The Modern American Dream in Arthur Miller's "The Death of A Salesman"

The theme of the American Dream is a pivotal element interwoven throughout the attitudes and actions of Arthur Miller's characters in his play "The Death of A Salesman." In particular, Happy Loman, a character consumed by material greed and a relentless desire for success, embodies a skewed perspective of the American Dream. This perspective, shared by an increasing number of Americans, revolves around an insatiable hunger for power, lust, and wealth. Happy Loman represents a manifestation of the modern capitalist American Dream.

However, his never-ending discontent and persistent feeling of unfulfillment also encapsulate the fallacies and shortcomings inherent in this distorted Dream.

Success by Neo-American Standards

At first glance, Happy Loman might be considered a success. Despite not holding a prestigious position (he is one of two assistants to an assistant buyer), he has a stable job and a place of his own, a commendable achievement at thirty. This aligns with the Puritan individualist work ethic embedded in American society, emphasizing that hard work breeds success and happiness.

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However, Happy's success is not attributed to hard work, likability, or exceptional skills. Instead, he thrives on the modern American Dream, which fosters cut-throat competition at every level. Like millions of other Americans, Happy ascends the social ladder by defeating competitors, displaying a ruthless determination to crush anyone in his path. This is evident when he reveals his willingness to wait for the merchandise manager's demise, expressing a desire for more money, power, and responsibility.

Neo-American Shortcut: The Dark Side of Success

Happy's ascent in the world symbolizes the new American Dream, marked by an obsession with ruining others' lives to enhance one's own.

His pursuit of personal gain involves deliberately sabotaging the relationships of co-workers and superiors. Despite being capable of attracting any woman, Happy strategically chooses to engage with the wives and fiancées of his colleagues as a means of asserting dominance in an imagined power struggle. This highlights the dark side of the neo-capitalist dream where personal success is often built on the ruins of others' lives.

While Happy might embody the quintessential American Dream in his pursuit of wealth, power, and status, his pervasive feelings of discontent and unhappiness underline the fallacy of this distorted dream. Despite his achievements and conquests, Happy remains unfulfilled. His discontent is evident when, speaking of a potential promotion, he acknowledges that it's what he always wanted, yet he exclaims, "It's crazy... it's what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, and plenty of women." His pursuit of material gains fails to bring him contentment, revealing the inherent flaws in defining the American Dream solely in terms of money and power rather than happiness and self-actualization.

The Unattainable Dream: A Never-Ending Pursuit of Wealth

When success is measured in terms of currency, the American Dream becomes an elusive mirage. The unending desire for more wealth and power, as depicted by Happy's continual dissatisfaction, creates an insurmountable goal. The pursuit becomes a never-ending cycle, where the attainment of one goal leads to the creation of another. The American Dream, when improperly defined as a pursuit of endless material gains, becomes a farce, a hoax that traps individuals in an unattainable quest for an ever-elusive fulfillment.

In conclusion, Arthur Miller's portrayal of Happy Loman in "The Death of A Salesman" serves as a critical commentary on the modern American Dream. Happy's embodiment of the neo-capitalist dream, characterized by ruthless competition, personal gain at the expense of others, and perpetual discontent, highlights the inherent fallacies in defining success solely through material wealth. This analysis prompts a reevaluation of societal values, encouraging a shift towards a more holistic understanding of the American Dream—one that encompasses happiness, fulfillment, and self-actualization.