Death of a Salesman is NOT about the American Dream

[@raymatthews4319]

Arthur Miller once said that Willy was selling "himself." This explains why he was unable to accept the job Charlie offered him. After all of the years of belittling Charlie and Bernard he sees that they were successful at what they were doing. To accept the job would be like admitting defeat for Willy, to admit that as Biff said at his grave that "he had all the wrong dreams."

[@brownplayboy310]

Charlie knew who he really was, that’s why he couldn’t sell “himself” around him.

[@thedeepend4419]

I appreciate your perspective, but I strongly disagree that its a longing for "celebrity", I think more accurately its about attaining personal dignity and a sense of worthiness, that his life and all his efforts truly mattered and meant for something.

[@sabrinan3863]

I second this. In Miller’s own comments on the play, he defines tragedy as a character aware of not being in what he views as his rightful place in society, and his own personal dignity. I don’t think celebrity is an entirely wrong word for it, just maybe too specific.

[@thedeepend4419]

@@sabrinan3863 Good point Sabrina.

[@truthseeker1871]

Good shot, Deep End. It does look a lot more like what you have in mind. It's not that interesting a play to suit me. I am not promoting it. That has already been done.

[@lauder1048]

Recognition for sure.

[@sylviavasquez9523]

I don't see Willie as seeking dignity, so much as popularity. In this way, the play is quintessentially "American". I see him as someone who doesn't know what dignity means. He spouts superficial ideas about wanting to be 'known', not to the best in his field. Not to be the best husband or father. He barks orders a lot and isn't very loving to his family. His wife asks the sons to be loving to this 'small boat' looking for a harbor, but the sons have no feeling for him. He is like Biff---thinks he can get by with a hand shake and a smile. Biff attacks Willie for letting him get away with stealing all the time. If you are a parent, you empathize --your kids can do no wrong. There is hard work implied---driving long distances, but he isn't really doing all that much except bedding bimbos and selling stockings. He even says he wanted to be a salesman because some old dude could do the job from the phone--he admired the idea of working into old age and only needing a sparkling personality and a phone. In spite of his nonsense, one feels for Willie. Willie was never a 'good' father. He talked a good game, but had little to show for it. In fact, his narcissism is displayed on how Biff's athletic prowess reflects on him. He wants to use Biff as an extension of himself and bask in undeserved glory. I always thought Miller had a certain amount of contempt for Willie, then I read where he modeled the characters (to a certain extent) on some people he knew. He found them silly and full of it. Obviously he shaped these faults into something more. Willie is a man, who in spite of his flaws (and there are many) breaks our hearts. Quite an artistic achievement. This play will continue to be read and performed for the next 100 years, if not longer.

[@gabrielross9226]

The American Dream is the belief that effort and dedication will be rewarded. Part of Willy's journey is the discovery that it isn’t so.

[@atomichullabalooband4358]

Don't you think that celebrity, status, and a legacy are a part of the American Dream as that phrase is commonly understood? The play is loaded with images of Willie's mindset of success vs. the unhappy realities - suicide, exhaustion, familial resentments, abandonment, getting fired, Happy's narcissistic lack of intimacy, etc.

[@Ghost1170]

Atomic Boogaloo Band soz it's a necro, but wouldnt that mean the family or american dream is subjective? That because of how willy was raised, his legacy or view of it is so much more different than his sons, one of which has to live with the secret of cheating and not being able to just be himself, which goes against the american dream itself?

[@maximilianolavia]

Exact. And in adition to that, Willy points out that Biff’s success in sports will make him earn 25,000 $ a year.

[@warrenarden1681]

Celebrity is part of the dream now

[@AS-iu8hr]

Agree with you 100%, well said.

[@madtypist33]

"Celebrity" was not Willie Loman's goal, it was "respect." Having his last name known, even after death, wasn't about celebrity but respect. Once you realize this, all the scenes make sense. Scene after scene, he wanted the sales world to show respect. Willie wanting a crowd at his funeral would be a confirmation of respect, not a need for celebrity. He wanted to obtain respect through success but achieved neither.

[@sylviavasquez9523]

He wanted respect, but based on what? Years at his job? The number of people who 'liked' him? Did he respect his wife? Was he honest with Biff? Did he reproach Biff for not studying and failing math? He makes fun of Bernard--calls him a worm. Later, he asks 'How did you do it?" Meaning, how did Bernard become a successful lawyer? Bernard worked hard, obviously. Why doesn't Willie promote this idea to his kids? Seems rather neglectful and superficial. In spite of all I have said, we feel deeply for Willie. The wife knows what he does not. That Willie, though flawed, is fine as he is and that his delusions will be his undoing.

[@aquaticmole7606]

I think that with any piece of literature, especially one such as Death of a Salesman which merges both realism and expressionism, it is far too easy to bury the subtle nuances beneath overarching expressions such as ' The American Dream' and especially at A level it is necessary to analyse to a degree which largely eradicates the need for generalisations. Arthur Miller himself once stated that the play is tricky to categorise because none of its characters stand up and make a speech about the great issues which he believes it embodies. This is also a problem for anyone who would attempt to develop a clear idea about what messages Death of a Salesman attempts to deliver and consequently it is often advised that exploring any inconsistencies or complications is more beneficial than trying to explain them. As with any question one of the most important factors is personal interpretation; in this case perhaps rather than try to understand to what extent Arthur Miller wanted to explore American ideals in his play, a student could talk about their own engagement with the text or what has been suggested by critics from various schools of thought in the larger literary world. Toward the end of the second act Willy screams 'the door of your life is wide open' towards his son, Biff. Ordinarily these are words of encouragement however in this context they are used as a threat; the 'American Dream' of equal opportunity has been twisted by consumerism into a necessity for self-improvement and success. The idea that self-worth can be determined by social standing is one which originated with protestantism and it could be suggested that Willy lives in a society which embraces this concept and, indeed, that it is perpetuated by individuals such as Willy who cannot conceive of a value system which operates beyond the boundaries of a social matrix. Furthermore the way in which he sells himself to others, (lying to Linda about the amount he earns, calling himself a 'big shot' in front of his son and the insistence that he is not 'a dime a dozen'), could be interpreted as a criticism on the dehumanizing effect of a capitalist society; as Willy himself says 'a man ends up worth more dead than alive'. When this was mentioned to Arthur Miller he pointed out that Charley, a capitalist, is the most 'decent' human being in the play. I do not think that knowing exactly what occurred in the playwright's mind as he wrote Death of a Salesman is as important as having the ability to explore the material and develop your own understanding. In this particular case saying that Arthur Miller uses Willy as a mouthpiece for his own ideas about 'The American Dream', while a perfectly valid opinion, would miss out on the opportunity to explore the complex nature of the relationship between father and son, the small quotes which demonstrate various aspects of their personalities, the social forces and personal reactions which motivate each member of the Loman family and of course the various possible critical interpretations provided by such details. I would like to mention that I largely agree with this video and just wanted to expand on a topic which I consider important for anybody taking an exam on Death of a Salsman; additionally I am neither a professional nor an authority on this subject and so I advise anybody who is reading this to take it as a collection of ideas rather than anything comprehensive. I hope this helps! :)

