Willy Loman And The American Dream

Leonard Boswell once said, “The American Dream is one of success, home ownership, college education for one 's children, and have a secure job to provide these and other goals” (Boswell). This quote embodies the way Willy Loman, in Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller, looks at life. He struggled through his whole life so he could feel as if he was truly successful. Willy wants everything that Boswell said plus he wants to be well liked, he wants the all important American Dream, and being better that those who surround him. These are the ways Willy Loman defined success and how he measured his life’s success.

Home ownership - something that the Loman family constantly battles with. Though this is something Willy takes to heart.

Willy Loman calls Charley one of his only friends, yet he treats Charley and his son like dirt. In Bernard’s high school days, he was not see as one of the popular kids, always taking a background to Biff. Willy thrives off of this. He thinks so much of his sons and how amazing they are compared to the nerd, Bernard. Then there is Bernard’s father, Charlie. He was a hard working man who believed that success could be achieved if he tried hard enough. This pays off for him in the end when he is in charge of a company and is left to help out Willy in times of need. He offers Willy a job just after he gets fired, but Willy does not accept. He continues to believe that he is better than his friend. That he does not need his help, even though he is giving him 50 dollars a week so the Loman family can just survive. When Willy find out how successful Bernard really is it is like the last straw for him. He saw a kid who he thought was a no nothing nerd all throughout high school be come a big success. While his sons, Biff and Happy, are the same age as Bernard but are struggling to get by. Thus adding to the list of failures in Willy Lomans life.

Who has success in this play? I believe this to be Bernard and Charlie. They both face similar challenges that the Lomans faced. Yet, they were able to come out of it alive. What makes them different from the Loman family is their strength. Not knowing much about Bernard and Charlie, but from the little shown in the play it is that father and son love each other. They have each others backs and are there for every success and failure. It seems like Willy secretly wants to be like Charley and Bernard. He wants to be able to feel the success and pleasures of life that they