Willy Loman the Tragedy of the American Dream - 2717 Words

Willy Loman : The Tragedy of the American Dream Prosperity, job security, hard work and family union are some of the concepts that involve the American Dream, generally speaking. Some people think this dream is something automatically granted; or in contrast, as in the story Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller, as something that has to be achieved in order to be successful in life. The play takes issues with those in America who place too much stress on material gain, instead of more admirable values. American society is exemplified with Millers work and demonstrates how a dream could turn into a nightmare. Arthur Millers, Death of a Salesman, is a play that portrays the authors life and the psychological problems†¦show more content†¦However, Biff and Happy do not accomplish Willys hopes to have very successful sons. Biff Loman is a thirty-four year old, rough, good-looking former star athlete. He is also a moody and troubled man. Like his father, he is worried both about the family tensions and about work. He w as a very promising football athlete, but his life changed completely when he discovered that his father was cheating with another woman. Biff drifted and left home and traveled around seven states to get a better job but could not. He also went to jail for stealing a suit. In fact, Biff utterly failed to live up his fathers expectations. He has an internal struggle trying to know what to do with his future. The main conflict between them is that Willy sees Biff as a person with a lot of possibilities for his life, but the truth is that he sees himself as a nobody. On one side, he feels the pressure that he has to please his fathers wishes; and on the other hand, Biff wants to do what he thinks it is right for his life, his own dreams. But Willy does not want to believe that a member of the Loman family could be or is a nobody or a loser in life. However, this illusion is gone at the end of the story for both. And Willy is not open to listen to his sons and to realize, as Biff says, he never knew who he was. Biffs brother, Happy Loman, who is the elegant assistant to the assistant buyer, shares with Biff an affection for a rough outdoorShow MoreRelatedEssay 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 MoreDeath Of A Salesman Is A Tragedy In The Sense That It Displays1015 Words   |  5 PagesDeath of a Salesman is a tragedy in the sense that it displays the consequences of commitment of one s life towards an idealistic goal such as the American Dream. Willy Loma n fails to see that he is an unsuccessful salesman and to escape that harsh reality, he constantly reminisces his past. Which beg the question, is Willy Loman a tragic hero? He may not be a conventional tragic hero but he indeed had a downfall however, he wasn’t in a distinguished position to say the least. He was everybody yetRead 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? 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Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller is indeed an American Tragedy, but theRead More Death of a Salesman Structure Metaphoric Language and Theme1542 Words   |  7 Pagesof the tragic hero, it can be see that Willy Loman is not a tragic hero but a victim of a false idealistic pursuit of the â€Å"American Dream†. Willy strives to become and instill in his sons the success of the self made man that American society often advertises but ultimately falls short, and instead, escapes accepting his failure through lies and death. What many flaws Willy possesses, most do not correlate wi th the classic tragic hero. Willy Loman, was never really of noble stature, asRead 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 times. Whether or not Willy Loman is a tragic hero in DeathRead MoreArthur Miller s Death Of A Salesman Essay1567 Words   |  7 PagesIt is known that in literature, a tragedy is one of the most popular genres. It always combines some story which discusses human sufferings with a certain sense of audience fulfillment. The roots of the tragedy are related to ancient Greece. A Greek tragedy is a sad story, which represents a character with a tragic flaw leading to his downfall. In addition, in traditional tragedy, the main character falls from high authority and often it is predetermined by fate, while the audience experiences catharsisRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller949 Words   |  4 Pagesof a Salesman can be described as modern tragedy portraying the remaining days in the life of Willy Loman. This story is very complex, not only because of it’s use of past and present, but because of Willy’s lies that have continued to spiral out of control throu ghout his life. Arthur Miller puts a modern twist on Aristotle’s definition of ancient Greek tragedy when Willy Loman’s life story directly identifies the fatal flaw of the â€Å"American Dream†. Willy Loman’s tragic flaw can be recapped by  oneRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman Tragedy Essay1365 Words   |  6 Pagesinterpretations: Willy the impossible dreamer, Willy the conformist, Willy the American nightmare on the obverse side of the American dream. Maybe on this sixty-third anniversary of the play—the very age of its enigmatic protagonist—it is possible to get past what makes this play beloved and get to what makes it disturbing.† (Siegel) The play is a primary example of one’s dream of achieving the American Dream while struggling to earn a living. Many critics call the play a tragedy, why is this playRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1573 Words   |  7 PagesIt is known that in literature, a tragedy is one of the most popular genres. It always combines some story which discusses human sufferings with a certain sense of audience fulfillment. The roots of the tragedy are related to ancient Greece. A Greek tragedy is a sad story, which represents a character with a tragic flaw leading to his downfall. In addition, in traditional tragedy, the main character falls from high authority and often it is predetermined by fate, while the audience experiences catharsis