Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Willy Loman's American Dream

Death of a Salesman is a play I have read many times; every time more excitedly as the last. One of the main themes in the play, which is a common theme among American Lit., is the theme of the American Dream. Yet, unlike those before him, Miller does not simply go about painting a perfect picture. Instead, he gives us Willy Loman. Willy is a 63 year old salesman, who endures a pay cut and is fired from his job all in the same day. Right off the bat, not a "usual" character to accompany this theme. The American Dream has been defined multiple time, most famously by James Truslow Adams; "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" (Adams). Willy Loman is merely a man out to live that dream. He works hard, though his payoff is small. Miller's play, instead of glorifying this dream, builds it up to show a side that isn't so much an dream, but more of an nightmare. During the play, we watch Willy Loman on a downward slope. He is so wrapped up in daydreams, so decayed by his meaningless existence, working hard with nothing to show for it. He may be able to enjoy life, but he is dissatisfied with the quality of his life, which leads him to isolation and illusion. In a way, Willy creates these illusions to get away from his real problems. Willy wants to be successful not only for himself, but for his sons, Biff and Happy. He wants to leave them with something. Once he realizes, however, that he is unable to give his boys these things, and that he is old, and has achieved so little, he begins to see how absurd life is. Thus is Miller's point, I think. Miller wants to portray how the American Dream makes life so absolutely silly. Insterad of enjoying his time alive, Willy spent it working hard towards and empire of nothing. The line that really portrays just how empty Willy has become over time, or at least that I picked up on, was: "eat the orange and throw the peel away" (Miller). Speaking of salesman, I think it goes more than that, instead describing life in a constantly losing battle; the battle for success and happiness. Miller was warning us, it seems, that the American Dream does cost us. We can work hard to achieve greatness, but at what cost? Our sanity, our happiness? 

4 comments:

  1. A lot of blog posts are starting to say that Willy Loman took a pay cut and was fired "all in one day", I don't think that's correct. Not only doesn't that make any sense but on page 40 of the reading in the course work for week 2 Linda says that "...for five weeks he's been on commission, like a beginner, an unknown!" (Miller 40). I think people are missing that detail. This pay cut took place weeks in advance which is why the Loman's are going into debt to Charley. Which is also one reason I believe Willy makes the comment that he's worth more dead than alive, because as long as he's breathing he's going further and further down the economic hole. And now that he's lost his job he's lost all forms of income; other than borrowing from Charley, a debt even Charley doesn't expect to be paid. I like your take on the American dream as a battle for success and happiness, some might say it's a battle for success OR happiness. I don't necessarily believe it's either, I think it's more of a balancing act. Or even an opinion, for me success is happiness. Being happy is the point of life for me at least, enjoying the regular day. Not needing a Rolex watch to die "accomplished" I'll settle for my Lego Boba Fett one. I think it's about taking the good with the bad and hoping that you have more good in the end. Sometimes being happy is a struggle, sometimes you aren't happy and that's okay. The American Dream is just that, a dream, it isn't a reality. Who wants to be happy every single day, that's boring. Miller told the story of a man struggling for something unattainable and missing the point in the end. I wrote this on another blog but he had plenty of things to be happy about in his life, he had a healthy family, a loving wife, a dear friend that was willing to help him and give him a job in his time of need, Willy Loman wanted life to go a certain direction so badly that he couldn't see that there are many paths and that the one he was on was toxic and was going to destroy him and inevitably it did.

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  2. I think you are right, Cory, Miller does seem to be warning us of the downfall of believing too much in the American dream. To believe that money and being well liked is all it takes to be happy is crazy, in my opinion. I have to agree with the comment about balance from Kayla that is the key to happiness and success. To put more stock in the value of things as opposed to the people around you who love you and care about you is to lose sight of the real meaning of life.

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  3. I absolutely love your final questions "we can work hard to achieve greatness, but at what cost? Our sanity? Our Happiness?" I believe sanity and happiness should never hinge on whether we attain a sense of "greatness." Happiness should be our desired goal. After finding bliss, everything falls into place. The problem with society is that we set too high a standard. Who gives anyone the right to deem another "great?" We need to begin setting our own dreams. We do not need to allow social pressures to define our success. Simply, find what makes you feel truly at peace and do it! Great insight Cory!

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  4. "eat the orange and throw the peel away" (Miller) This is one of my favorite quotes from the play! :) I wonder if the problem is not so much that the "American Dream makes life so absolutely silly" but that the American Dream itself (the opportunity for a "better life" based on ability or achievement) is a myth?

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