DEATH OF A SALESMAN
1 WILLY LOMAN & HIS "AMERICAN DREAM" Miller's American masterpiece Death of a Salesman, first presented onthe stage in New York City in 1949, represents a successful attempt toblend the themes of social and personal tragedy within the same dramaticframework. Yet the story of Willy Loman is also one of false valuessustained by almost every publicity agency in the national life of the U.S.Willy Loman accepts at face value the over-publicized ideals of materialsuccess and blatant optimism, and therein lies his own personal tragedy.defeat illustrate not only the failure of a man but also the failure of adoor-to-door salesman. Miller's ability to project this story of hisclass hero into the common experience of so many Americans who sustainthemselves and their families with ignorance and unrealistic goals, makesDeath of a Salesman one of the most significant in American theater within For Willy Loman, life's accomplishments and sources of pleasure aresimple. This statement provides an excellent judgment on his life, due to
In one sense, thestrain under which he finds himself erodes the boundaries between the realand the imagined so that he can no longer be sure which is which, acomplete fluctuation between "dreams" and reality. This goal, in light of the economic/social conditions that existed at thetime in which the play is set, presents a perfect picture of his ultimateaim in life, clearly outlined by dollar signs and a sense of ownership, twokey points to personal success as far as Willy is concerned. In some very poignant and direct criticism, Arthur Miller provides avivid picture of exactly what constitutes the personality and psychologicalmake-up of Willy Loman. He says that Willy "cannot bear reality, and sincehe can't do much to change it, he keeps changing his ideas of it. Willy's brother Ben "is less a substantial fact than anembodiment of that ruthless drive and achievement which Willy lacks in hisown life and half believes he should want" (Miller 120). His nobility "lies lessin his struggle to uphold a dream which severs him from those who care forhim than in his determination to leave his mark on the world" (Eisinger,157) as a successful salesman who nearly achieved the elusive "Americandream. Hisfinal payment on the mortgage for his home "gives closure to his dream-filled life which may enable him to realize some of his idealistic goals"(James, 51). Everything is winding down, and although this may indicate anupward curve in the life of Willy Loman and his family, the reality of thesituation could just as easily turn into a state of depletion. " Although at this point in his life, Willy "is beginning to noticewhere all of thisdreaming has led him" (Lawrence, 548). Willy Loman's "daydreams," asMiller calls them, are nothing but "constructions. His inner thoughts areas much present facts as are those individuals he encounters in his dailylife as a salesman but whose lives remain a complete mystery to him. Of course,Willy has done quite a few things in order to achieve his lifetime goal,and in his eyes, this is abundant evidence that he is living out the"American Dream" in his own vision of reality.
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Acceptance Essays
