up on them.
The American dream is something that everyone should strive for, and Willy Loman is an example of someone who tried to achieve it and failed. Death of a Salesman is a tragedy because it shows that the American dream is not always attainable, but it is still worth fighting for.
Finally, Willy’s speech is self-critical, allowing the dream to take control and losing sight of the real goal: freedom and delight. “The historical dream is the promise of a land of liberty with equality for all.” “Willy’s enthusiasm, which is expressed in slogans that he places such high importance on, is not controlled by logic.” If he were able to discern between reality and illusion, his compulsions would not have taken over his life.
Death of a Salesman is not only the story of Willy Loman’s downfall, but also a representation of the American dream and its potential to fail. In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses Willy Loman’s character to show how the American dream can ultimately lead to disappointment.
Willy Loman is a salesman who has based his life around achieving the American dream. The American dream is defined as “the principle that each person is free to pursue happiness in their own way.” Willy believes that success in business will bring him happiness and he continually strives to achieve it. However, throughout the play it becomes clear that Willy is not successful in achieving his goals. He lives in an illusion and is unable to see the reality of his situation. Willy is unable to see that he is not a successful salesman and that his son, Biff, is not going to be a successful businessman.
Willy’s obsession with the American dream ultimately leads to his downfall. He is so focused on achieving success that he does not see how his actions are negatively impacting his family. Willy’s blindness to reality causes him to make poor decisions which ultimately lead to his death. Death of a Salesman highlights the potential dangers of chasing the American dream. The play shows how an individual can become so obsessed with achieving success that they lose sight of what is truly important in life.