An Analysis Of Willy Loman's Death Of A Salesman

America is a country built on the idea of The American dream; an idea that any person, white, black, brown, or even purple can achieve economic freedom and upward social mobility through hard work and determination. There are few men who hold this idea more dear than Willy Loman. Mistakenly, Willy focuses more on the ideals of wealth than the laborious journey it takes to become a successful business man. The American capitalistic society is competitive and people like Willy, who do not understand the environment they are in, will habitually have problems climbing the economic totem pole. Death of Salesman admits to a flaw in the American system, not everybody will be successful, but through characters, flashbacks, and the resolution it is clear that Willy’s lack of success is result of his own choices, and not society.

If society was the cause for Willy’s struggles, then it only makes sense that other characters in the story would be having similar problems, but this is certainly not the case. Starting with Dave Singleman, the man who inspired Willy to become a career

salesman, has “drummed merchandise in thirty one states”(81). Bill Oliver owns a major sporting goods company. Bernard is a successful lawyer, in the story he is going to Washington D.C to “argue a case in front of the Supreme Court”(95). Bernard’s father Charley owns a lucrative business. Lastly, Howard owns the business that Willy works for. The only failing individuals in the story are Willy and his two sons Biff and Happy who inherited the downfalls of their father. Willy idolizes the American dream, but he fails to see the effort it takes to achieve success. One example of this is when he describes what he believes Biff's life as a salesmen would be, “when he walks into a business office his name will sound out like a bell and all the doors will open to him”(86). Willy believes that just because Bif is an “adonis”(33) that he is guaranteed success. Unfortunately for the Loman’s success is not entitled. There is step before success and it is hard work: a very fundamental principle that goes hand-in-hand with American dream. It is not society’s fault that Willy is delusional to how the world works, delusional to the impact that hard work has on a career. Willy’s slanted views on business have killed his own career and crippled that of his sons Biff and Happy. The roadblock to Willy’s success in not society, but his own mangled mindset of what it takes to make it as a businessman.
Willy’s brother Ben appears in the story through flashbacks. Ben is the epitome of achievement to Willy. He walked into the jungle at 17 and when he walked out at 21 he was “rich”(52). Ben got incredibly lucky, he probably should not have come out alive, let alone rich. Unfortunately Willy does not see this as an exception but as the template for success. Ben is a fortunate man, but unfortunately for Willy his achievements can not be recreated. This shows a flaw in the american dream, some people will get lucky and stumble upon riches. For the people slaving every day seeing people get quite an agitating event, but at the same time most people are hoping that they will be the next one. Ben’s life shows there are flaws to the American system, but they are not the sole reason that Willy is not a success.
The story ends with Willy Loman tragically taking his own life.

Willy never accomplished his dream of becoming a first-rate salesmen. Even his funeral which he had hoped would be filled with people coming from far and wide was a handful away from being empty. The book is titled Death of a Salesman which is literal as well as a parallel to his career that died. Not only is the outcome the same in his career as in his life, but so is the method. Willy Loman killed himself, but he also killed his career. Throughout the story it is mentioned that Willy was a skilled builder, “He was so wonderful with his hands”(138) not only was he talented, but “he was a happy man with a batch of cement”(138). His family make it clear that Willy would have been more suited for a job in construction than sales. Willy chose the wrong career, and it is not society's fault that he chose a life he was not suited to

live.
Death of A Salesman shows that the American dream is not perfect, but in any economic system people will fall through the cracks. People like Willy who do not understand the environment they work in will never be successful in a competitive domain, because they are unwilling to sacrifice their time and energy to accomplish their goals.