Death of a Salesman Act II

In the play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, the idealized concept of the “American Dream” is challenged. The novel illustrates that achieving the American Dream is much more than moving to America and letting success fall into your lap. For example, internal conflicts arise within the main character Willy Loman when he realizes that his personal dream of being settled in the forests of Alaska quarrels with the ideas of the typical American Dream. While Willy seems to shine in the kind of hard labor that requires the use of his own two hands, he is stuck in the world of business just so he can reach the perks of the sacred American Dream. Furthermore, Willy continues to patronize himself, not just at the fact that his profession is ill-suited for his personal interests, but at the need to be popular, or well-liked. Ever since he heard the story of Dave Singleman’s road to the American Dream and decided that modern hard-work was the only necessary path, Willy unrealistically became determined that he could only accomplish the American Dream if he could consider himself to be a “well-liked” coworker, friend, and individual. The idea of the road to the American Dream soon becomes a new religion to Willy. Unfortunately, he becomes so blind to how to rationally achieve success that he turns down the offer of a steady, well-paying career from a man, Charley, who does not particularly like Willy. Willy rejects the offer because he is too caught up in the fantasy that popularity is more important than physical work when striving for success. Willy is just so disillusioned by the concept of the American Dream that he fails to ever accomplish it. He also tries to force his son, Biff, into the facade of his social prosperity by giving him precise “calculations” on how to achieve success, only to be let down when Biff is unable to achieve the high standards of his father. Conflict between father and son continue until Biff wants nothing more than to be forgotten by his father, because he believes that that will be the only way Biff can be free of the myth that Willy has tried to engrave in his mind. By the end of the novel, Willy has committed suicide, representing his failure within his professional and personal lives, and most of all, in achieving the American Dream. Intended for those seeking the revered American Dream, Death of a Salesman exemplifies how people too determined to achieve success through meticulous calculations and social popularity will ultimately lead to failure. Also, if one only believes that you can achieve the American Dream through professional prosperity, you will never be completely successful. To succeed in achieving the American Dream means to be fulfilled in both your professional career as well as your personal interests and relationships.


Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York: Penguin, 1998. Print.