[@fredbarker9201]

Aquatic Mole what you're saying is good, however during an exam you could mention The American dream AND go into more critical analyse of some of the examples you provided exploring the stage directions and dialogues Miller uses. You can, in fact, explain the social and relationship problems of the protagonist without having to prevent yourself from including anything about The American dream. Just my thought.

[@juliarae79]

Just because some people simply say "The American Dream" and then move on, does not mean that the American Dream is not an integral part of the story.

[@libbyharris1749]

I just had a thought about Miller's approach to capitalism - is the difference between Charley, who is a working part of the capitalist system, and Willy, who is a somewhat dysfunctional part, that Charley is aware that he is just one cog in a larger machine, and so he is content to stay that way and he has no misconceptions of glory and fulfillment, and that Willy seems to think that he is *unique* and special and that the capitalist system owes him a life of not only decent work, but widespread appreciation and personal acceptance. For Willy, his self-worth is tied to the capitalist system, whereas for Charley he is smart (or just unthinking) enough to know that the system is unfeeling and unfair. I've thought for a while (I'm British, so I'm basing this on my experience/American pop culture) that state creates fodder for our capitalist economic system by teaching us in schools and in the media that we can be whatever we want to be if we work hard - obviously this is directly Willy's philosophy, and it's disguised in a way that it's understood to be a moral lesson, but really it's one that produces people willing to try to be as productive as possible. Let me know what you guys think of my ideas, I read this play yesterday so they're not very mature yet :)

[@commentconnoisseur1001]

@@truejayoh most nuanced comment on the video

[@isabelkloberdanz6329]

No actusly the play is abouot how we live in a society hwich is rlly deap

[@SergioGonzalez-qt9gt]

I believe the play is not defining the American dream in general but rather Willy's American dream. More particularly, how his version of the American dream was ultimately the reason for Willy's death.

[@ramy300]

I never red the play and I just watched the brilliant 1985 adaptation now and hell, it will stay in mind for a while. I am not american, never been there and don't even fully understand what the hell is the american dream, but god, can I relate anymore to this great piece of art!! This work was waaaaay ahead of its time. In my opinion it's more relevant now than the time it was written! The way I saw Willie's struggle was exactly what we struggle with now, seeking approval from the others, from the social standards and from what we were taught to be "success". I am a salesman myself, and I am watching this while struggling in my career and questioning if I am even good at what I am doing. You may think watching this now was a bad choice for me but hell no! It was a very very good reminder about what we tend to forget, for ignorance, for getting swamped in our daily routine or for whatever reason. We tend to forget what actually matters, we tend to forget that we are just passing by and whether you are a janitor, or a "Loman Brother".. (I hope that was intended metaphor, we're gonna die. Yes, every man should leave their mark before checking out, but what mark will put a smile on your face when you're facing the inevitable? Your choice! What a movie and what a great performance by every single cast member but specially Dustin Hoffman! This is one of the movies that make you appreciate life and being able to watch that awesome piece of art

[@andrewc.parmeter3557]

Thanks for your thorough analysis. I just put down the book now after reading it and couldn’t help but cry a bit at the end. I am on the road for work and that theme was with me the whole way through. It’s a hard life and when you can’t be on the road you don’t have a job. After three decades his ability to provide was over and since he didn’t raise his children right they were unable and unwilling to take care of him at the end. Maybe the key point is when you’re on the road you’re house falls apart and you have the death of a salesman.

[@simplock]

Willy tried his hardest to convince Howard to give him a local job with a guaranteed salary, but he failed (or didn't even try) to explain what he could do for the company and what value he could add working in the local showroom. One of the typical questions that a prospective employer asks in an interview is "Why should I hire you." If your answer is about your personal needs and not what you can do for the employer, that kills your chance of being selected. Willy emphasized his own needs and his perception of the company's obligation to him. not how he could benefit the company. He failed to "sell himself".

[@grayareas7008]

Tell me you're middle management without telling me you're middle management

[@simplock]

@@grayareas7008 I have been retired for almost 5 years now. But I did many interviews, both as a job applicant and a selecting official. When I first started interviewing for jobs, one of the most basic tips was to focus on how you can fulfill the company's needs, not on fulfilling your own needs.

[@johnmurray5573]

​@@grayareas7008in a sense the play is exemplified by simplock. Americans have sold out to an idea and dont even realise to this day. It's a tragedy and little has changed in 7 decades

[@emmycab]

Thank you so much for posting this. I'm 50 and just read the play for the first time (just for personal reading), and I really appreciated your guidance on some themes to think about.

