The American Dream

The American Dream is the ideal that every American desire for an opportunity of success and prosperity through hard work and determination. America born on the rags-to-riches stories like Rockefeller and Carnegie, who rose to power and wealth. Unfortunately, only a few people in America actually achieve the desirable dream while others live in poverty. In Death of a Salesman, characters of the Loman family struggle to adapt to modern times and reach the unattainable American Dream, a challenge defined by the historical context, setting, and symbols.

The time period the play take places named the “Baby Boomer Era”, seen as the growth of suburbs and economic prosperity in America. This era ran from late 1946 through the 1950s, which changed

how Americans lifestyle changed completely from America’s old ways. America with a thriving economy caused consumerism since America is the only power nation, that economy/country not affected badly by World War Ⅱ. As the postwar economy prosperous away from the Great Depression, Americans began to have a higher materialistic way of living. This time period thrives off the growing middle class for owning things like houses, automobiles, and others. In the Death of a Salesman, people like Howard, Willy’s boss, fixated on owning updated technology like the radio and the wire-recording machine. Miller explains the new generation compelled on new technology by, “ You can’t do without it ….. So you tell your maid to turn the radio on when Jack Benny comes on, and this automatically goes on with the radio” (Act 2, pg 1041). Miller shows how the new world ideas contradicting with the old lifestyle on what the American society values. As a result, the setting of the play ties in what ideals the American Dream stands for in the new modern era.

The setting projects the ideals of modernism to achieve the American Dream for the Lomans, which unfortunately the family stuck in the world before the war. Due to the increase in population after World War Ⅱpeople like William Levitt, build places for growing families and returning veterans ( Digital History). The Loman's house is surrounded by apartments, which the apartments represent the old world transforms to urbanization ( leaving the farm life for big cities). Miller shows the upcoming population by stating,“There’s more people! That’s what’s ruining this country! The competition is maddening! Smell the stink from that apartment house! And the one on the other side… How can they whip cheese” (Miller pg 1004). The change after WW2 reflects Willy unable to adapt to the suburban modern setting. He is not fond of big changes in society nor his cheese. He often reminisces about how peaceful the neighborhood before the war.

Additionally, the setting of the play adds to how society treats each other. People began to think less about each other but how can that person benefit me. Friedman explains the setting of America of this time by stating,“The play revealed the cruelty of a system of capitalism based entirely on salesmanship, in which bosses hired and fired people when they were no longer effective.” The play setting is surrounded by the business society. Business in America became highly competitive and cold-hearted in this era. The new era created new manipulate ways to sell people things. Willy was fired due to not being efficient to the company anymore, even though he worked for the company for 35 years. This shows how society has turned cold in order for an individual to reach success.

Furthermore, Miller conveys the madness of chasing the American Dream during the late 1940s through the characters of the play.

The Loman family are the main characters of the play and often delude themselves to get closer to the American Dream. Willy Loman, the father, is the most delusional of the family and project his delusional ideas to his sons. Willy is delusional because he believes success will come with a charismatic personality and being liked by other people. He lies to himself that he is a well-like and successful salesman to obtain his view of the dream with material things. He wants fame and money to provide for his family. In reality, he is not the best salesman because doesn't make a sale. Willy glorifies his older brother, Ben for success in foreign lands and wishes to become like him. Willy disguises his terrible life with his nostalgic delusions of the past to keep him from seeing the corruption of the American Dream. Willy cannot be unsuccessful by his family and other people, so he always makes up lies to keep a well imaged. Even though Willy was given a reduced salary for low sales production and has to borrow money from his neighbor Charley just to pay off bills. Braun states, “Willy’s obsession with the American Dream, believing that being well liked equates with success, keeps both he and his sons in a state of emotional immaturity” (11). This caused Willy to convince Biff to become the son he wants him to be a successful salesman with material

access not living in the west. Willy shares the idea of being successful is being well-liked to his sons.“Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not—liked. He’s liked, but he’s not–-well liked” ( Act 1 pg 1012). He lives in despair not able to the new world. Willy sees the difference in being a salesman in the new area when talking to Howard. “In those days there was personality in it, Howard. There was respect, and comradeship, and gratitude in it. Today it’s all cut and dried, and there’s no chance for bringing friendship to bear- or personality” (Miller 1043). Willy cannot adapt to the new salesman of the day and it affects him financially and mentally.

Happy Loman, the youngest son, has a pretty successful life, a steady job in sales and own an apartment.

