Death of a Salesman A Critique of the American Dream
Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" offers a poignant examination of the American Dream and its impact on individuals in a capitalist society. Set in the 1940s, the play explores themes of success, failure, and the pursuit of happiness through its complex characters.
Main Characters
Willy Loman
Character analysis Willy Loman, the protagonist, embodies the struggle with the American Dream.
• 60-year-old traveling salesman
• Mentally unstable, prone to flashbacks and delusions
• Obsessed with success and being "well-liked"
• Unable to accept personal and societal changes
• Struggles to distinguish reality from imagination
Quote "I'm tired to the death. I couldn't make it. I just couldn't make it, Linda."
Linda Loman
• Willy's loving and supportive wife
• Aware of Willy's mental condition
• Devoted to her family, often at the expense of facing reality
• Acts as Willy's strength and protector
Biff Loman
• Willy's eldest son, 34 years old
• Former high school football star
• Struggles with his father's expectations and his own desires
• Represents the conflict between pursuing one's dreams and fulfilling parental expectations
Happy Loman
• Younger son, 32 years old
• Lives in Biff's shadow
• Womanizer seeking recognition and success
• Embodies the superficial aspects of the American Dream
Themes and Symbolism
Death of a Salesman themes The play explores the dark side of the American Dream, the impact of capitalism on individual worth, and the tension between illusion and reality.
• The American Dream as an unattainable ideal
• The cost of blind ambition and materialism
• The importance of family relationships and personal fulfillment
• The struggle between past and present, reality and illusion
Highlight Miller uses Willy's mental decline as a metaphor for the deterioration of the American Dream in the face of harsh economic realities.
Through its complex characters and nuanced themes, "Death of a Salesman" offers a critical examination of the American Dream, challenging viewers to reconsider their own definitions of success and happiness in a capitalist society.