The play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur
Miller is set in the late 1940’s, meaning that WWII had just ended. America was on the rise as big business was rebuilding and the economy was growing. Along with economic
growth, morale was on the up and up as men searched for the “American Dream”. The
American Dream led some men to lives filled with material possessions and
success yet most men were led to jealousy, envy and even depression. This is
the case with Willy Loman, the protagonist of Death of a Salesman.
Firstly, Willy Loman only lived for the “American Dream”. He is an incredibly
optimistic character when it comes to his dreams, saying, “What’s the mystery? The man
knew what he wanted and went out and got it! Walked right into a jungle, and
comes out, the age of twenty-one, and he’s rich! The world is an oyster, but
you don’t crack it open on a mattress!” (27). Willy is in a period of time
where all anyone is thinking of is striking some good fortune and getting rich
quick. Willy is confident for the majority of the play that if others could do
it, so can he.
Additionally, the
idea of the “American Dream” was so popular at the time, that Willy emotionally
invested in the idea that he would achieve his dreams. When talking with Linda
he says, “You wait, kid, 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…”
(49). Willy is living a fantasy in which he can afford to do that. The
increase in the economy in the late 1940’s led people to believe that they were
had a good socioeconomic standing. This distortion of reality left many high
and dry as they realized that they could never achieve those far fetched dreams
that seemed to be so close. Towards the end of the play, Willy comes to the realization
that his dreams will not come true. He is distraught and thinks to himself, “Why?
Does it take more guts to stand here the rest of my life ringing a zero?” Ben,
A figment of Willy’s conscious replies, “That’s a point, William. And twenty
thousand – that is something one can feel with the hand, it is there” (92). In
one last ditch effort to, at the very least, provide the opportunity for his family
to achieve their dreams, Willy commits suicide so that his family may collect the
insurance money. Willy was overcome by jealousy and envy as he failed to
achieve his “American Dream”. This ultimately led to his suicide in an attempt
to provide his family with the life that he always envisioned them having.
Overall, Miller shows
the downfall of the seeming great “American Dream” through his play Death of
a Salesman.
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