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The Ruination Of Willy Loman

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The Ruination of Willy Loman: An Analysis of a Flawed American Dream in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. Anthony Ferullo Mr. Shaw AP Lit Comp 2 11 April 2024. “Got a call from an old friend, we used to be real close. Said he couldn't go the American way.” - Billy Joel. Throughout Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman, the motif of remembrance plays a pivotal role in the life of the story’s main character, Willy Loman. Willy’s memory is the driving factor when it comes to his overwhelming feelings of depression and his yearning for the good old days, as well as his desire to achieve the “American Dream” (Martin 103). Willy, formerly a well-loved father and respected businessman, finds himself in a miserable …show more content…

Willy’s relationship with his son in the present is vastly different from his past memories because Biff discovered his father’s affair at the age of 18. This incident is a catalyst for the events in the story and plays an integral role in Willy’s antipathy towards his son and the world. In his youth, Biff was Willy’s pride and joy. As the leader of the high school football team, Biff and his father often showed love and empathy towards one another. The incident changed all of this as Willy and Biff began to resent each other. Arthur Miller's portrayal of the American dream in his play Death of a Salesman is corroded by Willy’s hatred for his job and his resentment towards his son, which are both attributes of his inability to remove himself from the past and work to make a more prosperous present and future for himself. The “American dream” (Martin 103) of wealth and success is one that is chased by many Americans, especially in the 1940’s, which is the setting of Miller’s play. This dream is one of fiscal success and financial freedom from the restraints of the corporate world. This dream is one cultivated by Willy Loman, a formerly

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