The Theme Of The American Dream In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

Arthur Miller undergone much hardships and pains as he developed his writing career, however with persistence and hard work he was able to overcome his critics and personal problems to become one of America’s greatest authors and playwrights. Miller’s life exemplifies that the American Dream exists, that with hard work and determination you can reach monetary and social success, however if that dream is distorted to superficial standards and likeability, it becomes a self-destructive pursuit that leads only to your own demise. In Death of a Salesman, Willy blinded by distorted memories of his idealistic American dream, leads his family on a path of self-destructive perpetual denial in pursuit of his dream. Willy bases his understanding of the American Dream on the notion that if a “man was impressive, and well liked,

Happy’s dreams and ambitions are based on what he feels will make Willy proud of him, however he, “do[esn’t]t know what the hell I 'm workin ' for. Sometimes I sit in my apartment—all alone. . . . My own apartment, a car, and plenty of women. And still, goddammit, I 'm lonely." (Miller) Happy’s pursuit of his father’s idealistic American dream was prompted by "the neglect of the father, whose chief concern is always directed toward Biff. Happy suffers, accordingly, a general moral decline." (Fuller) Willy’s self-denial in his pursuit of the American Dream, is adopted by Happy as Biff points out that Happy is only the assistant’s assistant, and Happy continues in his self-denial and delusion that he states, “Well, I’m practically –.” (Miller) Willy’s overbearing attention to Biff and almost complete neglect of Happy cause both men to spiral into a life of sadness and loss of identity, however Willy’s obsession with the American Dream places Linda in self-denial as she shields herself and him from