Introduction
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is a poignant exploration of the American Dream and its impact on individuals striving for success and fulfillment. In this play, each character grapples with their unique conception of the dream, pursuing it with varying degrees of obsession and disillusionment. Willy Loman, the tragic protagonist, and his son Biff embody two divergent visions of the American Dream. Willy’s dream is steeped in material success and social prestige, while Biff’s dream evolves into a quest for authenticity and personal satisfaction. The essay aims to define the American Dream as conceived by both characters, analyze their methods of pursuing it, examine the obstacles they face, and evaluate their ultimate success or failure.
Willy’s American Dream
It is essential to recognize that Willy Loman’s vision of the American Dream is based on the belief that a charming and attractive businessperson will inevitably and rightfully attain the material wealth and comforts that modern American life offers. He idolizes figures like Dave Singleman, a salesman who could close deals from his hotel room through sheer likability and personal connections. To make this dream a reality, Willy dedicates his life to being a traveling salesman, often exaggerating his importance and success to maintain the façade of a thriving career (Miller 4-12). He instills these values in his sons, particularly Biff, whom he encourages to pursue the same superficial popularity.
However, Willy encounters numerous obstacles that derail his pursuit of the dream. The evolving nature of business, favoring impersonal transactions and innovation over established relationships, renders Willy obsolete. His inability to adapt, coupled with his declining mental health, leads to his professional and personal downfall. As Willy’s reality crumbles, his dream proves to be a mirage built on outdated ideals and unrealistic expectations (Miller 8-22). Willy’s lack of success is ultimately symbolized by his suicide, a tragic attempt to secure his family’s financial stability through life insurance, still adhering to the misguided belief that money equates to worth and love.
Biff’s American Dream
On the contrary, Biff Loman starts with a dream similar to his father’s but eventually develops his version of the American Dream. Initially, Biff buys into Willy’s ideology of charm and outward success, becoming a high school football star with prospects for a bright future. However, Biff’s discovery of his father’s infidelity shatters his idealized view of Willy and prompts a personal crisis. This disillusionment, combined with his failures in the business world, leads Biff to seek a more authentic and fulfilling life.
Biff’s American Dream morphs into a desire to escape the rat race and find work that brings him genuine joy, even if it means leading a life devoid of wealth or status. He envisions a future working with his hands, possibly in the open West, where he feels free and alive (Miller 33-48). The obstacles Biff faces in achieving this dream are internal; he struggles with the guilt of abandoning his father’s expectations and the societal pressure to conform to a more conventional path to success.
Despite these challenges, Biff exhibits a level of success in his pursuit by reaching a level of self-awareness and moral insight that his father never achieved. In confronting his own and Willy’s failures, Biff recognizes the futility of chasing an empty dream and begins to carve out his path, which promises a sense of personal accomplishment and integrity (Miller 34-45). While he does not achieve the traditional markers of the American Dream, Biff’s success lies in his liberation from delusion and his embrace of a more modest but honest life.
Alternative Views
Some might argue that Willy and Biff’s visions of the American Dream are inherently flawed because they focus on individual success at the expense of collective well-being. Willy’s dream fosters a competitive and self-centered worldview. In contrast, though more personally satisfying, Biff’s dream still isolates him from broader societal contributions. Critics of this view may assert that the American Dream should promote community advancement and social responsibility. While this perspective has merit, the rebuttal lies in the play’s examination of personal fulfillment versus societal expectation.
Miller’s work suggests that the American Dream is subjective and can lead to happiness only when it aligns with an individual’s authentic desires and values. The play critiques the one-size-fits-all notion of success, arguing for a more nuanced understanding of fulfillment that allows personal and moral growth (Miller 55-70). Willy’s tragedy is not his ambition but his blind adherence to a hollow dream. In contrast, Biff’s evolution demonstrates that redefining the American Dream on one’s terms can lead to a more profound sense of success.
Conclusion
In Death of a Salesman, Willy and Biff Loman chase versions of the American Dream that reflect their aspirations and struggles. Thus, Willy’s relentless pursuit of material success and popularity leads to his downfall, while Biff’s journey toward authenticity and self-acceptance offers hope. Both characters’ experiences critique the rigid, materialistic interpretation of the American Dream and suggest the possibility of a more individualized and meaningful pursuit of happiness. Miller’s play ultimately argues for reevaluating the American Dream, encouraging an embrace of diverse paths to personal success and fulfillment.
Work Cited
Miller, Arthur. “Death of a Salesman.” Kenston Local Schools. Web.