Death of a Salesman - the American Dream
Death of a Salesman
'The American Dream´ is based on the 'Declaration of Independence´:
'We believe that all men are born with these inalienable rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.´ (Thomas Jefferson, 1776).
This 'dream´ consists of a genuine and determined belief that in America, all things are possible to all men, regardless of birth or wealth; you work hard enough you will achieve anything. However, Miller says people have been 'ultimately misguided´.
The origins of the American Dream seem to have been rooted in the pioneering mentality of the 18th and 19th century immigrants, most of whom came to America because of a promise of a new and better life. In particular, the opportunity to own one´s land. But land 'ran out´ and so cities developed and massive variations arose in wealth, which meant that this 'American Dream´ changed from being a potential reality, into being a dream, like the name implies.
Most of Miller´s plays are directly or indirectly about the American Dream, because ultimately this dream wasn´t going to succeed as lots of people wished. 'Death of a Salesman´ written in 1949, is a moving destruction of the whole myth.
To be hard working, honest and have ambition were the ways of the American Dream. This lead onto success, wealth and in due time - power. But this dream for everyone developed, and encouraged greed, selfish behaviour, pride and rivalry between one another.
Willy Loman was 'caught-up´ in this American Dream. It causes business to develop in the world. Capitalism and also the profit motive and competitive instinct, makes Willy have a weakness in his personality. This weakness was caused by a combination of business pressures. Willy wants to prove himself through successes a salesman, but as he fails, his own life destroys him.
'I´m the New England man. I´m vital in New England.´
'Never leave a job until your sixty.´
Willy´s quotes above shows that he is insecure, and is not the successful businessman he says he is.
Miller based Willy´s character on his own uncle, Manny Newman. Miller said,
'That homely, ridiculous little man had after all never ceased to struggle for a certain victory, the only kind open to him in this
society - selling to achieve his lost self as a man with his name and his sons´ name on a business of his own.´
This explains exactly what he had in mind for Willy to be - as he was, 'trying to achieve his lost self´.
The things that are meant to happen in business are success, wealth and esteem. This is what Ben has achieved and done. Miller stressed his success and material reward in Ben. He does this by Ben repeating himself a lot, ' I walked into the jungle, and when I came out I was rich.´ But Ben also has emptiness in spite of his success. In the eyes of the audience, he has no real happiness.
When Dave Singleman was mentioned, by Willy when he was trying to tell Howard what being a salesman used to be like, we only have Willy´s evidence, as all we know, this man maybe maid up in Willy´s head. But this 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´.
Also Willy desperately wants a funeral similar to Dave´s,
'When he died, hundreds of salesmen and buyers were at his funeral.´
This was because Dave was greatly valued, whereas Willy isn´t, nor is he loved as much. I think that this marks Willy´s failure as a businessman. He hasn´t realised the demands of the business world. Rather than the old way of Dave Singleman´s time. Howard isn´t interested in the story of Dave. To have a successful business, it has to be efficient, sometimes having to be ruthless. Now people buy products, not for dreams or personalities.
Willy said, ' There was respect, and comradeship, and gratitude in it. Today, it´s all cut and dried, and there´s no chance for bringing friendship to bear - or personality.´
In my opinion, Howard Wagner treats Will harshly, because Willy has been very loyal to the business, and has had no reward for his length of service.
'They don´t even know me anymore.´
He has the feeling of being used by the firm, and with no gratitude.
'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!´
He needs to believe he is 'vital in New England´, but knows he is not; he is just kidding himself.