[@matrobnew]

As Aquatic Mole and some others here have commented, there is no reason to ditch the 'American dream' idea in order to get at all the specific complexities of the play. You just need to have a not-shallow understanding of the American dream as itself a highly complex and contradictory construct. A bit of historical contextualization wouldn't hurt either. Take the American conception of 'success' (and especially as this is figured as masculine, or helps define masculine ID). This itself has contradictory elements, all of which are quite salient in the play. On the one hand we have the heroic/pioneer individual, who lives outdoors, works with his hands, is self-made or more specifically has wrestled (with the Jungle) to get his own fame/fortune. Obviously this is most fully and viciously figured in Ben, but the absent Father has many of these traits too. But OTOH we have the successful Family Man, who has 1) a family that he provides for, with 2) a middle-class life style (suburban house, ESP in this post-WWII period) and 3) a middle class professional career to support (2). These are alternative and conflicting models of what it means to be 'grown up' or a 'real man', in 20th c America, and Willy is pretty clearly caught between the two models, which consequently messes with his sons as well (though they are 'lost' in different ways). BOTH directions can be more or less materialist or grounded in wealth. On the heroic-individual side, Ben is obviously all about wealth, gotten by any means necessary, with no interest in being 'well liked'. Charley also cites the classic industrialists as following this model. But Dave Singleman (ie, not a family man) gets to be a heroic figure precisely through being uber-well-liked. This is why it's critical that Willy had to decide between them, and opted for the Singleman model (which was probably no less mythic, unrealistic and doomed). Notions of 'selling yourself' were also absolutely fundamental to normative American culture in the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s. Indeed they're still massively important in the Mad Men era of the 60s (cf that entire show, which is quite well historically grounded). If anything, Miller probably felt -- he wouldn't have been alone -- that notions of self-commercialization (and the salesman as the archetypal American professional) were more prominent in post WWII Am culture than they had been 20 years earlier. But obviously they go back as well at least to Ben Franklin, and we could cite any number of major 19th-century American figures of self-creation too. Meanwhile, I'm not aware of any national culture in the 20th c that was as obsessed with familial dynamics, especially father/son, as American literary culture. Drama in particular. I understand why you'd want to steer away from the American dream as a *simplifying* reading of the play, but then for the same reason you'd want to steer away from ANY simplifying reading, including an Oedipal or missing-father one. They're all interrelated in this play. As for "celebrity"... first, you'd probably want to start with a novel like Day of the Locust from 10 years before to see what a literary analysis of celebrity really looks like, and determine what relationship Salesman has to something like that. Or even look at Dreiser's Sister Carrie, or a lot of Dos Passos' or Fitzgerald's writing. Celebrity means you're an abstract figure in a mass-media landscape, which is simply not the dynamic of Salesman. Rather than insisting on a term that, as the video notes, never gets mentioned once, we can't we work with the terms that are brought up obsessively in the text itself? Being 'well-liked' may be as mythic as everything else in Willy's head, but it still matters desperately to him that people, real people, actually like him (and above all that his number-one son actually likes him). There's no element of mass-mediation here, which is why celebrity would seem to be a poor choice of analytic term. But even if one's definition of celebrity flows smoothly into the play's central idea of being well-liked, we're still squarely in American-dream territory. To teach the play well (and I do speak from some decades of experience here) you just need to make that work for you, not against you.

[@jnaholiday1]

I agree with this comment, and especially the idea that there multiple conflicting versions of the American Dream portrayed in the play and that the psychoanalytic reading shouldn't fully displace the cultural materialist one. Jim Cullen's The American Dream: A Short History of An Idea that Shaped a Nation can be useful for terms and concepts here, especially in terms of putting Linda's "Dream of Home Ownership" against Willy's "Dream of the Coast" or "big shot" success and fortune.

[@ApolloBlatenszky]

The American Dream is a funny label for fatherless behavioral projectionism.

[@vaporchild1821]

​@@ApolloBlatenszky I think a psychoanalytic argument actually can be made for the American Dream's relation to Willy's relationship (or rather non-relationship) to his absent father. The primordial or primary desire for Willy is for his father's love and approval. But of course, this desire is always frustrated and unfulfillable because his father is simply not there. So this desire must find another way to fulfil itself, causing Willy to develop an image of his father in his mind, complete with imagined standards of success and masculinity to live up to which will allow him to finally attain his father's approval, where this is actually a brute impossibility. At this point, what better than the dominant cultural myth of the American Dream to provide Willy with his ideas of what success is and what masculinity should be? I think considering this point in cultural context, with Willy reaching maturity in the early 1900s, which was the American Gilded Age of fabulously wealthy industrialists and self-made men like Dale Carnegie preaching the importance of being well-liked to material success, makes this idea especially compelling. So essentially, the values of the American Dream become a stand-in father figure to Willy, who never had a father to tell him what a man should be, or what success is, etc. He conflates his father's values, and hence what would gain him his father's approval, with dominant cultural values. Thus, in chasing the ever-elusive love of his absent father, Willy chases the (for most people) impossible ideals of success of the American Dream. So there is a link here, in my interpretation. I'd like to hear what you think!

[@scottspooner6070]

I think people don't realize the stressful nature of being a salesman. The salesman can never please the two most important parts of his/her business life, his company (always wanting more $ sales) and his customer (always wanting to pay less $). The salesman takes a beating from both sides. He/she is an outsider (not fully trusted) from both sides. His/her self esteem is damaged over long periods of time from this constant battle and worry. Kind of like ptsd. So in this story Willy needs someone to need his council to demonstrate to himself that he is of value.

[@raymatthews4319]

When you mentioned Willy's father I remembered when he told Biff that even his grandfather was better than a carpenter. That hints at the notion that Willy actually resented his father.

[@truthseeker1871]

You can take remarks that one character makes about another character and turn it into anything you want. You will not necessarily know what the intent of the character was.

[@sylviavasquez9523]

Or that he didn't appreciate his skills. Willie was also a carpenter. Built the stoop and the ceiling. There are references to his skills but he never acknowledges them.The wife sees him for who he is and she loves him for it.

[@spsmith1965]

The greatest works of art are great because they have many interpretations. For me, I think the story has to do with the dangers of self-delusion.

[@fractales100]

Exactly. The most important sentence in the play is at the end: "he didn't know who he was"

[@joeydvorak4861]

Legacy, success and popularity are all major selling points of the American Dream. Willy has bought into what was "sold" to him about what makes an individual successful in America. Miller presents the flaws in the American Dream, and how it disregards the human aspect of accomplishing that dream. Miller conveys the notion that the country uses people, like Willy, who dedicate their life to fulfilling the dream; sadly, when they are no longer viable contributors to the economy they are discarded like the peel of the fruit. Miller conveys the tragedy of chasing a dream through Willy and Happy, characters who value and present an image of success based on lies and deceit. Willy is torn between being a carpenter, his natural calling and talent but according to the American Dream a less than respectable occupation, and being a salesman...a valued and respected position at the time because it improved the economy, which is the foundation of the American Dream. Miller creates the characters of Ben, Dave Singleman and Willy's father, all Willy's role models, to exemplify the pitfalls of the American Dream...all were successful but were shrouded with negative messages (Ben- never fight fair with strangers, Willy's father abandoned his family, Dave is 84 and alone....still working). Charley on the other hand, Miller's character who does not abide by the guidelines of the American Dream, is successful, content, a loyal friend, and a father to a son who is humble, proud, driven, successful and above all else a respected lawyer, who adhered to a strong moral code and is trying a case in front of the Supreme Court. The American Dream is not the only theme of the play, but it is certainly the major theme that all other themes revolve around.

