The American dream is also based around the chance of riches. Even those who start with nothing can end up being successful, like his brother Ben. The fact that Ben could do it makes Willy want to do it even more. His Brother Ben represents success for Willy, this is seen when he tells Charley "Ben is success incarnate". Ben went to Africa at the age of 17 and came back from his work in diamond mines at 21- proof that " the greatest things can happen". " There was a man who started with the clothes on his back" Willy tells Charley that Ben started with nothing and became successful. Nearly everyone who has achieved the American dream is rich. This gives Willy the idea that the only way to achieve the American dream is to become rich and successful. Willy wants to prove himself through successes as a salesman.
The characteristics needed in a man to be successful are masculinity, competitiveness and popularity. I think that masculinity the a main thing in Willys eyes as Ben was like this. The use of words suggest toughness and strength, " screw on your fists" and also the way Ben treats Biff when they were having a pretend fight. He had no compassion for Biff and didn't care how young he was, he still had to show his power by knocking him over with the umbrella. Competitiveness is shown when Howard (Willys boss) tells Willy that he has to work on commission and has his salary taken away, and then later he tells Willy that he's fired. This proves that it doesn't matter how loyal you have been efficiency is the most important thing. Statements referring to popularity occurs very often in the play, Willy thinks " Be liked and you will never want". " I'm very well liked in Hartford", " a man can end up with diamonds here on the basis of being liked". All these statements cement the fact in Willys Mind that Popularity is the way to success and the American Dream. You can be rich simply by using your personality qualities. This is what Ben achieved, which drives Willy even more to be a success. Miller stressed his success and material reward in Ben. He does this by Ben repeating many times, " I walked into the jungle, and when I came out I was rich." But what Willy didn't realised was that Ben also had emptiness in spite of his success. In the eyes of the audience, he has no real happiness. Dave Singleman is man is a huge icon for Willy to look up to. 'He was eighty-four years old, and he'd drummed merchandise in thirty-one states". "When he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral." This was because Dave was greatly valued, this is the reason why Willy values popularity so much, because Dave was popular he became successful in Willy's eyes. In summary Willy thinks failure to achieve the American Dream is seen to indicate a failure of personality. Willy thinks the dream is mainly based around economic success.
Willy is seen as a honest hard working man, but to be a business man it takes a lot more. He hasn't realised the demands of the business world. The work is hard for Willy and he can't Keep it up, he gets very stressed and tired from working. Things had changed since the "old ways" of Dave Singleman's time, now personality doesn't count. Howard isn't interested in the story of Dave. To have a successful business it has to be efficient and sometimes businessmen have to be ruthless. Willy complains, " There was respect, comradeship, and gratitude in it. Today, it´s all cut and dried, and there´s no chance for bringing friendship to bear - or personality." Today the same view of business as ruthless has become a normal part of society-people buy products, not a salesman's personality. In my opinion, Howard Wagner treats Willy harshly because Willy has been very loyal to the business but has had no reward for his long service, which shows just how brutal the businesses world can be. "They don't even know me anymore." He has the feeling of being used by the firm, and with no thanks. "I put thirty-four years into this firm...You can't eat the orange and throw away the peel - a man is not a piece of fruit!"
Willy needs to believe he is "vital in New England", but knows he is not; he is just kidding himself .Biff said about Willy, "He had all the wrong dreams. Being a salesman is very unpredictable, as a living. "He´s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back - that's like an earthquake." "You would have to give a good impression." Charley has realised that Willy´s view of success is seriously flawed. Willy's friend and neighbour Charley said, "The only thing you got in this world is what you can sell." And as Willy can´t sell anything, there for he has got nothing. Willy has lost all self-respect. Willy feels he has been a failure in life and his work problems have significantly effected his family.
When Howard took Willy's salary away and then later sacked him, debts started to pile up. This is apparent as Linda has to mend her own stockings which implies that they are short of money and can't afford to buy new clothes that often. Other demands on money are the insurance premium, car repairs, payment on refrigerator. All of the things above are what Willy has to pay and he can't afford to pay all of the bills. Willy gets so desperate that he goes to his friend Charley for help. " Charley, look...I've got my insurance to pay- I need a hundred and ten dollars." Reluctantly Charley gives him the money, but he knows that it won't last for ever, and that Willy will be back soon to borrow more money.
