Lost between Illusion and Reality: A study of the American Dream Concept in Death of a Salesman

Abstract

Since literature’s objective is to synthesize and harmonize the individuals within the society, focusing on man and the society is the solid concern of the authors all over the world. Arthur Miller, like other pioneers, uses man as a focal point around which all events revolve in order to build a realistic drama. Apparently, when a man belongs to a middle or lower class as is the case with Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. It becomes ordinary to anticipate change that may impact man’s life in a community that is determined by economic factors and ventures policy. Yet, when such coping with the pressing currents becomes rather abstruse, man resorts to dreams and fancy world to avoid any collision with reality. His attempt to avert clash becomes rather tragic only when he realizes that all his dreams and fancies are but illusions that are conducive to more loss, more crush of personality and more pushing of individuals towards the brink of either madness or mental collapse or to suicide. Willy Loman’s dreams are rather reflected on his character as a typical ordinary lower-mid-class member who attempts to achieve success in a failing society. His hopes are motivated by a strong belief in the American Dream’s dictates that lead him to face the harsh reality of his real identity like other characters in the play