[@johnmurray5573]

It's the word dream that confuses Americans. They think dream must be a good experience and this play is a tragedy can't be about that. It's about the danger of buying into a myth and the consequences of that detachment from reality

[@chasr7860]

I feel that Death of a Salesman is about survival. To professor Snart and/or anyone reading comments seeking different takes on the works meaning. Having seen only the 1985 movie, and having been in sales most my life, I see Dustin Hoffman portraying a character who once had the skills to make the grade. He knew what to do and say just enough to provide for his family; we hear it the sentences he uses. He now seems disconnected from the present and reads like a good book with shuffled pages. Sales is (in part) a gamble, luck plays into it, but one needs to know a lot about people and a little about everything in order to network and build pipelines. I see the protagonist displaying a yearning not as much for wealth and fame, although those are important to him, but more for the security of his family's future. He fears Biff will become broke and that he and his younger son will not be able to be comfortable and have families of their own on what they can earn and the one home his wife will someday leave them. Why else would he give his life to grant them the insurance money? He does not want to bail on them as his father did on him, something he was not even able to face or speak about.

[@simplock]

@Sophia MB I agree. Willy should have swallowed his pride and accepted Charlie's offer. That would have been the best thing for him and his family.

[@junaydmalick807]

When Linda says that Willy isn’t the greatest or most well known man it kinda references his lack of tragedy

[@dariusthurman8835]

It was more than money, it was to be recognized, to be admired, to be remembered. To have significance.

[@poetcomic1]

Someone should write a paper on the literary depiction of the American Salesman from the 19th century 'drummers' in Mark Twain and Owen Wister etc. to Glengarry Glen Ross.

[@capatga]

Death of a salesman is kinda in the spirit of Glen Garry Glenn Ross. Jack Lemon was superb in it.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I agree with this interpretation. Willy went over the edge when Biff stated that he was a "dime a dozen".

[@normanwells2755]

When I took this in school 50 years ago it wasn't about capitalism. But I recall over and over hearing him talk about the need to be liked, well liked, and that would get you ahead. Now I would say manic depression. You'd better say it was about the evils of capitalism though if you want a good mark.

[@Sanxioned1]

I'm so glad you've covered this. I've gotten into some interesting comments from my teaching colleagues about them not wanting to do DOAS. I always ask why. The answer is almost always, "well, it's just about the American Dream and the theme is so simple". And right there I get really annoyed. What a cursory, superficial reading of the play! I am usually not one to champion the classics for the sake of their "classicness". Death of a Salesman is the exception for me. I like to keep the focus on what Miller says about the play in his own essay, "Tragedy and the Common Man". Sure, the American dream plays a role in Willy's motivation, but it's not the central driver. At the most basic level, this is a play about family, about sons and fathers, about legacy. Miller offers us an engaging critique about *accepting one's lot in life* and the dangers of doing that but also the dangers of trying to reach one's "rightful position". Willy refuses to accept his lot in life. He cannot do it. He is literally willing to lay down his life for his perceived rightful position: a good father who leaves something for Biff to perpetuate the Loman family name. It's not wealth for the sake of wealth; it's wealth for the sake of legacy and remembrance. Hence by the end of the play, we're left with confusing feelings of both loss and relief; for Willy will be remembered, but only by his immediate family and not for what he'd hope he'd be remembered for. Similarly, Willy's father is remembered in a potentially flawed way, a mythic hero almost. I always find it funny when a colleague looks at my assignments for this reading and they seem dumbfounded by the richness of student responses -- even when they barely mention the American dream. Instead, they explore ideas of familial relations, trauma, abandonment, the journey from innocence to experience, and man's unwillingness to accept his lot. Thanks for this video!

[@wassupinlasvegas9735]

I was just about to say it is, on an abstract level, about identity and legacy and how they're intertwined - then you actually said the word "legacy."

[@newglof9558]

On the topic of "celebrity" and having one's name be continued: contrast this with another Miller play, The Crucible, toward the end where Proctor laments that his soul has been taken but he pleads for his name when Danforth attempts to extract a confession. Kind of the opposite of Loman in a way, where Proctor is liberated in the sense of awareness of his predicament. Willie doesn't have that luxury. I'm 29 and writing like I'm in AP Lit again. Death of a Salesman hits way harder post college.

[@zanzibarandgrill6484]

Now retired, but having worked in the corporate environment for 25+ yrs I would say that the manner in which people are treated as 'in excess of requirements' is accurately portrayed in this play. I can only imagine what things were like 70 yrs ago. While I appreciate your academic viewpoint, I don't think you have business life experience to support it. I would also say that the play may be one of the first to accurately portray dementia.

[@retina-JaY_3_Songs_Productions]

I've watched the plays several times and read the book a couple times. With all the dimensions which could be and are expressed, at it's true core, on a purely raw and blatant level, it's a play/story about self-induced mental illness; self-absorbtion coupled with Sociopathy (no conscience) in fact causes mental illness/ aka guilt; their egos, pride and dillusions of self grandier lead the characters to embellish and paint a picture of what they wish reality were. The scene where it's disclosed that the salesman was returning home from a "successful day, only to later reveal he'd pretended to go to work; misleading his unwary wife and disillusioned kids; I personally on a side note imagine perhaps he dressed up early in the morning in his nice suit but had for example only done so to attend a mandated psychological evaluation; as his several attempts at suicide previously no doubt created horror and psychological issues for his kids/wife. Maybe he just sat at a bench in a park to kill time, but in any event, if anyone can read this play and not see the psychosis elephant in the room is the loudest reoccurring theme, they're in my opinion missing the authors prominent point. One of the most heart breaking and deeply troubling pieces of prose I've ever read. Thank you for trying to help people understand they're way off base if they want to make this story about "the American Dream". Perhaps if kids could get back to the times in which people could think more deeply, have less perpetual distraction and the like, comprehension skills could be much more trust worthy. Best regards.

