great american dream

Playwright Arthur Miller’s “Death of A Salesman” could be described as a study in the American Dream ideology, a system that at times is indescribably brutal and at other times benevolent. The “Great American Dream” of prosperity and success is what most Americans have grown to know. As Arthur Miller shows us, the “Great American Dream” is valid, but those who hope to substitute popularity and lucky breaks for hard work are likely to fail.

Like many other Americans, Willy Loman is a product of this ever-increasing capitalist society. A society that’s become obsessed with making it, measuring success by popularity and material wealth and unfortunately impressing these misguided principles upon their families. For Willy Loman, to be liked, and well liked at that, was the definitive criteria of successful life. For the Loman family, Willy had reiterated his dream into their heads so often that to them it became real, however, the American Dream is something they will probably n

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Charley, a realist, is Willy's opposite in many ways throughout the play. To me, happiness is something for fools and children to dream of, reasonable contentment is a more reachable goal. Charley has worked hard and persevered in the business world. Biff, paralyzed by reality comes to the realization that in fact there is more to life than being well liked and football. Still hunting for his purpose in life, Biff persists ungainly, due predominantly to the “hot air” Willy fed him as a boy (Miller XX). Although Biff finally realizes the reality of their lives, Willy continues live the illusion. ” For Willy Loman and his family, the “Great American Dream” is something they will probably never have.

Willy's sons, Biff and Hap, are also failures, but Willy doesn't want to believe this. ” I envisioned that my life would be nearly perfect, with a family, prosperity, success and happiness. It is this sudden insight that spurs him into a fantasy world of reflection, afraid to face the future. At the end of the play, Charley mentions, “… He was a happy man with a batch of cement … so wonderful with his hands … he had the wrong dreams, all wrong” (Miller XX). Although Bernard is Hap and Biff’s classmate, Biff claims Bernard is not “well-liked” (Miller XX). And this, after all, is the substance of the American Dream

As Willy, Biff and most Americans, I was raised to envision and covet the ideal “Great American Dream. In other words, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. It takes a lot of dedication and determination, like that of Charlie and Bernard, to ever actually reach the top and experience the true “Great American Dream.

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Approximate Word count = 1263
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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