The family is also an essential part of the American Dream and is important to Willy. Willy feels responsible for providing his family with money, and feels guilty at not being able to. " When business is bad there's no one to talk to I get the feeling that I'll never sell anything again, that I won't make a living for you (Linda), or a business, a business for the boys." This belief in the family as an economic unit is part of a capitalist ideology and is still part of modern western society today. Willy even feels responsible for his grown up son Biff. Willy would also like to have his own business so that he can have more time with his family, so he doesn't need to travel around so much. "Some day I'll have my own business, and I'll never have to leave home anymore". Finally he even goes so far as to commit suicide so that the family can collect the insurance money. This shows how deeply he loves his family and to what lengths he will go so that he can provide for them.
Even now parents want their children to succeed in life, to study hard, go to university, get a job, and make lots of money. And often families have arguments when children don't live up to their expectations. The relationship between Willy and Biff shows this. Willy had dreams that his son Biff would go to university. Willy shouts at Biff, while thinking back to the past about his son's failure to finish his studies, "No, no! You had to go and flunk maths," this suggests that Willy believes that Biff deliberately failed. This attitude towards his son remains even when Biff is a man, in the scene when Willy tell Biff to ask Bill Oliver for a loan to set up a business Biff says that he did try but that he wasn't successful and Willy replies, "You rotten little louse! Are you spiting me?" He even goes so far as to hit him. Willy is very unhappy that Biff has a manual job on a farm, "How can he find himself on a farm? Is that a life?" Willy's views about his son can change quite suddenly for instance in the space of a few lines he says that Biff is "a lazy bum" and then that he is "not lazy". Willy idolises Biff one moment and then attacks him the next.
Willy has always been proud of Biff's sporting skills. Many fathers in modern day life are keen to encourage their son's sporting skills, many spend hours coaching their sons. Willy is proud of both of his sons, including their physical appearance, "that's why I thank almighty God you're both built like Adonis's". Despite the arguments Biff loves his father. Willy remembers his son's love for him when he was a boy when Biff had said to him, "and remember pal, when I take off my helmet, that touchdown is for you." This shows how much he loves his father and how he respected him. "Pop we were lonesome for you", shows that Happy and Biff missed their father, and were eager to see him. Biff was always Willy's favourite son and Happy had to fight for attention. In families there is often sibling rivalry, although in the play there is no mention of the two brothers ever fighting. Happy often tried to get his father's attention when he was a child. Willy remembers when they were children, once when Willy was talking to Biff, Happy jumped into the conversation with, "I'm loosing weight, you notice, pop" he repeats this a few times to try and get his father's attention.
Linda his wife always defends Willy, yet she is also aware of his weaknesses saying "I know he's not easy to get on with - nobody knows that better than me." She is ready to excuse his bad behaviour. Linda often tries to stop the arguments between Biff and Willy, and defends Willy against Biff, she says "He's the dearest man in the world to me, and I won't have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue". She clearly loves her husband. Willy recognises that his wife constantly supports him he says that she is "my foundation and my support". However he often is cruel to her in little ways. When Linda has bought cheese especially for Willy he responds (aggressively) "Why did you get American cheese when I like Swiss?" "I don't want a change! I want Swiss cheese, why am I always being contradicted?"
Despite his marriage and the support Linda give him Willy has been unfaithful to her in the past. His attitude to Linda when she is mending her stocking suggests that he has feelings of guilt about his behaviour. Because he gave the woman a pair of new stockings as a gift while his wife had to make do with mending her old stockings. (Angrily) "I won't have you mending in this house! Throw them out!" His wife never learns of Willy's affair although Biff did find out about it when he was young and has had to keep the secret over many years. Families often have secrets within them. Also Willy feels guilty towards Biff because Biff found out about the affair and was so shocked that he gave up on all his dreams. Willy feels like it's his fault.
Willy believes that he and Ben have a strong relationship. Willy looks up to his brother like a father, as he did not know his father that well. Even though Ben appears to Willy when he is thinking about the past, he never seems to be around for along time. I have seen little evidence throughout the play of Ben encouraging or giving real support to his brother, actually he seems to put him down sometimes, like when Willy tells him about his job Ben reaction is "yes, Well..." Showing that he doesn't really care, or have any sort of enthusiasm. However, when Ben makes positive comments about Willy and his family, Willy is very pleased and glad to hear that, "William, You're being first rate with your boys" Willy: "Oh, Ben, that's good to hear." Even though Willy admires his brother and loves him very much. It doesn't seem that they have a very strong bond, as Ben only visits sometimes and doesn't sound very interested in Willy or his achievements In addition there is the fact that Ben didn't leave him any money in his will, which seems to show a lack of care for his brother.
In summary there appear to be many themes described in this play that are relevant to modern day life and its problems despite the age of the play. The problems of family life and the conflicts within a family, jealousy and betrayal are unchanging. Also just when this play was being written was the time when attitudes to workers and business were changing and becoming more competitive, this continues today.
