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The American Dream is not the same for everyone, however it is a universal goal that many desire. The American Dream has been a common theme in literature. In Death of a Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, the idea of the American Dream is depicted by the, main character Willy Loan. Willy has a very distorted view of the American Dream. Aiming to achieve fortune and success is what blinded Willy from reality.
It sent him on a downward spiral. He became so obsessed with who he wanted to be and with his job that it began to drive him crazy. Willy faces reality when he gets fired from the job he devoted his life to. Trying to attain the American Dream, Willy brought about his own downfall. Willys reality was taken over by his distorted dreams of what he really wanted to be. Willy was only a businessman because he thought that this was the ideal job.
He worked for the same company his whole life; he worked there for so long that his original boss son became his own boss. Willys job involved long hours, out of the office, driving to different parts of New England. Willy did not even realize that he didnt have the business job that he desired. He wanted to be successful so badly, and he thought that making it in the business world was how to do that. He says to Biff, The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want.
Willys view on life was very distorted. He believed that a mans life had meaning only if he was well respected and known by many. Aside from that, he was not good at his job. It never made him happy and he never did get much respect being the salesman he was. Willy was always good at working with his hands. He enjoyed repairing things around the house and he possessed the skills to perform those tasks.
But Willy didnt think that being a carpenter was a respectable and well paying job, Even your grandfather was better than a carpenter, Willy says. Was Jesus not respected? It would have made Willy a much happier individual if he had gotten a job that required using hands. Still, Willy pretended to be someone he was not because he thought that was important to being successful in life.
Willy felt the need to appear more successful than he ever was. He tried to impress his family, friends, and even himself. Willy would convince his sons into believing that he was well respected by all the people he did business with, even though he wasnt. I never have to wait in line to see a buyer, Willy states, Willy Loan is here! Thats all they have to know, and I go right through. Willy would also come home and tell his wife, Linda, about how well he was doing at work, but in reality he was not making enough money to pay any bills or buy anything.
In reality he was receiving money to pay bills from his neighbor Charlie. I knocked em dead in Providence, and slaughtered em in Boston, he tells Linda. By Willy lying to his whole family about his success, he actually started to believe that his lies were a reality. Willy was so confident in himself and his success that he even went to his boss and asked him for a job in the office because he honestly thought that he would get this minor promotion. However, instead Willy got fired. His boss knew that he was losing his mind and told him to take some time off instead.
Willy believed he was doing so well as a salesman that being fired was a huge surprise. Willy lived in denial for so long that it ruined his life. The catalyst of Willy Loman's demise was his obsession with the American Dream. Willy wanted to be something he was not because he thought that was the only way he could receive some respect and leave a thumbprint in this world. All the lying that he had done to himself, his friends, and his family actually became a reality in Willys own world. The reality tore him apart.
Willy would have led a happier, less stressful life had he followed his heart. However, Willy wanted the accepted lifestyle, one full of riches and glamour; this is better known as the American Dream.
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Research essay sample on Money To Pay American Dream
