Dreams in Death of a Salesman. Essay -- English Literature

Dreams in Death of a Salesman.In this essay Im expiry to consider Arthur Millers perception ofdreams, particularly the Ameri substructure Dream. Arthur Millers play Deathof a Salesman is a detailed review on the capitalist American societyof the 1940s and also on human psychology and how much materialisticsuccess means to us. He uses the misfortunes of a salesman named WillyLoman to illustrate this. Miller introduces the Loman family in adepressing mood (dim lighting is used and shows a house that hastowering, angular shapes surrounding it and with little furniture).This immediately gives the audience a glum feeling rough the play. TheLoman family is a very stereotypical American family, with the father,Willy, working all day, a loving mother, Linda, and two children, Biffand Happy. As the play develops however, we learn more than and more aboutthe real tragedy of the family. Willy believes in the American dream.It was very influential in the American society of the 1940s and sti llis to some people, today. only only a few people have benefited fromit. The American dream is based on the idea that as long as someone whole works hard, they will achieve great success no matter what their sex,age, nationality is. As the audience learn about the Loman familyspoor financial situation, it becomes clear that Willy is a victim ofthe American dream. Willys failure in leading a rich or even just acomfortable life is very apparent. He complains about his work andstruggles to pay his bills. He is also frequently shown in a state ofdepression, he cannot concentrate when driving he is still working athis old age and is struggling to bring in a steady income. Hisunstable mind makes him contradict himself in th... ...fridge fails. Arthur Miller seems to see her, not Ben, as the realhero of the play. This is reflected in the gentle respect he gives toher in his writing.This play is a strong message against the principle of the AmericanDream. Willy Loman is ever striving t o achieve the dream, butdrives himself crazy. Biff seems to be the only character in the Lomanfamily that is able to set himself aside from this dream, wanting onlyto be riant - his own man. Although I believe dreams to be animportant, if not essential part of life, I also believe thatcontentment is far more important. If you cannot be expert with whatyou have, you cannot possibly hope to be happy with what you wish for.Willy Loman dreams of becoming a great man, dreams of the great man hewas and dreams of the great man Biff can be, he just fails to realisethat they are great men.