Willy Loman And The American Dream Analysis - 1075 Words

Pursuit of Happiness in the American Dream In Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, Willy Lomans pursuit of the American Dream is characterized by his selfishness, demonstrating how the American Dream can subtly turn into the American Nightmare. However, Willy’s role is quite important because he often led to failure through the creation of the American Dream and the real world. To fully understand the storyline of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, one must evaluate each member of the Loman family. The death of Willy Loman implies that the American Dream brings hope to many but an American nightmare to most. Death of a Salesman is a play that is based off a sympathetic, candid, and mocking tone. The characters in this play†¦show more content†¦Arthur Miller makes Willy Loman the protagonist in this tragedy. Willy Loman wanted to impress everyone and show people that he was not a failure in the American Dream but soon falls from his noble position. Miller uses flashbacks to reveal events that occ urred before the time of the play. Miller foreshadows what will happen in the future between Willy and Biff Loman. Willy’s accident foreshadows his suicide at the end of Act II. â€Å"Willy’s distorted idea of the American Dream brings about his demise.† (Stone) Miller symbolizes plants and trees which Willy longs for. The plants and trees represents strength, hope, and well-being for Willy. The seeds in the story represent Willy’s attempt to provide for his family and make money but he is not guaranteed anything of value. The plot occurs within the two main acts. Miller introduces three main theme in act I. In the first act, the protagonist Willy becomes happy living in his flashbacks and dreams and his reality conflicts with his hopes. Miller makes this act seems very promising that there will be a good end. Miller makes the first act most important because it is showing the characters and the background of why the characters act a certain way. Miller also uses certain literary devices to help better understand the main protagonist Willy and the miserable life that led to the ending of act II. The play Death of a Salesman is mainly a story of a dream andShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Willy Loman And The American Dream1553 Words   |  7 PagesIn one of Arthur Miller’s play, â€Å"Death of a Salesman† written in 1949; it uncovers the betrayal of the American Dream. Willy Loman, one of the characters in â€Å"Death of a Salesman† who believes that finding success is very easy, but in reality’s he only finds his success in own imagination. In Act one of the play, Willy Loman stated â€Å"Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Uncle Charley is not †¦ Liked. He’s Liked, but not well Liked (p21).† This quote expresses that being liked is not the key to successRead MoreEssay about The American Dream in Death of a Salesman1371 Words   |  6 Pagesof 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 prosperity. The American Dream affects our view of Willy Loman asRead MoreComparing Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Fences by August Wilson 1403 Words   |  6 Pa gesto achieve the American dream as it relates to each character; both of which fail in drastic yet similar ways. The American dream has always been an important factor in many American’s lives as it is to Troy Maxson the protagonists of Fences and to Willy Loman the protagonist of Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman and Troy Maxson are both hardworking men of different cultural backgrounds, with striking similarities in the way they try to achieve and fail to achieve the American dream of their era andRead MoreThemes Of Death Of A Salesman1286 Words   |  6 Pagescentered on the events that take place at the end of Willy Loman’s life. From the opening act, we learn that Willy and his family struggle to behave as a united front when they face financial pressures and strained familial bonds. This causes Willy to become desperate for success and validation. Death of a Salesman has commonly been interpreted as an analysis of the American dream. Within the ideal American so ciety, citizens believe that the American dream allows each individual an equal opportunity toRead MoreWilly Loman as a Tragic Hero in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman1218 Words   |  5 PagesWilly Loman as a Tragic Hero in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Should Willy Loman of Arthur Millers classic, Death of a Salesman be regarded as a tragic hero, or merely a working-class, socially inadequate failure? Described by Miller as a self-destructive, insecure anti-hero, it seems almost impossible for Loman to be what is known as a tragic hero in the classical sense, but with the inclusion of other factors he maybe a tragic hero, at least in the modernRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Death Of A Salesman 954 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis 1.Willy Loman. Although the main protagonist of the play, Willy Loman does not come to a certain self-realization. Searching and sifting through his memories (which cannot be completely taken as the truth as he reinvents them in a way to make them out as a golden era) he fails to recognize his slanted reality he’s lived in made up of his delusions. His forged relationship with his son Biff, is based solely off Willy’s hopes that he will fulfill the ‘American Dream’, whileRead More Modern Tragic Hero Essay1304 Words   |  6 Pagesplays, features the life of Willy Loman, a delusional salesman with a grandiose plan to live the American dream. As a result to the tragic events of Willy Loman’s life starting with his father’s abandonment, and ending with his suicide, Willy Loman never lives the life he has always dreamed. Although, arguably discredited as a tragic hero, Willy Loman attains the qualities essential to credit him as a tragic hero of modern tim es. Whether or not Willy Loman is a tragic hero in DeathRead MoreDeath Of Salesman By F. Scott Fitzgerald1515 Words   |  7 Pageslaw of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.† In the play Death of Salesman by Arthur Miller, the protagonist Willy Loman is depicted as a man who has failed in life; he spent most of his life reminiscing the past. This affected his life greatly, especially his relationship with his son, Biff Loman. Nevertheless, in the novel, The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, the protagonist, Jay Gatsby undergoes a major change in life; he goes from beingRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman Symbolism Analysis1145 Words   |  5 Pagesitems have over the Loman family. One reoccurring symbol throughout the story was the silk stockings. The silk stockings are representative of Willys Shame, guilt, and infidelities. Throughout the story, Willy scolds Linda for mending her stockings. Willy says, â€Å"What’s that?† Linda replies, â€Å"Just mending my stockings. They’re so expensive.† In an angry tone, Willy then says,â€Å"I won’t have you mending stocking in this house! Now throw them out!† (1445). In the critical analysis â€Å"Family Values in DeathRead MoreAmerican Dream Derailed in The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman1486 Words   |  6 PagesThe American dream originated when immigrants came to America searching for new opportunities and a better life. In the early 1900’s all people could do is dream; however, those dreams gave many different meanings to the phrase â€Å"American dream†, and for the most part, wealth and hard work play a very large role in the pursuit of â€Å"the d ream†. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, and Arthur Miller’s drama, Death of a Salesman, both protagonists, Jay Gatsby and Willy Loman, are convinced