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The American Dream In Miller's Death Of A Salesman

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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

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