Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” Essay

Who does not want to live the perfect life, the Ameri domiciliate reverie? Through come out of the closet Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is in pursuit of this Dream. Willy focuses on the idealistic American dream his entire life, associating it with financial success, an excellent reputation and being headspring liked. He makes victims of his wife and of his tidingss by subjecting them to mistreatment and deprivation of a strong male role model. According to the Websters Dictionary a victim is one who is subjected to oppression, hardship or mistreatment. Willy puts far too much pressure on his elder son lap, not enough on his younger son Happy, and he makes a yes-woman out of his doting wife Linda. Willys ideas of the American Dream outweigh the realistic trials and tribulations that need to be overcome in order to achieve the Dream.The American Dream is one of success and Willy views success as being well liked. He wants Biff to be well liked and hence puts much pressure on him to be popular. During Willys flashbacks to 1929, Willy encourages Biff to be a good footb whole player rather than a good student. Willy pays so much attention to Biff and puts so much pressure on him to succeed and to be well liked that Biff does not have anything concrete (such as marks) as a backup. Willy believes that even though Bernard can get the best marks in school, that he will not survive in the business world because he is not well liked (Miller 33). Biff wants to live up to his fathers dreams. He wants his dad to be proud of him. Before the football gage at Ebbets Field, Biff promises to break through for a touchdown, just for his dad (32).As a teenager, and right up until he catches Willy cheating, Biff does everything he can to get into Willys good books. He is the star football player and popular enough to order his friends around Fellas Everybody sweep out the furnace room (34). Then, all of a sudden, things change. After finding Willy and Miss Fra ncis together, Biff comes to the conclusion that his father is not as important as he makes himself out to be he Mr. Birnbaum wouldnt listen to you Willy (120). This is the turning point in Biffs life because he becomes a victim of Willys actions. At this point, in a hotel room in Boston, Biff gives up on his life and the dream of success when he decides that he is not going there the University of Virginia (120). Willy has ruined his sons chances at getting a good education and asuccessful career.Willy puts so much emphasis on Biffs success, that he neglects Happy. As a result, Happy feels the need to follow in Willys footsteps in order to gain the level of respect and attention from his father that is presumption to Biff. Happy feels this neglect as a teenager and feels the need to satisfy his dad Im losing weight, you notice, Pop? (33). Happy wants to be popular and well liked in order to get some positive attention from Willy. Even as an adult, Happy holds on to the need to imp ress his dad and to withstand him content with his life.Happy wants Biff to lie to their father about keep an eye oning Bill Oliver because Willy is never so happy as when hes spirit forward to something (105). Happy wants Willy to be pleased with Biff because that would keep Willy happy and could stop him from having flashbacks and talking to himself. Success in business is one of Willys goals for the American Dream and thus, Happy wants to be a businessman because he is seeking his fathers approval.While in pursuit of the American Dream, Willy needs individual to support him and to agree with all of his decisions. Linda is there for him throughout the hard times. She guides him by being supportive of his decisions and even supports his lying. She knows that he goes to Charley to borrow fifty dollars a workweek and pretends to her that its his pay (57). Linda allows him to feel important, at least in front of his own family. Not only does she defend him in front of their sons, but she withal tries to keep the peace between her husband and Biff.Willy doesnt appreciate this as he should, turning on her when she tries to get him to listen to Biff, telling her dont take his Biffs side all the time (65 ). Later, when she tries to comfort him, he tells her to get to bed (134). She endures him yelling, stop interrupting (64) without breaking down, only to ask him whether she should?sing (68) to soothe him. He has trained her to take his harsh words and act like nothing has happened. Linda is the glue that keeps the Loman family together as she tries to get Willy and her sons to speak calmly and peacefully and to see the best in each other.Ultimately, the Loman family is affected by the American Dream gone awry.Willy Loman is very focused on this dream and his familys success in business. Consequently, he mistreats his sons and his wife, making victims of them. His sons do not have a strong male role model who they can look up to during their maturing years. I nstead, they have a daydreaming, failing salesman for a father, whose sole objective in life is to live the American Dream. He has also trained their mother to agree and comply with everything he says. The American Dream implies happiness and for Willy Loman that happiness is to die the death of a salesman. We have to wonder how the idea of death can bring happiness to souls life.