The Great Gatsby
Of Mice and Men
Death of a Salesman
The American Dream
Death of a Dream
1950's
To the protagonist of Death of a Salesman, the American Dream is the ability to become prosperous by mere charisma. Willy believes that personality, not hard work and innovation, is the key to success. Time and again, he wants to make sure his boys are well-liked and popular.Of course, Willy’s version of the American Dream never pans out. Despite his son’s popularity in high school, Biff grows up to be a drifter and a ranch-hand.
Willy’s own career falters as his sales ability flat-lines. When he tries to use “personality” to ask his boss for a raise, he gets fired instead.
To Willy’s older brother Ben, the American Dream is the ability to start with nothing and somehow make a fortune.
Willy is envious of his brother’s success and machismo. But Willy’s wife Linda is frightful and concerned when the Ben stops by for a brief visit. To her, he represents wildness and danger. This is displayed when Ben horses around with his nephew Biff. Just as Biff starts to win their sparring match, Ben trips the boy and stands over him with the “point of his umbrella poised at Biff’s eye.” Ben’s character signifies that a few people can achieve the “rags to riches” version of the American Dream, but Miller’s play suggests that one must be ruthless (or at least a bit wild) in order to achieve it.
"What’s the mystery? The man knew what he wanted and went out and got it! Walked into a jungle, and comes out, the age of twenty-one, and he’s rich! The world is an oyster, but you don’t crack it open on a mattress!"
Although he has felt confused and angry since discovering his father’s infidelity, Biff Loman does have potential to pursue the “right” dream – if only he could resolve his inner conflict. Biff is pulled by two different dreams. One dream is his father’s world of business, sales, and capitalism. But another dream involves nature, the great outdoors, and working with his hands. Biff explains to his brother both the appeal and the angst of working on a ranch. However, by the end of the play, Biff realizes that his father had the “wrong” dream. Biff understands that his father was great with his hands. Willy built their garage and put up a new ceiling. Biff believes that his father should have been a carpenter, or should have lived in another, more rustic part of the country. But instead, Willy pursued an empty life. Willy sold nameless, unidentified products, and watched his American Dream fall apart.
During the funeral of his father, Biff decides that he will not allow that to happen to himself. He turns away from Willy’s dream and, presumably, returns to the countryside, where good, old-fashioned manual labor will ultimately content his restless soul.
