Materialism and "Death of a Salesman"

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer analyzes the false values of the American dream that arise in 'Death of a Salesman' by Arthur Miller. The writer maintains that the attitudes of Willy Loman toward his family is a representation of the unrealistic expectations that define the American Dream as being financially secure and living up to external social stereotypes about materialistic success in American society. The writer notes that by understanding the false values of Loman's insatiable desire to accept and follow the American Dream, he invariably destroys his own life, as well as that of his family. The writer discusses the various aspects of materialism that are found within the false values of the American dream within the play and within society.

From the Paper:

"Within the American Dream, the common man offers a new perspective on what is good about human nature and the ability to improve oneself, even though Willy is unable achieve his goals. However, Wily is psychologically impaired, and cannot seem to grasp the real depth of his beliefs and suspicions about life beyond what external society expects of him. The false values of Wily's life are essentially dictated by a social expectation--the American Dream-but this is a dream that can never be actualized because of his behaviors within personal relationships. This is how tragedy is expressed in Miller's ideology, especially when Wily cannot realize he is trying to live a dream--not adhering to reality and human error in his judgments about his family. This is how Wily is able to realize the reality of family's own limitations, and how he eventually succumbs to the dream of American life, which is not possible within the error and fallibility of the human condition. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bigsby, Christopher. Arthur Miller: A Critical Study. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
• Garrison, Craig. "The System and the American Dream: Death of a Salesman." 20 August, 2007. Playwrites.net. <http://playwrites.net/salesman2.html>
• Martine, James. Critical Essays on Arthur Miller. New York: G.K. Hall, 1979.
• Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York: Penguin, 1998.
• ---."Tragedy and the Common Man." 2005. Literary Link. 20 August, 2007. <http://theliterarylink.com/miller1.html>

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