Although, Happy is very lonely and yearns attention he was never given from his parents. Miller gives Happy the same mindset as Willy by stating, “Sometimes I wanna just rip my clothes off in the middle of the store and outbox that goddamned merchandise manager. I mean I can outbox, outlift and outrun anybody in that store, and I have to take orders from those petty, common sons of bitches till I can’t stand it anymore”(Act 1 pg.1008). Happy copies his father with delusional confidence in himself and manipulates to get what he desires. Jacobson elaborates on Happy’s character by saying, “Happy’s need to be number one has another significance also, for he has never been the sole focus of his father’s attention, always a poor second to Biff” ( 253).When Happy was younger, he was overshadowed due to the glory of Biff. Happy follows his father dreams to try to get accepted by his parents. Happy sees the Dream just like Willy does, he wants approval from his father. Happy has fallen into the road to catch the unattainable dream by manipulating/competing for his way to the top. He cannot compete for business wise so he gets even by having sexual affairs with women. He even goes as far with creeping with his friends’ wives to fill his emptiness. Happy is proof of being a mini-version of his father Willy. Both men use women to prove their manhood and affair with woman to keep a

well imaged of a successful man. Happy believes a woman/wife and money is what he needs to be happy, which he still is not satisfied with the American Dream. After his father’s death, Happy still has the same mindset of the dream and wishes to carry out his father's goals in life. The American Dream does not bring happiness for Happy, he is still seeking happiness within competition and women.

As of Biff Loman, the first-born son, he’s another victim of trying to adapt to new times. He steals and lie to keep a well- imaged also. He believed in Willy’s ideas when he was a famous athlete in high school. Due to finding out Willy was lie when he caught him in an affair with a woman. He often reminisces about being in the West. Unlike the other family members, Biff is the only one who’s seen the downfall of chasing the unattainable dream by the end of the play. Biff sees the dream as an obstacle to the key to his happiness. He loves being in the West but he feels bad as not being successful at being a 34-year old man due to society wants him to believe. Miller gives Biff a changing moment in the story by stating,“Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be . . . when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am” ( Act 2 pg 1074). Biff knows that money and a legacy is not the key to happiness. This means that American Dream portrayed to get easily through a charming personality and hard work from characters like Willy and Happy. The characters have full faith in the dream which is shown into their personality and delusions.While the characters in DOAS is important to convey the downfall of the American Dream, symbols also add on to the theme of the play.

To add, symbols of the play symbolize the state of happiness/wealth to convey to modern life. In the play, a man’s happiness displayed through material things like a car, house, washer, etc. The late 1940s was the beginning era of heavy consumerism. Buying modern items after the Great Depression. Seeds are a symbol to show Willy’s effort to leave a legacy in the world. To show something for his life since he has not been successful in his life. "Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground" (Miller 1068). He sees his life as unsuccessful at his last moments in life and wants to change his outcome to not leave Earth worthless. His fatherhood is tested as he sees Biff as unsuccessful because of him as a parent. He wants to leave something for his son to show he can accomplish one successful thing in his life, unlike Willy’s father. The symbol is to show he can provide for his family long after he is gone.

Also, Ben is the symbol of the dark side of the American Dream because he lies and steals to reach his success.Willy often hallucinates his big brother Ben, who is dead, and how he found wealth in Africa easily. Willy praises Ben for finding wealth for himself to his sons to compare that this is who you need to be in life. Ben in a flashback, shows the kids you must cheat to get what you want in life. Ben pushes Willy to commit suicide for him in order to be successful in the dark world. “The world was a home to Ben not by the affection he won from it but the wealth, power, and mobility” (Jacobson 250). Ben stands for instant power and glory that America stands for in society. He does not care who he hurts to get his way to top to reach the American Dream.

Another symbol is the diamond in the jungle in Africa that Ben grabs. Miller uses a diamond to create the image of the late 1940s mentality by stating, “The jungle is dark but full of diamonds, Willy”(Act 2 pg 1076). A diamond is a symbol of wealth in a dark place. To have a diamond in life equals immediate wealth. In this time period in America, a lot Americans did illegal/immoral things to reach their success. This says to the audience the characters must take a risk in order to reach success regardless if it's right or wrong. The risk means getting slimy/grimy as actions killing and stealing from others. The diamond in Willy’s life is the insurance money and must kill himself in order to leave the money for Biff. These symbols show how the impact of the American Dream affects the world through materialism. Values/morals taken away to show the new consumer world.

In conclusion, Death of a Salesman tells a story of a family trying to reach the unattainable American Dream but cannot due to the struggle to adapt to modern times. The Dream caused Willy Loman to commit suicide to be a hero to his family with insurance money and leave a legacy in his name. This argument is important because the American Dream has corrupted the minds of Americans to believe that success is right around the corner and happiness fulfilled through materialistic items. Many of individuals in America become in debt/poverty trying to reach wealth. Miller reveals to America the desire of being wealthy does not always provide ultimate happiness.