Success In Willy Loman's Death Of A Salesman

What is success? Is it the ability and opportunity to acquire money? Well in today’s

society success is all based on a person’s monetary value. People will see a man wearing

jeans and a t-shirt and a man wearing a suit. They will automatically assume that the man

in the suit is more successful. Why is this? Because success is seen physically and how

much money someone has. The false idea of success according to the American dream

destroyed the opportunity for the Loman family to gain happiness. Willy was caught in

an inescapable trap that is the lie of the American dream. The American dream is the

idea that coming to America or having a job in America will provide the best opportunity

for your family. Living in New

Willy, because he is a salesman, believes he is successful. “Success is

not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing,

you will be successful”(Albert Schweitzer). Willy never really enjoyed what he did so he

could not find success in being a salesman.

Throughout American history, the American dream has given false hope to many

people. The idea that coming to America will give you the best job and best living

opportunity is the biggest lie of all time. Willy being a salesman, thought he had

acquired the American dream.

“WILLY: You and Hap and I, and I’ll show you all the towns. America is full of

beautiful towns and fine, upstanding people. And they know me, boys, they know

me up and down New England. The finest people. And when I bring you fellas

up, there’ll be open sesame for all of us, ‘cause one thing, boys: I have friends. I

can park my car in any street in New England, and the cops protect it like their

own. This summer, heh?”(Miller 31).

Willy Loman was a traveling salesman. He had been to New England quite a few times,

and assumed, because he was a salesman, that he was popular in that region.

They

would rather have a job that pays well but they did not enjoy, rather than having a job

that they enjoyed that did not pay as well.

“ BIFF: No, I’m mixed up very bad. Maybe I oughta get married. Maybe I

oughta get stuck into something. Maybe that’s my trouble. I’m like a boy. I’m

not married, I’m not in business, I just-I’m like a boy. Are you content, Hap?

You’re a success aren’t you? Are you content?

HAPPY: Hell, no!

BIFF: Why? You’re making money, aren’t you?” (Miller 23).

Biff asks his brother Happy if he is content with what he has. Happy replies by saying no

he is not content. This confuses Biff because Happy is making a steady salary.

Therefore he must be successful, right? Nope, success is not entirely based on one’s

monetary value.

The problem with Willy being encompassed in the idea of the American dream is

that it destroys his family. All Willy wants is for his sons, and himself to be successful.

Not the right kind of success however. He wants them to be able to obtain money. Willy

loses his relationship with Biff because of this aspiration.

“ WILLY: Spite, spite, is the word of your undoing! And when you’re down