Death Of A Salesman and The American Dream

Death of a Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, focuses on Willy Loman and his “American Dream.” Depending on perspective, he could be considered a victim of this fallacy or the creator of his own tragic end. A combination of the two perpetuates his ultimate decision to take his own life.
The “American Dream” usually entails having a happy family, a good job, a house and most of all, being successful. People in America sometimes have the notion that the only way to be successful and find fulfillment is to get ahead of the next guy. There seems to be a preoccupation with superficial things rather than having deeper values, and so is the case for Willy. He strives for material possessions to show for his efforts and years of hard work. The need to have tangible evidence of wealth contributes to his downfall. Since Willy has worked for the Wagner Company for thirty four years, he feels that respect is owed to him. When Howard, Willy’s current boss, does not give Willy a ...