Death Of A Salesman And The American Dream Essay - 2203 Words

The United States in the mid-twentieth century was a time of change. In the 1960’s the civil rights and women’s rights were in their embryonic stages. All of these ideas coming together created the illusion of The American Dream. Back then; the American dream was equated with freedom and material prosperity, two concepts that ring true today. The definition of the American dream changes as society in the United States changes, and the connotation and reality of the American Dream is disheartening. Two literary compositions give a realistic outlook on what the American Dream really is. In Death of a Salesman and The American Dream, Arthur Miller and Edward Albee masterfully relay the true nature and ideologies of The American Dream. In theory, the â€Å"American Dream† is the idea that every person residing in the United States of America should live a richer and fuller life, regardless of the class one is born in. It is not a dream about cars, high wages, and a p icket fence. The idea, for it to work, is supposed to be that every man and woman in this beautiful country has the ability to gain the highest class in their ability regardless of their previous background. The ability to achieve such high success is based on academic success and hard work. In current times, it seems the American Dream has become a pursuit of material objects. Citizens of the United States work countless hours to be able to afford bigger cars, better homes, and the newest technologies. On the surface,Show MoreRelatedAmerican Dream - Death of a Salesman1005 Words   |  5 PagesThe play Death of a Salesman greatly portrays a specific ideology in regards to values, dreams, goals, and success in our consumer-driven society. It helps showcase the American dream that society tends to strive for even in the early 1900’s (the play is set in the 1940’s). That dream of being a successful business person or vendor. As well as the theory that image and physical attributes are most important to gaining fruition. Willy Loman plays a man in his sixties who has strived for this AmericanRead MoreThe American Dream in Death of a Salesman Essay1566 Words   |  7 Pages The American Dream is based on the Declaration of Independence ´: We believe that all men are born with these inalienable rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. ´ (Thomas Jefferson, 1776). This dream ´ consists of a genuine and determined belief that in America, all things are possible to all men, regardless of birth or wealth; you work hard enough you will achieve anything. However, Miller says people have been ultimately misguided ´. The originsRead MoreThe American Dream and Death of a Salesman Essay937 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Dream is one of the most sought-after things in the United States, even though it is rarely, if ever, achieved. According to historian Matthew Warshauer, the vision of the American Dream has changed dramatically over time. In his 2003 essay â€Å"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Changing Conceptions of the American Dream†, Warshauer claims that the American Dream had gone from becoming wealthy by working hard and earning money, to getting rich quickly and easily. He attributes this change toRead MoreThe American Dream as It Relates to Death of a Salesman1185 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream as it Relates to Death of a Salesman The theme of the American Dream is extremely prevalent in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman. It is so prevalent that there are literally hundreds of different to ways to analyze how the theme is used in the play. One interesting perspective is that the different characters in the play represent different versions of the American Dream. Biff represents the 19th century version of the American Dream, Happy represents the 20th century versionRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman American Dream Essay952 Words   |  4 PagesWilly Loman, Arthur MIller s tragic protagonist of Death in a salesman, stated, â€Å"Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (MIller 122) Lowman, expresses his perception on his succession by planting flowers into the ground. Believing nothing he accomplished was nearly suitable to feel satisfaction. This is exactly, the â€Å"American dream†: a fantasy for some, and a standard of success easily pursued by others; a bel ief that through the virtues of hard work, ingenuity and fortune, oneRead MoreDeath of a Salesman Summary + American Dream5929 Words   |  24 PagesAct 1, Scene 1 Miller begins his play with a bedtime dialogue between Willy and his wife, Linda.   Willy, an aging salesman, has just  returned  late from a business  trip.   Linda is very concerned, asking her husband if he had a  car accident.   Willy tiredly explains that indeed he did have a close call with his  car, veering off the road on two  occasionswhile enjoying the scenery.   Though at first Linda thinks that its a problem with the vehicle, eventually she attributes Willys driving problems toRead MoreAnalysis Of The American Dream In The Death Of A Salesman1917 Words   |  8 PagesAmerican writer, James Truslow Adams defined the â€Å"American Dream† as the â€Å"dream of a land in which life should be better and richer, and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement† (Clark). Many mistakenly associate the American Dream’s success with materialistic wealth, such as the Kardashian’s or Mark Zuckerbe rg’s,   the success of the American dream to be associated with materialistic wealth, but Adams refers to it as a better lifestyle. Even though the UnitedRead More Destruction of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman Essay1042 Words   |  5 Pagessame dream that says this is a country where anything’s possible. No matter who you are. No matter where you come from.† -- President Obama, Commenting on the American Dream The American Dream is a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success. It is the belief that, no matter how poor you begin life, you can achieve upward social mobility for your family and children. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, crushes the ethos of the American Dream. Miller’sRead MoreEssay about The American Dream in Death of a Salesman1371 Words   |  6 PagesArthur Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’ is an examination of American life and consumerism. It relates the story of a common man who portrays this lifestyle. Other issues explored in the play include: materialism, procrastination and alienation. The play was set in 1948, in a time where The American Dream was highly regarded, despite the Depression. The American Dream was a belief that emerged in the later half of the nineteenth century, that if you work hard you will achieve success and prosperityRead MoreThe Myth of the American Dream Expo sed in Death of a Salesman1218 Words   |  5 Pages Millers work on â€Å"Death of a Salesman† is an example piece of work furthering the social protest involving totalitarianism and the American Dream. Throughout the piece, Miller uses his voice of conscience and passion for the purpose of exposing the truth about the concepts. Using the perspective of Willy, a fictional, working class citizen, Miller picks apart the myth of the American Dream, exploring topics such as abandonment, betrayal, family dynamics, and using interesting symbolism along