American Dream And The Way example essay topic

353 words
The American Dream, a dream for many, it is the unlocked door that may leads to happiness. It is the hope for a future filled with success and fortune. Although most people have a similar idea of what the American Dream is, they may have different ideas on how to achieve it. Arthur Miller, in the play, "Death of a Salesman" reflects on how one man's struggle in a pursuit of the "American Dream".

The protagonist, Willy Loman, a struggling salesman, whose pursuit after the "American Dream" ends in a tragic crash that ultimate ends his life. During the 1940's, American society became increasingly consumerist and more competitive than ever before. Miller's play questions the values upon which this society is based and the way in which these contribute to the destruction of a man such as Willy Lowman. He is very critical of a society which he seems to see as being destructive in many ways. The idea of the "American Dream" made people believe that any man living in America could, with personality and dedication, become very successful. Miller has launched a somewhat scathing attack on the very notion of this dream.

He highlights the many flaws within it and how such an idea can mislead men like Willy, who devotes his entire life to being successful. The emphasis on being an owner of goods, the competitive nature of society, and the callousness of the business world, the American Dream and the way in which success is measured are all criticized in the play "Death of a Salesman". If the American Dream is easily attained then everyone should be happy, satisfied, wealthy, successful, and have the ultimate family. The Loman family represents the reality and consequences of trying too hard to live by the American Dream. Willy gets so caught up in societal expectations that he ends up wasting most of his life for a dream that cannot just be met by sustaining a good job, which Willy does not have, or by having the perfect family.