Willy’s Flawed Perspective On The American Dream In The Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller
The American Dream is a denial of reality, and a crafted product of capitalism trying to make the most out of a population. In the Death of a salesman by Arthur Miller, the play revolves around a particular character named Willy. All the scenes take place in the most recent 24 hours of Willy’s life. Everything about Willy, his attitude, emotions, and character develop through his interactions with others. A problem occurs when Willy has to deal with character from the present and past, and the events that took place in both times. Due to this, Willy is conflicting, has a temper, and is over the top.
To begin with, Willy is a character that requires consideration and has an incredible want for progress. He admires his sibling Ben who has made a major sum from mining in Africa. He always admires him as he needs what his sibling has. Willy is constrained to work for Howard, who fails to value Willy's past deals understanding and skill. Ben, on the other hand, fled the city, explored the African and American mainlands, and got down to business. In this manner, following four years in the wild, Ben was a rich man at 21 years of age, while Willy was attempting his best to influence Howard in giving him a chance to work in New York for a diminished pay, soon after working for the organization for a long time. Willy is not jealous of Ben, but rather looks up to him as a model of accomplishment and success.
Willy's dreams and nightmares are critical to understanding his character. He carefully re-makes his past events or picks dreams in order to imagine conditions in which he is fruitful in or to legitimize his present failures in succeeding. For instance, Willy remembers Ben and the job he offered to Willy subsequent to being fired by Howard. Willy is unfit to adapt to what he has failed in, so he remembers Ben's visit. The memory allows Willy to deny reality and it brings about confronting Linda and the young fellows in the wake of being fired- just to develop order in his disturbed life. At various events, Willy recalls his fantasy of Biff's last football game, as it is logically soothing to re-make the past in which Biff adored him and expected to score a touchdown in his name, instead of go up against the present where he isn't in great terms with his own child.
Willy's consistent development from the present to the past is a result of his disagreeing nature. Since he sweetly remembers Biff as an adolescent, he is unfit to speak with Biff in the present. Therefore, he worships Biff in one breath, while criticizing him in the following. The reason for Willy's disagreeing conduct is his unplanned memories of a past issue, which he ignores or decides not to recall until the finish of Act II. It is troublesome for Willy to manage Howard, his purchaser, and the constant updates that he is anything but an unusual sales rep like Dave Singleman; however, it is very painful for Willy to admit to the possibility that he is a disappointment in his child's eyes.
Willy sees himself as a disappointment: He isn't Dave Singleman. He is only a fair sales rep who has just made fantastic deals in his creative ability. Since he is developing old and less profitable, the organization he fabricated flames him. He laments being unfaithful to his better half, despite the fact that he will never concede the issue to her. He is never again a decent man in Biff's eyes. Biff perceives Willy's propensity to misrepresent or remake reality and is never again a ready member in Willy's dream. Before the finish of the play, Willy is overpowered; he can never again deny his disappointments when they become beyond any reasonable amount to manage. Rather, he looks for an answer in suicide. Willy reasons he can at last be a triumph since his extra security approach will somehow or another remunerate Linda for his issue. Moreover, Biff will think of him as a saint and regard him in the wake of seeing the huge memorial service and numerous grievers Willy is certain will visit.
Willy’s imaginary reality leads to his tragic fall. His perspective of the American Dream is flawed as he believes the dream to be a product being “well liked” rather than hard work. His inspiration, Ben became rich through luck and appearance, and so Willy adopts this as the American Dream. Ironically, Charley, Willy’s foil, describes what the American Dream truly is, however if the American Dream is a facade how does he ever attain it? This contradicts the cartoon where the American Dream is considered unattainable. The use of diamonds as a symbol illustrates the importance of wealth as a source of happiness. Ironically, in this happiness people burn themselves out to attain a temporary materialistic desire. Willy is a portrayal of the average man trying to attain contentment through money - an impossibility, because greed invites the devil not the angel.
