A Shattered Dream in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Essay

A Shattered Dream in Death of a Sales human by Arthur MillerDeath of a Salesman tells the story of a man confronting failure in the success-driven society of America and shows the tragic path, which eventually leads to Willy Lomans suicide.Death of a Salesman?is?a search for identity, Willy?s attempt to be a man according to the frontier tradition in which he was raised, and a failure to achieve that identity because in 1942 and in Brooklyn that identity cannot be achieved. (Gross 321)Willy is a symbolical icon of the failing American he represents those that have striven for success in society, but, in struggling to do so, have instead achieved failure in the just about bitter form.Perhaps what is wrong with the society is not that it has implanted the wrong values in Willy, values which finally do not lead to success anyway, but that it has lost touch with values which should never be relegated only to the personal sphere or the family unit. (Lawrence 57)In Arthur Miller?s Deat h of a Salesman, Willy Loman, the protagonist, pursues a false perception of the American Dream. Arthur Miller establishes Willy Loman as a traveling salesman in his sixties, a dreamer of success, and a troubled man. Willy is not a successful man, but clings to his dreams and ideals. ?Arthur Miller did not realize either how few would be impressed by the fact that Willy is actually a very brave bosom who cannot settle for half but must pursue his dream of himself to the end? (Hayman 55-56). Willy reminisces about the neighborhood years ago. His past recurs through the play in smart as a whip scenes. Each time he returns from an episode in the past, Willy discovers new information that throws light on his troubled past. Willy portra... ... of a Salesman. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York Chelsea House, 1988. 25-38.Roudan, Matthew C. ?Death of a Salesman and the Poetics of Arthur Miller.? The Cambridge participator to Arthur Miller. Ed. Christopher Bigsby. New York Cambri dge UP, 1997. 60-85.Sister, M. Bettina. ?Willy Loman?s Brother Ben Tragic Insight in Death of a Salesman.? Modern Drama. Feb. 1962 409-412.Spillane, Margaret. ?Life of a Salesman.? Nation 8 Mar. 1999 7.Steinberg, M. W. ?Arthur Miller and the predilection of Modern Tragedy.? Twentieth Century Views Arthur Miller. Ed. Robert W. Corrigan. Englewood Cliffs Prentice-Hall, 1969, 81-84.Weales, Gerald. ?Arthur Miller?s Shifting Image of Man.? Twentieth Century Views Arthur Miller. Ed. Robert W. Corrigan. Englewood Cliffs Prentice-Hall, 1969. 131-142.?Why Willy Loman Lives.? The Economist 19 June 1999 19-21.