[@piecesofme8531]

Are we being urged to be Willie’s codependents with all the exhortations that “attention must be paid”?

[@HellYeah223]

Excellent analysis - thank you.

[@hymansahak181]

The American Dream…you have to be asleep to believe it - George Carlin

[@IDF1987]

I would ague that it's about Willy Loman experiencing early onset Alzheimer's during a time when the disease is not commonly recognized. He exhibits just about every symptom of the disease. (mood swings, confusion of past/present, short term memory loss, etc.)

[@sylviavasquez9523]

I just watched it again and had this strong sense that he was entering into a state of dementia. But Miller never says this. I think he was striving to portray someone who was disoriented due to bad decisions framed in a bad culture. Miller was mad when the movie version (with Fredric March) came out because they portrayed Willie as insane instead of showing how screwed up the system was.

[@ginge641]

It's not the American Dream itself that is presented as an issue, it's Willy's wholehearted belief in fantasies such as the American Dream.

[@dariusthurman8835]

The sad thing is I see myself in Willie. Im also a fatherless neurotic who strives for recognition, who is obsessed with validation.

[@schmetterling4477]

Is that why you are dropping all of your bullshit on the internet? Let me validate you. ;-)

[@thetruth2509]

The new American Dream is celebrity. Social media has made sure of that. People now prefer likes/views to dollars. The play may not have been written with this in mind, but it certainly reflects the times we are currently living in.

[@patriciagoh5]

I disagree with your interpretation of Willie Loman...."Death of a Salesman" Arthur Miller, a brilliant writer was absolutely spot on. You are not dealing with the fact that at that time older salesmen were often fired by CEOs so as to put younger men in their position. There was a fine film based on this fact, i would advise you to check it out. "Patterns"

[@irelumpio2524]

thanks so much for this. i have a new topic to talk about now

[@weaponx100]

Willie alludes to his father never coming home a few times

[@johnnywallen4353]

An exemplary analysis! I think you are very right about this!

[@sylviavasquez9523]

Every time I see the play, I have different impressions. The first time I saw it, I felt it was about a hardworking sod who had two idiot sons. The wife was an appendage he didn't quite love and so he did himself in. The 2nd time I saw it, I thought it was about how capitalism promotes delusions among the workers. That despite their modest means, they can aspire to greatness because of American global dominance. The 3rd time I saw it, I disliked Willie and felt he was a jerk for never being home and raising his sons. If they were idiots, then wasn't it his fault? I thought the wife was deluded about her husband and the sons were right--that he was a loser who raised losers. The 4th time I saw it, all I could think about was my dad. A man who served in WWII and didn't have much of an education. He went to Mexico after the war to find a wife and raise a family. He ruled with a strong hand and wanted his children to proudly carry his name and ways. We felt more like things than people growing up; our parents playing their parts, until it was clear none of us could survive in that forced and often brutal environment. Now we are all blown to different parts of the world. In my old age, my sympathies for my dad are great. This play puts me in touch with what his failures might have meant to him. How deeply disappointing things were, but how hard he tried to put on a good show. Interestingly, all of my siblings like to tell jokes, sing, etc. We are the family that always entertains and never really talks.

[@pottingsoil]

I've always felt that the story about legacy.

[@sylviawalker2800]

It is about the American Dream. Money, recognition, and fame are all intertwined as part of the American Dream. And money is never the real goal for anyone. Rather it is a placeholder for other things. Money as part of the American Dream is a way that Willy can tell himself that he has "succeeded." And yes, it also about Willy's childhood and abandonment. And it is about Willy trying to fill that hole from his childhood with a his dysfunctional vision of the American Dream. It is all intertwined and cannot be separated when trying to understand what is happening in this play.

[@joelthhicks]

Wow, this video helped me better understand just how much DoaS translates to the age of social media as well

[@jordanhenshaw]

Yeah, fame is definitely a huge component of “the American dream”.

[@plugshirt1762]

Yeah the video tries to make it seem more grandiose to spectate it by calling it celebrity but is more accurate to just say he is after status and respect like a majority of people

[@fugoogle694]

Finally after many years, I've got round to seeing this narrative for myself. In my interpretation, Willie is almost man of delusion. Hanging on to his perceived notions of what a particular (successful?) man should be - who 'he' himself should be. This is evident in his constant ramblings and his "many thoughts" about himself, his life, his desires and expectations (including for those around him - family / friends etc.). He often gets lost and side-tracked in his own grandiose little world, the delusional imaginings that take place are almost real to him. These expectations are then projected in the way that he entreats those around him when he come too, back to reality. Now as a literature piece, I would say that "The American Dream" is certainly an underlying concept throughout the work, and this is evident in the cultural and historic references that are evident throughout the narrative - A background driving force so to speak as a set piece work - but NOT necessarily the focus that the tutor alludes to. However, the narrative as a whole, (also crucially represented by the additional characters lives and experiences) is a reflection on personal values, weaknesses and expectations, as they relate to our interpersonal relationships AND our place within certain societal constructs (Family/Work/Business/Friendship, Including the pursuit of the Dream). In the end, I believe its about honesty; or rather reflection, self-honesty and coming to terms with those conflicts within ourselves AND those that exist between us, and as we stand within our world and environmental constructs. This is evident that in the end, it's actually Willie's outcast son Happy, who is the harbinger of reconciliation - Despite being the plight of his father Willie's exceptions of who or what a (traditional / successful?) son should be. And in a final outburst of grandiose delusion, Willie sets off to fulfill his part of the reconciliation, initiated by his son's out pouring prior - Thus feeling a sense of worth? Forgiveness? Appreciation? Beginning of a new horizon? Whatever - He sets off to his unfortunate death. Incidentally, His "Death" (symbolically speaking) actually occurs in small strokes throughout the narrative... That's my thoughts on it anyway, what do you think?

[@mubangakapopo9725]

This is golden, the interpersonal implications of The pursuit are what critiques the Dream, family, society etc.. keeping up appearances and dealing with not just ones own, but others perceptions of one's own reality

[@howardfischer7429]

Still amazed that two Jewish "boys" are called "Biff" and "Happy."

[@patocake6230]

i see death of a salesman as a critique on captialism.. eventually, the well runs dry

[@sylviavasquez9523]

Right--false consciousness.

