Willy Loman and Disillusion in the American Dream

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how in "Death of a Salesman", Willy Loman goes though an internal conflict as he strives to achieve the American dream. It looks at how as he struggles with obtaining an ideological life, his family carries the burden of un-fulfillment and how this burden weighs down Willy and eventually leads to his downfall.

From the Paper:

"Willy Loman, the tragic hero of Death of a Salesman, entirely believes in the American dream. He feels as long as he maintains the life of being a well-liked salesman eventually the universe will even out and he will get his "cut of the cake." He tries to follow in the path of famed salesman Dave Singleman. Singleman made a profitable living selling from his hotel phone. The personal relationships that he forged, not the products, brought in the sales. This is the ideal Willy tries to uphold. When Singleman dies many turn out to his funeral; yet, he has no family for his life was based on selling. For this reason, it would be near impossible for Willy to follow in his footsteps. Trying to balance sales and family took its toll on Willy."

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