Manal S. ElNassery Dr. William E. Kinnison ENG 214- Introduction to Literature March 12th, 2018 It is all about the American Dream How can people influence others’ dream? Do all people have the same American dream? Over the course of history, the American dream had many different meanings and versions but first, a question arises; what is the American dream? The American dream is the idea that a man can achieve success in his own life, turn all his dreams to reality and be a useful member in his community. As any life aspect, the American dream has been developed and changed as life goes on. The preliminary dream was about freedom and equality but the modern dream is about the financial and occupational success. In “Death of A Salesman”, Miller …show more content…
“WILLY: Don’t say? Tell you a secret, boys. Don’t breathe it to a soul. Someday I’ll have my own business, and I’ll never have to leave home any more. HAPPY: Like Uncle Charley, heh? WILLY: Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not liked. He’s liked, but he’s not—well liked.”. (Miller 19). He dreamed to own a house with a garden in a quite neighborhood, as he was living in an apartment in a crowed area around it. “The grass don 't grow any more, you can 't raise a carrot in the back yard. They should 've had a law against apartment houses. Remember those two beautiful elm trees out there? ... More and more I think of those days, Linda. This time of year, it was lilac and wisteria. And then the peonies would come out, and the daffodils. What fragrance in this room!” (Miller 9) He wants to live in more space with less people, having his own garden. Willy tried with all means he had to achieve his dreams, when he realized that he could not achieve it, he tried to achieve it through his son, Biff, who was influenced by his father’s way of thinking – getting rich quickly - . Willy believed that Biff would become a successful businessman one day. “LINDA: He’ll find his way. WILLY: Sure. Certain men just don’t get started till later in life. Like Thomas Edison, I think. Or B.F. Goodrich. One of them was deaf. [He starts for the bedroom doorway.] I’ll put my money on Biff.” (Miller 9) But at the end of the play, neither Willy nor Biff achieve their
The play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is known by many Americans as an epitaph for the American dream. It is about the life of Willy Loman, an aging and failing salesman, chasing after his ambitions to become the most popular and successful individual in his field of work. Surprisingly, the story set behind the curtains also mirrors the lives of many modern Americans today. The play, performed in the 1940s, dealt with how people’s expectations for perfection were insubstantial and impractical, and how these expectations bred dissatisfaction and doubt. Unfortunately, this mentality still persists in the current American society.
In the essay “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” Brandon king argues whether or not the American Dream is still alive and well in the USA. The author makes a strong case that the American Dream is, in fact, still held to a high degree of belief in America. Not only does he successfully argue that it is still alive, he presents information that shows how the Dream itself has shifted from a rags-to-riches story to one of a stable, happy life. Overall, King’s use of strong emotional appeals, coupled with his employment of sound reasoning and statistics make his argument that the American Dream has evolved over time very effective.
It should be noted that within effect of flat and cliché-ridden American conversation, many variation are called for, Willy himself is fairly inarticulate; indeed, his inability to put his frustrations into words is a part his generiil inadequacy in dealing with his life, he lets stock phases do his thinking for him. Such reassures himself by means of commercial maxims such as ‘personality always wins the day’, Start big and you’ll end big’ or assertions of conventional attitudes such as ‘A Bman walking in for fifteen thousand dollars does not says’ “Gee!” But Willy does chieve movements of evaluence, for instance when he tells of the aeath of Dave singleton, the eighty four year old salesman, and in his angry demonstrance with Howard. When he says, “you can’t eat the orange and through the peel away-a man is not a piece of
A dream presents a goal to a person in hope for a better future. For example, the American Dream presents a person, who becomes successful, has a honest earning, and has a secured future. Many articles, like Cal Thomas’s, Brandon King’s and Bob Herbert, and the Great Gatsby discuss the American Dream. They describe how the American dream does or does not hold true in modern society. Majority of the American Dream like having a honest earning and a secured future impact today’s society; whereas, some parts of the American Dream like becoming rich does not.
As Willy considers his plan, he exclaims that his son, Biff, will “worship me for it!” (135). Soon after, Willy says, “When the mail comes he’ll be ahead of Bernard again!” In response, Willy’s image of Ben replies that this suicidal plan is a “perfect proposition all around,” (135). But, as much as Willy yearns for success and happiness, especially through Biff’s career, he fails.
Charley’s humility leads to his success, and the contrast of these two characters highlights Willy’s arrogance and impracticality. Charley is humble, realistic, and knowledgeable. His self-confidence allows him to live a happy life without needing to boast. In contrast, Willy constantly brags about his life to boost his self-image. Furthermore, he criticizes others to feel better about himself which comes as a result of his jealousy and insecurity.
The ambition to fulfil the American Dream is false as the Dream is filled with as much flaws as advantages. Michael Schudson stated that “The American Dream’ is ‘The Great national suggestion’ (171) that anyone, with hard work according to the rules, has a reasonable prospect of succeeding in life,’highlighting that the Dream is not limited to any social of economic class. (566) The dream is open to anyone who is working hard in life. The idea of the American Dream is positive and promising.
In order for Willy to be a successful father, he needs to feel that his kids are respected and accomplished. However this shows that Willy is such an outsider, because Biff is quite the opposite, as the Bill Oliver that is references has no idea who Biff is. Another example that shows how Willy’s goals and dreams turn him into a misfit is when he asks for a promotion “ Well, tell you the truth, Howard. I’ve come to the decision that I’d rather not travel anymore.” ( Miller 59).
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, The American dream is defined as someone starting off low in society and working hard to achieve wealth, fame, and prosperity. This dream symbolizes the desire to attain a luxurious house, car and even a perfect marriage if one is diligent enough. It is represented by the idea of a self-sufficient man or woman who is determined to achieve a goal to become more successful. However, the American Dream is an illusion that only leads to corruption in the pursuit of social mobility.
Does John Steinbeck show that dreams are futile in the novel Of Mice and Men? Of mice and men is a novel set in the 1930’s it showed how people lived during The Great Depression, It published in 1937 by John Steinbeck an American born author. The American dream is a concept that shows everybody has a chance. The American dream is a belief that anybody can make it regardless of where they are born or what class. It is achieved through sacrifice, risk and hard work (Investopedia.com).
so he instead fools himself with excuses. Willy Loman behaves similarly with his perception that he is well liked. Willy insists that being well liked is the key to success and he is very proud of being liked. He also teaches his sons that being well liked is more important than getting good grades. This leads Biff to fail math in high school.
He is troubled by the paths that his two sons, Biff and Happy 's lives have taken. He has always expected more and cannot accept what they have become. All of this is taking a toll on Willy and has affected his state of mind. When a
This shows how willy can not admit his failure to his family. The main character Willy doesn’t want to show how deeply down he had fallen and is starting to lose hope on his
The American Dream - Death of a Salesman “The hope for a better tomorrow has no doubt been with the human race for thousands of years, but for a very long time that hope, for the most part, remained dim as the battle for survival dominated life,” (DeLair 1). The definition of the American Dream by James Adams has a major influence on people in the 1950’s. The American Dream can be portrayed in many ways, and many have their own opinion about the American dream; from life experiences, stories, and movies, the American dream has influenced people, giving them strives and motives to succeed in their dreams. Everyone has their own American Dream, in different perspectives; “Death of a Salesman,” by Arthur Miller represents the American Dream
Therefore the upbringing and understanding will affect how someone perceives the American dream. With stories such as A Raisin in the Sun, Maggie,The Great Gatsby, and Mice of Men, attaining materialistic possessions and significant relationships is the understanding of the American Dream, was valued due to its ability to increase one’s stature within