The American Dream in The Death of a Saleman by Arthur Miller

One of the striking themes in Arthur Miller’s â€Å"The Death of a Salesman† is the concept of the American Dream. After World War II, as the United States produced more consumer goods, numerous people interpreted the American Dream as the concepts of richness and popularity. Although Miller wrote â€Å"The Death of a Salesman† after World War II, he describes Willy Loman as a salesman, who illustrates that wealth and popularity are not the important concepts that the American Dream represents. The four concepts of the American Dream that Willy fails to point out are freedom of choice, family love, hard work, and happiness. For example, when Willy cannot fulfill the American Dream in the business world, he places the pressure on Biff to fulfill it for him. At the beginning of Act I, Willy points out, â€Å"The trouble is he’s [Biff] lazy, goddammit† (1265)! Willy’s use of the word â€Å"lazy† symbolizes his inability of persuading Bif f to pursue a career in the business field. Even though Willy believes that the business field would make Biff feel â€Å"well-liked†, he fails to interpret Biff’s American Dream. Examining Biff’s American Dream, we are reminded that â€Å"with a ranch I could do the work I like and still be something† (1271). Biff’s plan to work on the ranch depicts the freedom of choice. He represents the opposite side of Willy, who chooses a career based on his passions and not based on others’ opinions. Besides the freedom of choice, Willy also fails to recognize family love throughShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream in Death of a Saleman by Arthur Miller Essay example598 Words   |  3 PagesThe American Dream is the idea that when people come to the United States that they all have an opportunity to achieve success, but they have to work for it. Arthur Miller uses the idea of the American Dream all throughout the story. There are many things that come through the American Dream such as how people have to follow their dream, work hard and earn respect. The American Dream has a lot to do with the characters followingRead MoreThe American Dream1207 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the play, the different concept of the American Dream can be spotted through in different generations. The characters of each generation have the similar American Dream, which is to have better future with wealth, however, they have different ways of earning this at the end. Since the result comes from the determination from hard work and how much of effort they put in to achieve their dreams or not. In this essay the â€Å"Death of Salesman† it has maintained that much of the enduring universal