Death Of A Salesman Success Essay

We live in a world where we are told that it is important to have a lot of things to demonstrate your wealth and desire. We live in a world where we strive to own the biggest and nicest things. We live in a world where living the American dream has become our definition of success. In the play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the character Willy Loman, portrays this idea that living the American dream full of money and being well-liked is what makes a person successful. Yet, after I interviewed my mother and Mr. Smith, I discovered that success can be seen as a variety of things. Everyone has their own view of success and it is not only money that can make a person successful. I believe success can mean overcoming hardships. Nobody likes to feel pain or go through rough times, but

He considers a successful person to be one who works hard and is well-liked. Willy’s worldview is shown when he says, “Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want” (Miller 33). Willy views this as success, yet in reality he does not seem to be will liked. This is ironic because he can’t recognize that he is not his own definition of success, even though it is all he aspires to be. For Willy, the American dream also means having money and all the best things money can buy. He tends to make up lies about the things he and his children have in order to make others perceive him as a success. He says, “Well, Bill Oliver—very big sporting-goods man—he wants Biff very badly. Called him in from the West, Long distance, carte blanche, special deliveries. Your friends have their own private tennis court?” (Miller 92). This exposes Willy’s desire to be seen as a successful person. He is willing to make up false stories just to make sure he becomes this well-liked person that he sees as