The Dreams of Men

[dominique02]

DG
Period 2
742 words

The Dreams of Men:
An analysis of the progression of the American Dream from past to present

In Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, the harsh reality of the pursuit of the American dream within society is intricately examined. Due to the fact that America is constantly changing, as time progresses, the American dream is continually reinvented to reflect the aspirations and people of the time in which it is present. As a result, the American dream, as portrayed by the characters of the play, is still embodied within the American dream of today. As the content of Miller’s play vividly captures the crisis of the American dream and its predominance within our nation, the play in itself maintains its modernity and relevance in the context of our present society.

In modern America, it is impossible to address the prospect of the American dream without noting the existence of those who fail to realize it, which serves as one of the most destructive and tragic relationships that is displayed in the play. A majority of the characters in the play work towards the acquisition of their dreams and goals, yet despite their efforts, these goals are never attained. This ideal is painfully embodied by the character of Willy Loman, who comes to reflect the entirety of the working class in both past and present society. However, Willy, just as the other members of the working class striving towards the dream, serves only as a stepping-stone for others who will inevitably achieve the dream due to the efforts of countless others who weren’t fortunate enough to do so. These people then are rejected from society as nothing more than “hard-working drummer who landed in the ash like all the rest of them”(Miller 132). The working class is inevitably devoured by the cruelty of the business world, and those who work ardently toward the benefit of society are sadly slighted by the system. As this economical reality of the play is intertwined with the reality of the American dream, the play is enabled to remain relevant in modern times.

The perpetuation of the dream within present day society is entirely dependent on the commercialization of the few who are fortunate enough to realize the American dream, as is exhibited in the play. The character of Dave Singleman in the play serves to represent the elite few who are able to endure the hardships of society and emerge triumphant from these struggles in order to achieve their dreams, such as the over popularized celebrities of the present era. Celebrity is emulated and admired by the rest of society as we inevitably hope that the success of these few will one day be our own. Moreover, this success communicates to the public that the dream is in fact obtainable, and more importantly, worth working for. As Willie, “realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want… [just to] be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people,” Willie, as well as numerous others in present society see their path towards success within the paths of those who’ve already made it (Miller 81). As a result, the celebrity ideals of perfection and success are constantly propagated, and society strives to establish this same standard of glamorized achievement. Yet, as this dream goes unfulfilled for many, we remain continually unhappy with our own lives, simply because we’re always in pursuit of attaining that degree of celebrity that is so diligently sought after. “This pervasive [relationship]with the celebrity… focuses our intellectual energy onto something utterly insignificant… [and only] induces deeper malaise and apathy in an already lazy nation,” and in turn, becomes counterproductive towards the successful acquisition of the American dream in both our society and the society existent in the play (Marvin 1).

As the central themes found in Miller’s play reflect the issues of present day America, the play maintains its relevance in modern society. Despite the fact that the time period and the social environment in which the dream is present may change, the concept of achieveing greater things for oneself will invariably remain as a cornerstone in our progressing society. As a result, the concept of theAmerican dream serves as a crisis that pushes our society to work and advance towards a common dream, and those who fail or achieve the dream, in turn, are also instrumental towards the betterment of America as a whole. In the play’s exploration of both of these counterparts within the American dream, it’s message becomes as timeless as the dream itself.

Works Cited:

"Fascination with and Idolization of Celebrities Dumbs America Down." Karemar. 9 Oct. 2007. 19 Mar. 2008 <http://www.karemar.com/blog/fascination-and-idolization-celebrities-dumbs-america-down>.

[chrisd02]

I like how you mention the play's idea of the American Dream can still be connected to modern times. The American Dream may have changed over the years since the play was published, but the central idea of failing to accomplish this dream is still evident in today's society. The intro flows smoothly into your thesis, and the thesis is stated clearly. Your body paragraphs also strongly support your argument. Certain word choices were very effective such as perpetuation, and the transitions between the body paragraphs made everything flow smoothly. I also enjoyed the connection you made that Celebrities today are like the Dave Singleman's in todays era. Being a successful salesman may not achieve the American Dream today, but being a celebrity launches the person into the spotlight. Another thing that I thought was great was the quote that you used from Miller on page 132. This quote illustrates exactly Miller's point about the American Dream. All the quotes that you used strongly supported you argument and were weaved nicely into the essay. The idea of the crisis that you brought in at the end of the essay also made for a great conclusion. Your essay brought a lot of new insight into the play for me, and it was very well written.

[colleens1]

I really liked how this essay showed the relevance of the American dream to today. I especially liked how it connected Dave Singleman to society's obsession with celebrity. The essay gave me insight into how the idea of the American dream is perpetuated by the few that do achieve it. Stylisticly, I thought the essasy was very cohesive and well written. I thought it did a great job of combining analysis of the play with its relevance to the modern day.

[danielleg07]

FINALLY... this is the final post that I would like to submit for a grade:
This paper was well written stylistically as well as conceptually, providing insight to the text’s relevance in modern day America. The thesis is well stated asserting that the American dream is one that is continually recycled by each consistent generations, therefore making Death of a Salesman relevant in modern society. Not only is the thesis well worded but the author also makes reference to the dream as a crisis. This gave me insight as to the power of the dream in society and how individuals become obsessed with becoming the best.
The body paragraphs of the essay relate to the thesis as well as effectually prove the author’s point. The author successfully conveys the concept that one cannot ignore the failures of many in relation to the American Dream. Through her analysis, she shows that the failures who never achieve the dream only serve as “stepping stones” for others who are able to do so. However, she also demonstrates the concept of a celebrity or a Dave Singleman whom keeps others striving for the dream by becoming testimony to the fact that the dream is indeed attainable. She makes this point clear by seamlessly weaving sound textual evidence into her analysis. This paper not only shows good use of the text, but also provides readers with examples of how to effectively use quotes to support a claim while also making the analysis flow. Also in the body paragraphs, the author does not make a clear distinction between “Miller paragraphs” and “real life example paragraphs”. Her essay remains cohesive throughout providing the reader with a better understanding of the American dream in the novel and also in real life.
By examining the purpose of failures and achievers in the American dream the author effectively shows the inner workings of the dream and how it affects the lives of many. Also, by discussing the celebrity in society, she connects the play to modern day, which was the purpose of the essay. The strength of her ideas and opinions are only made bolstered by her stylistic strengths. By analyzing instead of summarizing plot and by use of synthesis, she makes her paper even clearer to the reader, causing the essay to serve its purpose of connecting Miller's play to present day America.