How Does Willy Loman Contribute To The American Dream

A common saying is that “A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.” However, this is a repeated misconception. The main character in the play Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman, supports this. Willy’s desire for success is a driving force throughout the play. He has a strong belief in the American Dream and is convinced that success is just around the corner. Despite his efforts, Willy ultimately fails to achieve the level of success he desires. He is unable to come to terms with his lack of success and it ultimately leads to the damage of his personal relationships. In his play Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller promotes the idea that the obsession of one's goals can damage personal relationships through poor decision making,

His tendency to make impulsive and irresponsible choices, such as borrowing money from his brother and falsifying his expenses, leads to financial strain and mistrust from his family. Additionally, Willy's decision to prioritize his own desires and goals over the well-being of his family, such as getting caught in his affair by Biff. He says that "I get so lonely- especially when business is bad "(Miller 1.1.38) to excuse his mistakes, but it creates a blockade around his connection with Biff. Furthermore, his lack of insight and self-awareness led him to blame others for his own failure and refuse to take responsibility for his own shortcomings, which further alienated him from his family. He takes this to an extreme by ending his life even though "he had no right to do that"(Miller 2.2.129), because his family “would've helped him"(Miller 2.2.129). As a result, Willy's poor decision making ultimately contributes to the breakdown of his relationships with his wife Linda and sons Biff and

His constant dissatisfaction with his life and the world around him leads him to be emotionally distant and negative towards his family, particularly his wife Linda and sons Biff and Happy. He is unable to appreciate the good things in his life, such as his family and their love for him, and instead focuses on his perceived shortcomings and failures. This casts shade onto his son Biff when he lashes out stating that "the trouble is he's lazy, goddammit!"(Miller 1.1.140). Willy's tendency to dwell on past regrets and disappointments also causes him to be critical and dismissive of his family, causing further strain on their relationships. Additionally, Willy's negative outlook on life and his own inadequacies causes him to project these feelings onto others, which leads him to blame them for his own failure. He teaches his sons that "[you should] never leave a job till you're finished"(Miller1.1.349). This attitude further alienates him from his family because he focuses on material success over personal connection. Ultimately, his negative frame of mind contributes to the breakdown of his relationships with his close