The play "Death of a salesman" is a play about the problem with the "American Dream." Author Miller accuses America of selling the so-called American dream, or myth to society. Miller has realized the fabricated sense of importance people place on their material possessions, their cars, TVs, radios, and such. The tragedy and truth of the play "Death of a Salesman" makes this a great American play.
Willy Loman is living in his own delusion that being well liked, successful and having wealth are the only important things in life. As Willy is talking with Howard, he tells him what made him want to be a salesmen, "And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. 'Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people."
Death of a Salesman (1951 film)
1st edition cover (Viking Press)
Actor Dustin Hoffman with Lee J. Cobb, who origina...The feeling of love by people who would otherwise be strangers would be the most satisfying thing in the world, Willy feels. Furthermore He fully believes in the truth that success and money will come easily if he holds those key attributes of a salesman. Willy shows his desire to achieve the dream, to become known and make money.
Nothing is more American then this blind faith shown in the play. Miller had a problem with the pseudo importance placed on the material things and power in society. During this time in America people were living in the phony sense of nationalism, as the anxiety of communism spreading into America.
Many people today still have the "American dream." Like Willy we all dream of a big house, with two kids, a dog, and...