Post by michelleb07 on Mar 19, 2008 20:15:32 GMT -5
MB
Period 7
WC: 606
A Dream That May Never Become a Reality: How the American Dream Continues to Crush Hopes by Using the Media
In Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman the main character Willy Loman dedicates his life to achieving the American dream. Today the American dream still exists because it is fueled by the media and the same desire that Willy had to reach the top. Although it was written in 1949, Death of a Salesman is still relevant today because American society and the media continue to glorify the few who achieve the American dream subsequently leaving those who fail to reach this objective feeling as inadequate as Willy feels when he cannot achieve his dream of being a prominent salesman.
For Willy Loman this ideal life of success is exemplified through the character Dave Singleman. Dave is a salesman whose success leaves such an impact on his business that hundreds of his coworkers and clients attend his funeral. Because of all Dave has accomplished, Willy realizes that selling is “the greatest career a man could want” (Miller 61). Willy refuses to become “a dime a dozen” and wants to ensure he is as admired, remembered, and loved in the salesman business as Dave was (105). He believes that if he succeeds in this goal, he will pave the way for his family to have the fortunate life he always dreamed he could provide for them.
On the contrary, Willy’s wife Linda feels he should be content with all he has already provided for the family. She asks him, “Why must everybody conquer the world?” (65). However, Willy’s perception of happiness is to be one of the greatest and he will settle for nothing less. In his mind he knows he will not be happy until his name is synonymous with that of Dave Singleman. Unfortunately for Willy, this dream is unrealistic as there are only a few great salesmen and he lacks the ability to become one of them.
Today this structure consisting of few prominent positions with many deserving hopefuls still exists, but now the media feeds on success stories in order for these hopefuls to feel they have better chance at reaching their dream. The emphasis of the American dream focuses more on the “rags to riches” stories of those who worked their way up from the bottom to achieve greatness. The media gives great play to these stories and they have become notorious in our society. In 2006, the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” was based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a stock broker who was once homeless but worked to become a self made millionaire. The movie publicized the idea that any American can work to become millionaire. Similarly, in June 2007 Forbes magazine released an article that found that two-thirds of the world’s billionaires made their fortunes from scratch.
These stories inspire Americans to work to accomplish their goals. However, so many get lost in the stories of success that they find themselves forgetting about the possibility of failure. They yearn to become the next Dave Singleman to the point where they themselves become Willy Loman and the cycle begins again. This is seen with Happy at the end of the play when he proclaims, “I’m going to show you and everyone else that Willy Loman did not die in vain. He had a good dream… He fought it our here, and this is where I’m going to win it for him” (111). It is a vicious cycle which promotes self improvement; however, unfortunately to this day it continues to overlook the possibility of a heart breaking failure.
Period 7
WC: 606
A Dream That May Never Become a Reality: How the American Dream Continues to Crush Hopes by Using the Media
In Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman the main character Willy Loman dedicates his life to achieving the American dream. Today the American dream still exists because it is fueled by the media and the same desire that Willy had to reach the top. Although it was written in 1949, Death of a Salesman is still relevant today because American society and the media continue to glorify the few who achieve the American dream subsequently leaving those who fail to reach this objective feeling as inadequate as Willy feels when he cannot achieve his dream of being a prominent salesman.
For Willy Loman this ideal life of success is exemplified through the character Dave Singleman. Dave is a salesman whose success leaves such an impact on his business that hundreds of his coworkers and clients attend his funeral. Because of all Dave has accomplished, Willy realizes that selling is “the greatest career a man could want” (Miller 61). Willy refuses to become “a dime a dozen” and wants to ensure he is as admired, remembered, and loved in the salesman business as Dave was (105). He believes that if he succeeds in this goal, he will pave the way for his family to have the fortunate life he always dreamed he could provide for them.
On the contrary, Willy’s wife Linda feels he should be content with all he has already provided for the family. She asks him, “Why must everybody conquer the world?” (65). However, Willy’s perception of happiness is to be one of the greatest and he will settle for nothing less. In his mind he knows he will not be happy until his name is synonymous with that of Dave Singleman. Unfortunately for Willy, this dream is unrealistic as there are only a few great salesmen and he lacks the ability to become one of them.
Today this structure consisting of few prominent positions with many deserving hopefuls still exists, but now the media feeds on success stories in order for these hopefuls to feel they have better chance at reaching their dream. The emphasis of the American dream focuses more on the “rags to riches” stories of those who worked their way up from the bottom to achieve greatness. The media gives great play to these stories and they have become notorious in our society. In 2006, the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” was based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a stock broker who was once homeless but worked to become a self made millionaire. The movie publicized the idea that any American can work to become millionaire. Similarly, in June 2007 Forbes magazine released an article that found that two-thirds of the world’s billionaires made their fortunes from scratch.
These stories inspire Americans to work to accomplish their goals. However, so many get lost in the stories of success that they find themselves forgetting about the possibility of failure. They yearn to become the next Dave Singleman to the point where they themselves become Willy Loman and the cycle begins again. This is seen with Happy at the end of the play when he proclaims, “I’m going to show you and everyone else that Willy Loman did not die in vain. He had a good dream… He fought it our here, and this is where I’m going to win it for him” (111). It is a vicious cycle which promotes self improvement; however, unfortunately to this day it continues to overlook the possibility of a heart breaking failure.