Greed and Sucess in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Americans take less vacation time. Americans work longer hours. Americans retire later. Americans revolve their lives around work. Americans overwork themselves. They dedicate their entire lives to their careers, to being promoted to a higher position, to attaining that higher payroll, to only get farther in the workplace. Americans are so caught up in their jobs and careers that they end up neglecting other things like their personal lives . Unlike people from other countries, Americans do not take enough lesiure time for themselves.
Americans have little to no time off each week. According to the article, “Overworked America: 12 Charts That Will Make Your Blood Boil”,some countries give workers 37-48 hours off each week. Other countries give workers 24-36 hours off each week.Americans in comparison have barely any hours off(Gilson).Even on the weekends , Americans find their lives consumed by work. A survey given to employed email users showed that 50% of them checked their work email on the weekends and 34% check work email while on vacation(Gilson).Americans cannot find a medium between their work lives and their personal lives.
The same article showed other factors that play into the overworked life of an average American, and one of them is the 67% increase in cost of living since 1990(Gilson). Or, the fact that one’s annual salary at minimum wage is merely $15,080. In addition to that, one must have a $30,000 income in order to say that they genuinely have econmic security. So, maybe this is the reason why Americans find themselves having to work longer hours and having to work harder. It is because our economy is relentless, and in order to make a living, things like vacation and days off have to sometimes be put on ho...

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...l unsatisfied with his life. At one point in the play Hapyy says,” I don’t know what the hell I’m working’ for. Sometimes I sit in my apartment—all alone. And I think of the rent I’m paying. And it’s crazy. But then, it’s what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, plenty of women, and still, goddamnit, I’m lonely”(Act 1). This quote shows how hard work is something that doesn’t necessarily mean or guarantee a happy life. Yes, work brings in money, but that money cannot buy experiences , or mostly importnanlty, it cannot buy back valuable time.
America is known for many things. It is famous for its sports, fast food, and of course Hollywood. Yet it is infamous for being the home to millions of workaholics. It is home to millions of people that literally work themselves to death . This country is plagued by nonstop work, and it is a disease that has no cure.