nd there was Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin's practical moralism had the most appeal, was most in step with the times, and Willy Loman's America is Benjamin Franklin's America, certainly, not Edward's. Ben Franklin [...] created a God convenient enough to allow him to pursue his own heart's desire. Virtue would bring a man money, said Ben. Money was nothing to be ashamed of: in fact, it was a manifestation of virtue. Gold coins were God's smiles. [...] But to Ben the way to get it all, the practical way and perfect way and virtuous way, was to go after it, go after it, go after it convinced that it was your destiny and God's will for you to get it. Play it clean and straight, of course, as far as this was possible, as long as this didn't prove too inconvenient. (Bloom, ed. 52-53)
             In capitalism one has to do whatever it takes to make one's mark in life. One has to be strong and cannot think about one's fellow man. Capitalism is individualistic.
             Willy Loman's idol is his brother Ben - the name, parallel to Benjamin Franklin, cannot be a coincidence - who is the personification of 'Mr. Capitalism', the self made man. He took his fortune in his own hands, following the rules of Benjamin Franklin:
             Why, boys, when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out. He laughs. And by God I was rich. [...] Never fight fair with a stranger, boy. You'll never get out of the jungle that way. (Miller, Salesman 48- 49)
             Willy admires Ben. In his dreams flashbacks he constantly justifies himself and his life to Ben: "Sure, sure. I am building something with this firm, Ben, and if a man is building something he must be on the right track, mustn't he?" (Miller, Salesman 85) Deep inside Willy knows that he cannot compete with Ben and that he does not have the power to be as successful as his brother. But he wants his sons to be s
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