[@simon_lz]

Yeah everyone in my class. including the teacher, says it's a critique of the American Dream, but it just doesn't make sense. Good to know I'm not the only one

[@miniminz1938]

Oh my god I like your take I feel like you unlocked a part in my brain 😂 very informative thank you!

[@ernestkovach3305]

Actually this classic and greatest of American plays , even more than the novel The Great Gatsby , is the greatest commentary on the so called illusionary " American Dream" in the history of literature. That it can be interpreted and applied universally, as well, makes it a timeless masterpiece.

[@juliarae79]

Yes the American Dream is subjective, that is why it is not clearly defined and ever evolving. This play is very much about the American Dream, but stating such does not mean one cannot delve further into what that entales. Willy's whole life was spent trying to prove to others and himself that he was this successful, a well loved go-getter, and when reality began to seep through he became delusional. He grew up unnoticed, which is the beginning to someone reaching for the American Dream, someone who grows up with little and works to gain lots. In the end, Happy also follows that form, as an invisible kid chasing after women for recognition and deciding to follow his fathers footsteps. I respect that you were attempting to break a commonly held belief, however this play is a representation of the American Dream, of a perfect life that is nearly impossible to have and is not a healthy goal.

[@AS-iu8hr]

You're right that Willy Loman is motivated by pride. He talks a lot about wanting to see people smiling at him. But that's very much a hallmark of American capitalism. Pride, forced cheer, and desire to be "someone special" are psychological components that distract the working class from their material circumstances.

[@idsullymichaels]

I think the American Dream is all encompassing... it still applies - but it is wealth, family, respect, all of it... On his funeral - he thinks of all the people that will be there. Family is a huge part of the play - in flashback he asks Ben how he should raise his boys. Connected the "salesman" dream and family - consider that he looks up to a man named "SINGLE" man... and that the man died alone working into his 80's. Is the American Dream to work up to death? Also on family - Willie repeats the flaws of his own upbringing - he has an absent father that left the family, much like Willie is always gone. Ben went off and made his own way, as Biff does in the West. Good point of being able to tell kids they are NOT doing a good job - he doesn't correct Biff's bad habits cheating and stealing. Wonder what Happy's kids will be like... continuing the circle of failed understandings of success, family, and work?

[@gregmark1688]

Interesting video. Makes me wonder if Jason has yet noticed that, for his modern students, celebrity /is/ the American Dream. "Tiktoker/youtuber" is quite literally the most popular career (so to speak) ambition among kids today. I wonder if Willie's idea of celebrity is the same as theirs. I think it is. I think kids today want to be famous, without wanting to do anything worth being famous for. Willie is more or less the same, I think. He wants to be a celebrated salesman, but he doesn't see that he's not actually done enough to earn that status.

[@MsOperalistener]

Very good analysis. This is very accurate depiction of the whyˇs of Willyˇs thinking and acting.

[@SunshineInWoods]

Hello! I think your analysis would have been more successful if, right from the bat, you had defined "The American Dream", you keep on hammering on about Willy not being interested in wealth and money and thus imply that this is the most important element of the American Dream. Which is not necessarily the case. From Wikipedia: "The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, the set of ideals (democracy, rights, liberty, opportunity and equality) in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, as well as an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth".

[@Marimba100]

Indeed. Address the concept if you find it problematic.

[@nichandyside2466]

How about the fact that Miller himself writes about DOAS being an exploration of the American Dream?

[@nateofthesouth]

Thank you for a new tool, "Willie as a son." I can now think to other films and try to see the character in roles other than the most obvious. What context clues are there? How might they interpreted differently?

[@truthseeker1871]

Why should anyone struggle to figure out what the author of a play is trying to say? If he can't make the meaning simple and clear what is the point in watching it? It's a waste of time and effort.

[@jencartwright6455]

I was ready to disagree with this video in an instant as for me the play has always been so much about the American Dream and an everyman's failure to achieve this. However, after watching my mind has been swayed. I think it definitely is easy to generalise that Willy is a salesman crazed by the notorious dream of wealth but actually on deeper examination it is so much more. It is a man who is constantly insecure over how he is perceived, longing to make a 'celebrity-like' impact on the world and be awed at rather than incite shame from his sons

[@kw6713a]

Good analysis. I think had willy lived in the Soviet Union, he would have been pushing his sons to be good party apparatchiks. Had little to do with capitalism or America. Willy wanted validation from outside rather than creating it from within.

[@jmichaelbell5434]

Immortality. Perhaps that is a better term than celebrity, which is fleeting; immortality, like De Beers, is forever?

[@artsymamafive5550]

What are you a professor of? This is a neat concept. I am teaching the play for the first time, and I have always heard that it's a story of the American Dream. It's great to hear your perspective.

[@phaedrus2633]

Hmmm. Having a family name known throughout the nation....that would be a component of the American dream. I think the Rockefellers, the Kennedy's and the Astors prove my point. The play is about the stress and drama of trying to achieve the American dream, and not succeeding.

[@hannah1444]

Thank you! This was a really useful video!

[@sewaseem]

Until i found this perspective, I had honestly been going along superficially feeling that, yeah ok it's about the american dream. The american dream I always thought was about the underdog who perseveres under pressure against all odds and achieves those things symbolic of success: the wife, the kids, the house, the career. Looking back on Death of a Salesman, I don't feel that theme is really present at all. The family bickers and hopes against hope a lot. At the end, the family's aspirations are not met leaving us with a heavy hearted tragedy. Now I think death of a salesman is the nightmare of failing to adapt to modernization. Successive generations are doomed to fail if there is no constructive connection between young and old on values, skills and knowledge. Successive generations stand a stronger chance of succeeding in life if they grow free of their dependencies. Like Lohman's brother who went and made a fortune abroad.

[@AscendedYield]

Very insightful

[@carmelagdeppa6088]

The play is a tragedy, in the classic Greek style, with the drive of an inner inevitability that grows from a fatal flaw. Willy's flaw is that he built is self worth on the opinion of others. Death of a Salesman is a LOVE STORY between Willy and Biff. Without WIlly loving Biff, and Biff loving WIlly, there is no conflict. Willy wants to win out. Milly wants to protect Willy. Biif wants the truth of who he is and Hap always needs to be selling (even if its an idea). I'm not a professor. I'm sharing an actors perspective. This play is a true American classic. It stands the test of time because it ultimately arises pity and fear once you understand it.

