American Dream By Arthur

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Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman

American Dream is a concept that has been ringing in our minds. Every time a leader

speaks, a young kid starts his education, any business is operating, and in any day to day work

hustles, the American Dream remains to be the only underlying yet unspoken ideology.

However, a handful of Americans can delineate on the concept and explain it satisfactorily. It is

presumed that the meaningful essence of it lies in the infinite possibilities, limitless resources,

and unsullied newness (Hochschild, 15). A little more conceivable approach on the American

Dream was by the former US president, Bill Clinton who elucidated it as follows: “The

American Dream that we were and are all raised on is very simple yet powerful. If you work

effortlessly hard, abide by the rules then you should be given a chance to go as far as God wants

or according to God’s given capacities” (Hochschild, 18). And probably that’s the definition of

success and its importance to American society. In spite of all these definitions, the simplicity

and applicability of the American Dream are highly debatable, and both explanations are to a

great extent rather vague. No wonder many Americans have failed to live to these standards

which seem ideal to what the American dream requires. This essay will elucidate on the concept

of the American Dream and critically analyze its employment in Arthur Miller’s Death of a

Salesman while proving Miller’s different point of view by use of player’s statement in the play

to show how the definition of success is essential to the American Dream.

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Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman portrays Willy Lowman as a character with

superficial traits. His priorities are to look good and be liked by many, and perhaps that is his

definition of the American Dream. This misconception majorly contributes to his misguided path

to attain success. Arthur clearly points out this attributes and criticizes society as wrong by

perceiving success as being liked and having good looks. In a more particular manner, the author

depicts Willy as poor within the concept of American Dream. In the play, Willy is seen

transmitting his philosophy to his sons by ignoring self-esteemed growth, education, and setting

while at the same time proving to them that popularity is more important. “Bernard can score

good marks in school but when it comes to the business world, you are going to be five times

ahead of him. That’s why I am always happy because God has given built you differently. This

statement is true because a man who makes the best appearances in the business world and the

one who creates self-interest is the only man who moves ahead. Be liked by a many, and you will

never want” (pg. 33). According to Willy, the American Dream is void of education, and it

doesn’t matter what one score, all that matters is one’s appearance in the business world

something that is not by the American Dream’s values.

Consequently, Willy reveals, in many instances, that his definition and idea of success is

deeper than the superficial by guiding his sons the wrong path to a successful life. In one case,

while Biff was in high school, Willy had already set a pace for teaching his son the different and

false values; which he believed to be true. This happens when Willy found out that Biff had

stolen a football and was caught by his coach, who never got angry with the act. Further, Willy

responded by using the scenario as an illustration of his philosophy. “It’s ultimately possible

because he likes you. Was it a different person, who took the ball, there would be uproar or

something worse” (pg.30). Moreover, instead of a father teaching his son that stealing is not a

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right act, he goes on to say that next time the consequences will be tougher. Looking it from a

different dimension, it’s evident that Willy encourages the immature mistake. The American

Dream emphasizes on living united and harmoniously and respecting other people’s rights and

property. And as such, Willy’s actions and statements are far away and destructive to the

American Dream.

Further, and according to Ben, the American dream is the ability to rise from rags to

riches or to start with nothing and at the end make a fortune. In page 33, Ben is heard saying

“when I was just seventeen years old, I worked my way into the jungle, and when I clicked

twenty-one, I walked out. And by God’s power, I was rich”. Within this context of Ben and his

brother, Willy is depicted as envious of his brother’s richness or rather a success. But Willy’s

wife, Linda is concerned when Ben stops and comes in for a brief visit. To her, Ben represents

desolation and danger. Moreover, the theme is revealed when Ben horses around with Biff, his

nephew. Just when Biff was about to win the match, Ben trips the boy his nephew, Biff and

stands right straight over him while pointing the sharp end of an umbrella directly into his eye.

Evidently signifying that Ben’s definition of the American dream is different: a few people can

attain the rags to riches version of the American dream. Arthur's play proposes that one must be

wild to achieve it. In a nutshell, wildness is key as well as significant to attaining the American

dream.

Additionally, Biff has an outwardly different American Dream. He feels confused and at

the same time angry the time he discovers his father’s infidelity matters. Truly, Biff has an

ability to follow the “right” dream. However, it can only happen if he resolves his personal and

inner conflicts. He is torn between tow dreams. The father’s dream of a world of

entrepreneurship and another dream revolve around nature and working with his hands. In the

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play, he is heard explaining to his brother the appeal and anguish of working on a ranch. Biff

utters; “there is nothing as motivating and graceful as the glimpse of a mare and new colt. And

it’s cool now, looks? Apparently, Texas is very cool, and its spring and you know what that

means. When spring comes to where I am, I momentarily get the urge that, my God. I am not

going anywhere, and I wonder what the hell I am doing. Playing with horses around for twenty-

eight dollars for seven days! I am old, thirty-four years; I ought to be making a bright future. And

that’s the moment I come home running” (Pg, 16). It’s almost at the end of the play that Biff

realizes that he can no longer pursue his father’s dream. It’s a wrong dream, and he comprehends

that his father was good with his hands; building the garage and setting up a new ceiling.

Seemingly, Biff believes that his father would have been a carpenter or lived in a different life,

but instead, Willy pursued his frustrating and empty life selling unnamed products. And he

finally decides to change the path to success after Willy’s death. He returned to the countryside

where manual labor would ultimately satisfy his restless soul. The American Dream is what one

believes to be right and not following their father and forefathers tactics.

In conclusion, Miller and his characters in the Death of a Salesman, the American dream

is interpreted wrongly and those of whom the ambition replaces human need. The play should be

re-read as an appeal to change the American dream idea and or the dream should be dreamt again

to fit into America’s ideal life before the destruction of the self-centered ambition. Within the

play, Arthur warns of the shallowness of materialism for personal gains, selfishness and

constructs it as based on self-interests. Thus, the definition of success from the characters in the

play: the way to success is too vague and wrong to the American Dream. The virtues seem

virtual to many and cannot merge to attain the American Dream.

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Works Cited:

Hochschild, Jennifer L. “Facing Up to the American Dream.” Race, Class, and the Soul of the

Nation. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1991: 15-32.

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. London: Penguin Books, 1949

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