Ambition In Death Of A Salesman

Great Essays
“Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller Ambition scours free in America. During the 1950’s, the reputation of the American people became reliant on strength and determination to procure dreams. Arthur Miller’s book, “Death of a Salesman”, shrouded the contemptuous nature of a family living their dreams, revealing the truth and phenomena behind the cloaked society, where everyone is xerox copies of each other. Coming home every day from work, Willy Loman, in the comfort of his wife Linda, does not find himself at rest. Willy’s life is riddled with barriers by his job causing him to not think clearly. Biff and Happy, his two sons, arrived at their house to settle the family affairs between their tangled family, resulting in Willy’s untimely …show more content…
In remembrance of his father’s achievements in making a lot of money, Willy denies his talents of being a handyman. His father’s dream was balanced with his passion for making flutes for a living, which is why he earned a lot of money. Willy had the skillset to become a handyman, but he wanted more fame and money. When Willy’s oldest son, Biff, made a clear statement “We should be mixing cement on some open plain, or-or carpenters” that awakened Willy’s anger because to him, Biff’s remark was that Willy was incapable of being a salesman (61). The difference between Willy and his father; Willy’s father is satisfied with himself and uses his talents in his job to make a lot of money. Willy was, as Linda once stated, "Great with his hands", he should have taken a job which made use of his talent, instead of one that highlighted his weaknesses.Willy shows pride and happiness when he asks Charley “Did you see that ceiling I put up in the living-room?” (44). Willy could have tied a balance into being a handyman, but instead, he tied his dreams to a salesman. Another successful person Willy was also yearning for, was his brother Ben. In one of Willy’s fantasies, Ben exploits his wealth by mentioning, “When I walked into the jungle, I was seventeen. When I walked out I was twenty-one. And by God, I was rich!” (52). Willy wants to expose his sons to a family based on wealth and appearance. What Willy does instead though is …show more content…
Willy’s wife and sons are affected by Willy jobs as a salesman and his influences on them made them revolve around his life. Instead of following an ideal job as a handyman, Willy decided to squeeze into the norm as a salesman. He would have been happy and enjoying his life or even make a lot of money out of it like his father. Yet, he chose to strive for more troubles and hardship in his life. America offers opportunity and showcases idealism, under freedom. Arthur Miller uses Willy Loman to shatter the stereotypes of the perfect American Dream, leaving the reader with an astonishment that America is the land of the

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