The Critical idea throughout Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is the American dream that is sought after by so many even in today's time. However, the idea of the American Dream can be viewed as many different things to people of all kinds. In Death of a Salesman the main character, Willy Loman, struggles to fulfill his ideal of the American Dream. With the relatable elements, of envy, pride, and greed that everyone can comprehend, helps readers understand and sympathize with Miller's Death of a Salesman come across as a moving experience for many viewers.
At first glance Willy Loman's ideal of the American dream is prospering in his chosen career of being a salesman in the United States. The tale goes on showing that throughout Willy's younger days he was more prosperous and self-confident which could be seen as to why throughout the play he revisits the past. One recurring person in Willy's daydreams of the past is his older brother, Ben, that he idealized till the very end. As his situation in life became worse Willy seems to over-idealize his deceased, older brother and his success as seen when he asks his brother for guidance, "Ben, am I right? Don't …show more content…
He retains his pride by escaping the reality of his life with the past. He emphasizes to himself of his successful past and believes that it should be honored instead of his current self regardless of his current situation. Willy repeatedly demonstrates this throughout the play as shown when he complains about getting fired by his younger boss, Howard, "That snotnose. Imagine that? I named him. I named him Howard." (DiYanni, 1823) Throughout the play, he continues this attitude and starts to reach for straws to hold everything together as when he started to yell at Charley, his neighbor, "Well you don't know how to eat./ No, you're ignorant. You gotta know about vitamins and things like that." (DiYanni,
At first glance Willy Loman's ideal of the American dream is prospering in his chosen career of being a salesman in the United States. The tale goes on showing that throughout Willy's younger days he was more prosperous and self-confident which could be seen as to why throughout the play he revisits the past. One recurring person in Willy's daydreams of the past is his older brother, Ben, that he idealized till the very end. As his situation in life became worse Willy seems to over-idealize his deceased, older brother and his success as seen when he asks his brother for guidance, "Ben, am I right? Don't …show more content…
He retains his pride by escaping the reality of his life with the past. He emphasizes to himself of his successful past and believes that it should be honored instead of his current self regardless of his current situation. Willy repeatedly demonstrates this throughout the play as shown when he complains about getting fired by his younger boss, Howard, "That snotnose. Imagine that? I named him. I named him Howard." (DiYanni, 1823) Throughout the play, he continues this attitude and starts to reach for straws to hold everything together as when he started to yell at Charley, his neighbor, "Well you don't know how to eat./ No, you're ignorant. You gotta know about vitamins and things like that." (DiYanni,