Misguided American Dream in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman:
Length: 862 words (3.1 pages)
Rating: Red (FREE)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Misguided American Dream in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Death of a Salesman deals with hopes and dreams gone wrong. This does not necessarily have to be the "American" dream as such, because all people share the same hopes and dreams, regardless of nationality. The underlying factor, and the inevitable truth is that we all have to dream, dreams are important for human existence. It is evident to the reader that for Willy, his ultimate dream was to follow in the footsteps of Uncle Ben and become a successful salesman. Unfortunately for Willy, most of his dreams are illusions, yet he is unable to come face to face with this fact. At the plays conclusion, Biff is susceptible to succumb to the fact that his father, Willy, did in fact have "all the wrong dreams", and the reader will agree that this is ultimately what lead to Willy's downfall.
Willy's false hopes and dreams are evident in the fact that he wants to be a mirror image of his brother Ben. "The man knew what he wanted and went out and got it!" Willy believes that Ben has the "ultimate life", and strives to follow in the dream of being a successful salesman. This brings forth the notion of Willy kidding himself, and not knowing any different. "The jungle is dark but full of diamonds." The jungle metaphor is continually bought to the reader's attention throughout the novel. Like Ben, Willy hopes to strike it rich in the business world of New England. Yet Willy never finds the diamonds (success), and he leaves life without fortune or fame. In many ways, the jungle also represents the American Dream ideal that Miller often criticized. It is the opinion of Willy that the job of a salesman is the most enjoyable of all jobs. "...And the smile on your face" gives the reader the notion that Willy is happy in his job, which Willy himself leads himself to believe. Evidently, this only turns out to be another illusion that Willy has created for himself. Nearing the novels conclusion, it is evident to the reader that Willy is unable to maintain this smile, and he is no longer happy in his job. Willy's illusions throughout the novel are also evident to the educated audience.
When explaining why they can't leave the crowded city to live in New York, Willy tells his wife, "I'm the New England man. I'm vital in New England." Unfortunately for Willy, this is just one of his many illusions evident to us. Like his brother Ben who conquered the wilderness, Willy feels that he must live on the frontier, building a house and planting a garden for his family if he wants to properly care for them. He tells Linda, "Before it's all over we're gonna get a little place out in the country, and I'll raise some vegetables, a couple of chickens..." Unfortunately, times have changed and his dream is no longer possible. In essence, the illusions that Willy experiences come directly from him having the "wrong dreams" and ideas about life.
Biff rightly informs us that Willy had "all the wrong dreams", and he, as Willy's son, is evidently one of the first characters to realize this fault about Willy. "Take that phony dream and burn it..." is what Biff yells at Willy in between tears and emotion. "I am not a leader of men...and neither are you." Willy is continually expecting great things of his son throughout the novel as is evident to the reader. Biff, in this particular scene nearing the plays conclusion, tries to 'drive it into' Willy that he is not a huge success, and to stop having such high expectations. While Biff realizes that their father "had the wrong dreams," Happy defends Willy's aspirations, saying, "I'm gonna show you and everybody else that Willy Loman did not die in vain. He had a good dream. It's the only dream you can have-to come out number-one man. He fought it out here, and this is where I'm gonna win it for him." As an objective reader, we must appreciate the fact that not all of Willy's dreams and aspirations were morally wrong. As his son Happy informs us, his ultimate dream was to come out "number-one man." Although not achieved by Willy himself, it is evident to all readers that this is a strong dream to hold onto.
So ultimately, at the novels conclusion, it is unfortunate that Willy had to lose his own life just to provide for his family's future. Yet it becomes evident to the reader that this is perhaps one of Willy's dreams come true. Willy has achieved the "American dream" at the cost of his own life, yet at the same time, he has given new life to both of his sons and his wife through funding. As a man, he has a countless number of hopes and dreams. Unfortunately, most of these are illusions, which Willy can not seem to comprehend. Yet the audience is still able to display compassion and sorrow toward his overall situation, because after all, "he's only a little boat looking for a harbour."
Search for: [many good] [health insurance] [5000 years] [kurt vonnegut]
|
Important Note: If you'd like to save a copy of the
paper on your computer, you can COPY and PASTE it into your word
processor. Please, follow these steps to do that in Windows:
1. Select the text of the paper with the mouse and press Ctrl+C. Azete.com (the "Web Site") is produced by the "Company". The contents of this Web Site, such as text, graphics, images, audio, video and all other material ("Material"), are protected by copyright under both United States and foreign laws. The Company makes no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the Material or about the results to be obtained from using the Material. You expressly agree that any use of the Material is entirely at your own risk. Most of the Material on the Web Site is provided and maintained by third parties. This third party Material may not be screened by the Company prior to its inclusion on the Web Site. You expressly agree that the Company is not liable or responsible for any defamatory, offensive, or illegal conduct of other subscribers or third parties. The Materials are provided on an as-is basis without warranty express or implied. The Company and its suppliers and affiliates disclaim all warranties, including the warranty of non-infringement of proprietary or third party rights, and the warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. The Company and its suppliers make no warranties as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the material, services, text, graphics and links. For a complete statement of the Terms of Service, please see our website. By obtaining these materials you agree to abide by the terms herein, by our Terms of Service as posted on the website and any and all alterations, revisions and amendments thereto. |
int. He was an old man, a cranky old oompa loompa who needed more paint. For 60 years he has been a crazed artist, and continues to be one until he died. His name was Leonardo. All the artists who knew him well respectfully called him ?Loonardo.? I first met Leonardo sitting in the middle of the si... phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck phuck... Adulthood A strong relationship has been established between negative events and circumstances during childhood and the development of drug use and drug-related problems in adolescence and young adulthood. Individuals who report parental strife or separation as a child, physical and sexual a...th a democracy. They wanted change and a new era. A quick way out of the economic problems that they faced. This would be accomplished with the new governments of nazism, fascism, and communism. These governments had many similarities to obtain what was to be accomplished. Both systems advocated di...