[@mrweimer1676]

I do not agree with your explanations of fundamental aspects of the play which can not be narrowed down to a mere psychological analysis of Willy Loman's persona. As the so-called "American Dream" is an undefined and abstract concept not limited to money but also including fame, materialism, conspicuous consumption, lust, lusciousness, etc., the purpose of the whole play is precisely to discuss these features within the frame of one's interpretation of the more general and elusive idea of "American Dream". Since, as has been said, Willy's suicide is nothing but a deal, he actually explores and finally embraces the self-destructive logic of the American Dream. This notion takes over Willy's individuality and even destroys the bonds with his own family to become the mental prison of a whole civilization. Happy shows how deeply this dream is rooted in collective memory (mentioning the word twice in the Requiem) by claiming that he will walk in his father's footsteps and not giving up on it, unlike Biff. The whole play is about a man struggling with his flawed perceptions of dreams and reality and these vulnerabilities could be seen as defining our modern times...

[@warrenarden1681]

Willy loahman gonna sell them all in New England

[@cynthialyman2636]

In my opinion a major theme is about what we were once taught to strive for: back when average people of moderate intelligence and education could only strive to perhaps own their own home (eventually) and raise children that would surpass them in terms of socio-economics. But it is also about personal aspirations, and the grief that erodes the human spirit when someone like Willy realizes that they have not achieved their specific dreams and that time and the opportunity to do so has passed them irretrievably by.

[@cjpreach]

I think the play is about a Dreamer who was in reality nothing more than a Fantasizer.

[@Schoolgirl325]

Willy is trying to live the “American Dream,” but I agree that he views it through the very elitist, superficially charming, self-important, and unrealistically effortless lens that Hollywood often portrays it as. Sadly, that was happening back in the Great Depression, and our media still does it today. “America is the land of opportunity where dreams come true.” Biff points out that Willy constantly filled him up with all this “hot air” back in high school when he was a physically attractive and popular teenage jock on his football team. He stands there there making fun of Charlie son Bernard for being a hard-working, humble, and nerdy kid who spends all his time studying for his math exam and reading books. However, 15 years later, Biff is 34 years old and still struggling to hold down a job because he’s been encouraged to always demand the best with little to no effort or humility at work, while Bernard has become a successful lawyer taking cases with clients in the Supreme Court because he knew how to be humble and work his way up to the top.

[@ThePiratemachine]

I think this play is about the utter emptiness of materialism as a quest presented as the sum total of meaning of life. The idea that you can have everything and it means nothing when you get it and even worse for those trying to spend their whole lives trying to get it and measuring their worth by how much they get of materialism. For me it's about decent people destroyed by their obsession with it. Spiritual desolation.

[@zanzibarandgrill6484]

Should also have mentioned that it represents the loss of the frontier.

[@colinmcguire7653]

This teacher or "professor" misses the whole point of writing a critical essay on a play or literature: make your argument supported by textual, historical, or cultural evidence. So, there is or should be no problem at all at one making a case that the play expresses aspects of the American dream, AS LONG AS ONE DEFINES CLEARLY WHAT IS MEANT BY THE AMERICAN DREAM. The teacher thinks that by default the student or writer who focuses on the American dream theme will necessarily write on a theme too broad and lacking in concreteness. While this often can be the case, one can certainly write a paper focusing on the American dream that includes the idea if the American dream as celebrity, of being known. To conclude, the podcaster might want to practice what he reaches by providing specific examples of a thesis that is far to general as opposed to one that is more specific. In fact, he might encourage writers to challenge themselves by writing a paper on why the play is not about the American dream. Regards--CGM

[@medicinetreasure2689]

I wrote a very good paper on this.

[@mattocastermedia]

I think Willy chose the wrong career path and comes across as taking pride in manual labor (according to the 1985 movie) But he wanted to be “well-liked” as a “well-liked” salesman. He wanted to sell himself but that wasn’t enough to make him successful.

[@ceoofworldpeace8901]

I think it wasn't the American dream Willy wanted. He could have gone to Alaska with his brother, Ben, but didn't. I think it's more of a story that sales really is not for everyone, and can ruin people. Glengary Glenn Ross is a great companion to Death of a Salesman in this regard.

[@capatga]

I just commented that above.

[@FIREWARRIOR46]

Yes that must be it. Arthur Miller wrote the play to warn people that sales work might not be their cup of tea.

[@lewisrussell666]

lol

[@The22on]

great! i never thought of comparing the two plays, but they do go together!

[@juliarae79]

He didnt go because part of the American Dream is becoming successful on your own two feet, that is why Willy never accepted help from anyone.

[@abira2.0]

beautifully explained. wish you were my professor !

[@volksy7261]

I read an interesting discussion with Mark Travis, director and teacher, who talks about interpretations which can only relate to how the individual perceives it. Your perception of the “ saddest” facets of that play is yours, not mine. You are not remotely seeing what I see. I see how a man is trapped in a toxic perception of male accomplishment, despite male characters trying to broaden him. Linda is support, and abused, and Biff is starving of affection, yet is strong enough to call him out, both the disrespect of his mother and the illogic of his reality, and leaves to protect his sanity. That is what “ toxic masculinity “ does. It is a widely misunderstood term.

[@oliverwoodward9656]

Debra Low where did you read this discussion?

[@sylviavasquez9523]

I disagree with the phrase '"toxic masculinity". Sounds deterministic. Willie makes choices. He decides he wants a job he can do on the phone. He decides not to be a good parent. He doesn't teach his sons to be good students, good sons, etc. He is narcissistic in many ways. He finds himself begging for money from people he thinks are beneath him. He recalls his uncle as a man of action and he makes excuses for not following his footsteps. He confuses staying behind with being a family man. In fact, he is not a family man. He is a man who seeks superficial admiration and cannot find happiness in the wrong choices he has made for himself. "....toxic perception of male accomplishment..." That phrase seems ill suited for this character's motivations and undoing. Firstly, male accomplishment isn't unlike accomplishment in general. In the 50s men were the primary bread winners. Now, everyone has to work (whether they want to or not) and workers see accomplishment in general terms. Being competent and respected in your job, making a living wage, supporting a family, earning a pension, etc. When you make bad decisions and are influenced by a a culture that applauds popularity and delusions of grandeur, you sometimes fail. Also, if there is no safety net for workers, they can only spiral the drain. As Willie's life gets crushed by this fact, he loses his bearings. (As do we all.) The only thing toxic at play is the idea that human being are reducible to binary categories. Willie is a complex man who expresses his masculinity/vulnerability/ Americanism, in multi dimensional ways. We all know people who want to make millions on TikTok, who want to be influencers, who live their lives through their children. We can feel compassion for those who fall flat on their faces and value the wrong things, but calling them 'toxic' is a step too far. The humanities open us up to compassion and 'walking in someone else's shoes'. I hope that is never lost.

