The False Hope of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman

Zachary Moore Professor Lindquist English 102 2 April 2013 The False Hope of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman The American Dream is something every American family strives to achieve some families push too hard to get to the place where they feel that they have achieved this dream; this is the case in the life of the Lomen family. The Lomen’s are the typical American family in the 1940’s. Willy and his wife Linda are a middle class family with two sons named Biff and Happy. Willy is an ageing traveling salesman that is struggling to accept the fact that he is not as successful as he would like to be. His sons have also not lived up to the standers of Willy’s dreams either. In Willy’s eyes to attain the†¦show more content†¦She says â€Å"I’m—I’m ashamed to. How can I mention it to him? Every day I go down and take away that little rubber pipe. But when he comes home, I put it back where it was. How can I insult him that way? I don’t know what to do. I live from day to day boys. I tell you, I know every thought in his mind. It sounds so old-fashioned and silly, but I tell you he’s put his whole life into you and you’ve turned your backs on him. Biff, I swear to God! Biff, his life is in your hands!† (Miller 672). Linda thinks that if Willy feels that his sons have turned their backs on their father that he will resort to suicide. Willy also struggles with betrayal throughout the play weather he is being betrayed by his own sons or his boss of so many years. The line of betrayal runs deep through the play Death of a Salesman. Willy feels that Biff is betraying him by not going into the business world with him and his brother. Willy feels that is the only way to get success is going into sales and Biff took off and went out west. Willy betrays Biff when he is caught by his son in act one having an affair with another women when he shows up unexpected to visited his fat her. Willy tries to tell Biff that nothing was happening but Biff had already seen it all. Biff in some ways betrayed his mother by not telling her about the affair and what he had seen. Willy feels betrayed by his own boss when he is fired because thereShow MoreRelated The Requiem Scene in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Essay740 Words   |  3 PagesScene in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman The death of Willy Loman was remembered by few.   He was mourned not because of his tragic death but because of his despairing life.   The Requiem scene in Death of a Salesman describes the ill-attended funeral of Willy, the tragic hero who struggled to fulfill his vision of the American Dream.   This scene brings closure to the play because the audience realizes that only in death is Willy able to accept the failure and false success that has plaguedRead MoreDeath of a Tragic Hero in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller836 Words   |  4 PagesDeath of a Tragic Hero in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Since the beginning of time, man has endeavored to become something more, to grow as a society. 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