Post by katiem7 on Mar 20, 2008 0:24:03 GMT -5
Oh What a Dream: The American Dream and its Relevance in Modern America
Word Count: 746
Arthur Miller, through his play entitled Death of a Salesman, examines the effects of capitalism on America during the 1940s. Still recovering from the Great Depression which had devastated millions, American society had become a booming industrial economy committed to bettering itself. The American Dream, more specifically the belief that it is possible to better not only one’s life but also the lives of future generations, has existed since our founding fathers arrived in this new world and laid forth the foundations of the where we live today. Still today, this everlasting dream lives on and gives hope to many Americans. Although Death of a Salesman depicts 1940s America, it is still relevant to our society today because it shows both the positive and negative aspects to dreaming and how the American Dream can either bring about the great success or the great demise of a person.
Willy Loman, the protagonist in Miller’s play, really shows how the American Dream can ruin a person. The dream has given him this sense of false hope, and he is so blinded by it that he cannot face reality in any way that it comes at him. Unlike his son Biff, who eventually faces the reality of his meager existence, Willy, unable to see the truth, lives on in this pretense of something that will never happen. Even when Biff exclaims, “Dad, you’re never going to see what I am”, Willy does not listen (Miller 129). He is so caught up in his fantasy about Biff’s future once he commits suicide that he is unable to see that killing himself will do nothing to help his family. Furthermore, throughout the entire play, Willy’s wife Linda and the legacy of Dave Singleman, feed his skewed sense of reality by selling him more and more false hope. Willy regards Singlman, who made his living via selling merchandise out of his home, as almost a deity. He wonders, “What can be more satisfying than to be remembered and love and helped by so many different people” (Miller 81)? By hearing this story, about a man who was in fact able to conquer the American Dream, Willy is even further convinced that he will make it. Linda’s pardoning of all of his lackluster achievements, also feeds into Willy’s demise because she buys into his lies while rejecting the reality of the solution. She therefore cannot help Willy in taking off his blinders so he can see what is really left in front of him; his total failure.
In capitalistic America today, this idea of false hope remains evident. Success stories of famous athletes and Hollywood celebrities rising from “rags to riches” only perpetuate the never-ending cycle of false hope. Although there are positives to dreaming in American society and some lucky people do make it, this achievement comes at a heavy price for many others. For every Dave Singlman in American society, there are countless Willy Loman’s; people so blinded by the possible future prospects that they are unable to really see what is in front of them. Capitalism almost sends a message that as long as one works hard, one will achieve their goals. However, for some, achieving what you set out to do is just not in the cards. People aspire to get into the Ivy League college of their choice and countless adults dream of becoming the CEO of their corporate office; and for many these dreams will never be realized.
Miller’s play clearly shows the negatives of a capitalistic society. The success stories of some, although not frequent, cause the downfalls of so many others. The sense of false hope that all of the Willy Loman’s out there hold on to will in the end hurt them. Not everyone can become a Dave Singleman, the system just does not work that way, and those who dream and strive for excellence do need to understand the reality of the situation. That being said, dreaming is essential, for without the dreamers, America would not have transformed from the new unsettled world to where it is today. The American Dream is striving for excellence. Without the Willy Loman’s there would be no Dave Singleman’s. However, without the Dave Singleman’s there would be no Willy Loman’s. The American Dream, although positive in nature, really is a rude awakening for those unable to fulfill their goals, and for the successful few, the legacy of the dream continues to leave its mark on society today.
Word Count: 746
Arthur Miller, through his play entitled Death of a Salesman, examines the effects of capitalism on America during the 1940s. Still recovering from the Great Depression which had devastated millions, American society had become a booming industrial economy committed to bettering itself. The American Dream, more specifically the belief that it is possible to better not only one’s life but also the lives of future generations, has existed since our founding fathers arrived in this new world and laid forth the foundations of the where we live today. Still today, this everlasting dream lives on and gives hope to many Americans. Although Death of a Salesman depicts 1940s America, it is still relevant to our society today because it shows both the positive and negative aspects to dreaming and how the American Dream can either bring about the great success or the great demise of a person.
Willy Loman, the protagonist in Miller’s play, really shows how the American Dream can ruin a person. The dream has given him this sense of false hope, and he is so blinded by it that he cannot face reality in any way that it comes at him. Unlike his son Biff, who eventually faces the reality of his meager existence, Willy, unable to see the truth, lives on in this pretense of something that will never happen. Even when Biff exclaims, “Dad, you’re never going to see what I am”, Willy does not listen (Miller 129). He is so caught up in his fantasy about Biff’s future once he commits suicide that he is unable to see that killing himself will do nothing to help his family. Furthermore, throughout the entire play, Willy’s wife Linda and the legacy of Dave Singleman, feed his skewed sense of reality by selling him more and more false hope. Willy regards Singlman, who made his living via selling merchandise out of his home, as almost a deity. He wonders, “What can be more satisfying than to be remembered and love and helped by so many different people” (Miller 81)? By hearing this story, about a man who was in fact able to conquer the American Dream, Willy is even further convinced that he will make it. Linda’s pardoning of all of his lackluster achievements, also feeds into Willy’s demise because she buys into his lies while rejecting the reality of the solution. She therefore cannot help Willy in taking off his blinders so he can see what is really left in front of him; his total failure.
In capitalistic America today, this idea of false hope remains evident. Success stories of famous athletes and Hollywood celebrities rising from “rags to riches” only perpetuate the never-ending cycle of false hope. Although there are positives to dreaming in American society and some lucky people do make it, this achievement comes at a heavy price for many others. For every Dave Singlman in American society, there are countless Willy Loman’s; people so blinded by the possible future prospects that they are unable to really see what is in front of them. Capitalism almost sends a message that as long as one works hard, one will achieve their goals. However, for some, achieving what you set out to do is just not in the cards. People aspire to get into the Ivy League college of their choice and countless adults dream of becoming the CEO of their corporate office; and for many these dreams will never be realized.
Miller’s play clearly shows the negatives of a capitalistic society. The success stories of some, although not frequent, cause the downfalls of so many others. The sense of false hope that all of the Willy Loman’s out there hold on to will in the end hurt them. Not everyone can become a Dave Singleman, the system just does not work that way, and those who dream and strive for excellence do need to understand the reality of the situation. That being said, dreaming is essential, for without the dreamers, America would not have transformed from the new unsettled world to where it is today. The American Dream is striving for excellence. Without the Willy Loman’s there would be no Dave Singleman’s. However, without the Dave Singleman’s there would be no Willy Loman’s. The American Dream, although positive in nature, really is a rude awakening for those unable to fulfill their goals, and for the successful few, the legacy of the dream continues to leave its mark on society today.