[@Trapper4265]

Actually, instead of guessing, interpreting, and speculating, listen to the interview with Arthur Miller himself, and he says it's about the love affair between a father and son, among other subjects. There you go, a 15-minute video boiled down to 15- seconds. Haha, 😊

[@albertloan396]

Celebrity, yes, yet perhaps "reputation" is the better concept here. The tragedy is that appearance is valued over truth by each of the characters,, appearance in service to reputation.

[@windelov1]

Arthur Miller said himself that it is, in fact, about the shortfallings of capitalism and the American dream.

[@mariaeugenia8376]

I beg my students not to refer to the American Dream (a feeble notion to me) because each character has a dream in each play and not two dreams are the same, money in not all. In order to deeply interpret a play they have to be specific and serious.

[@CrazyBunny123]

Whatever happened to the American Dream? It came true. You’re looking at it.

[@JohnPonzini]

The Amer Dream is but one theme. The Amer Dream is not about money..it is about being noticed as a success. Dont say it is not about the Amer Dream...Miller would tell you it is because Miller had an Uncle he modeled this work after somewhat.Every play just about is all about the American Dream and what a false god it is and how. twisted some. people end up. But by discussing the Amer Dream you don't need to forget the plethora of other themes.Again, all his work shows us the Amer Dream in various deformed forms.

[@JAROCHELOcesarcastro]

So, can we say is about the American reality?

[@DestroyProvolone]

Great video.

[@betoyahdorzema2542]

Omg you helped so much thank you

[@justathought274]

That’s one ridiculous statement and quite the take given the playwright himself is clear on the motive for the play. At least be controversial with a well constructed and relevant argument. Smh.

[@GuyWhitney]

excellent

[@Stringwar]

I think if most people see it as representative of capitalism or the 'American Dream' which you state as ambiguous then it probably is fair to say that's the correct analysis. But we all see different things in ambiguous stories.

[@KopfundSeele]

Sly Dood So you‘re saying just because the majority of people thinks something is right it has to be so? Well history proves that people have been wrong several times even though the majority thought it to be correct e.g. at times of slavery in America. I think this professor is right, and even if I don’t think you have to agree with him I do think you should reconsider your statement ;)

[@Stringwar]

@@KopfundSeele My objection is disregarding a popular opinion. That in itself is arrogant. There are multiple themes in the story. The pressure of achieving financial and social success is the main one. That's very clear when you watch the film.

[@alihushi2896]

holly shit nigga dope video

[@marysheeran519]

I just wandered in. I played Linda recently, and I'm thinking...are you going to mention her? You do, just in passing. Excellent comments, but it is not a "thorough analysis" as someone mentions below 2 years ago! I like your take on Willy needing celebrity and validation because of the absence of his father. But you then have to wonder what his relationship is with hisOmother. I don't sympathize with him. He treats Linda like crap. And she still loves and tries to protect him. I've seen a few versions, and it's interesting that the women tend to get a little stronger as time goes on, and in the recent Broadway production, she was not the character Mildred Dunnock played - Dunnock had a "hit me" sign on her back. In thinking about Linda, one realizes that she keeps the finances and she knows the bills - Willy doesn't. She probably knows the boys better. She would be there all the time at home. Willy is not. My thinking is that she recognizes that Willy sees other women because of how he acts in and out of bed with her when he returns from these trips. And maybe she hears something, a whisper. I do think he loves her, but his seeking out other women has to do with his vision of who he wants to be. I played Linda's final speech as growing angry at him. And what's this "one dasn't blame this man?" Yeesh. Miller was a guy, he wrote great plays, but his vision is also thwarted by the times he lived in and the attitudes toward women. And no one seems to think that. Linda is a character with many dimensions, and you just have to start to think about them - about how Miller portrayed her and how there are missing pieces in that portrayal. She deserved better.

[@alihushi2896]

boi, american dream also includes legacy

[@factsoverfeelings1776]

In your opinion.

[@swizzili4309]

enabling and denial maybe

[@scabbycatcat4202]

Ha ! In the fourteen minutes you have been speaking you have not mentioned the main thing this play is all about. Its pretty obvious to me this play is all about EGO. Willy Loman is one of perhaps dozens of people you have met in your life who have massive EGOs that have not and will not ever be satisfied. He is a massively disappointed man . Totally unfulfilled and empty. This play has become so popular because like all good works we can all relate to Willy Loman if we are honest and perhaps we can even see something of Willy Loman in ourselves. Working in industry I have met dozens of Willy Lomans in my lifetime and I think most people have.

[@NostalgiNorden]

Everything you talk about is part of the american dream.

[@schmetterling4477]

That's a redefinition of the American Dream. ;-)

[@Chercheure_Indépendante]

I just watched 30 minutes of it and it is very dull. Mostly a 60 years old man talking to himself.

[@schmetterling4477]

Once you turn 60 you will notice that life, except for a few short moments, is very dull. ;-)

[@spywhale]

I was very critical of this stupid play as I had to help a student for drama class. We had to watch the play a few times study the fashion of the time and hairstyles etc. The play is boring melodramatic crap and I don't see how 18 year olds are supposed to identify with a 63 year old with dementia. After we had completed the assignment I realised why the play is so popular with drama students. The answer is that it's a simple play with simple characters and easy emotions for young actors to portray plus the props are easy to manage. My unbiased conclusion dumb boring play but easy for young thespians to sink their teeth in.

[@rarerepair]

Succinct and accurate, thanks

[@michaelrutkowski4866]

naturally directed ....lol let's face it u are just trying to be unique and u dont have the rhetoric to explain the major themes and ur kids being successful is part of the dream man I hope my students dont watch u stop trying to reinvent the wheel btw what school did u go to Rowan