What's Your Dream?

In "Death of a Salesmen" each character has their own idea of the American dream and how to achieve it, however, Biff's character begins to develop and stray away from his father's view of the "American dream" to form his own dream. First off, Willy formulates his American dream when he

met a salesman in the Parker House. His name was Dave Singleman. And he was eighty-four years old, and he'd drummed merchandise in thirty-one states. And old Dave, he'd go up to his room...and pick up his phone and call the buyers, and without ever leaving his room, at the age of eighty-four, he made his living. And when [Willy] saw that, [he] realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want (Act 2, page 81).

The job as a salesman was what Willy considered the “greatest career” which influenced his life and made Willy desire to have his sons, Biff and Happy, work as salesmen too. Athlough, Happy continually strives to fulfill his father’s desire, Biff, on the other hand, turns askew from that path after he steals the pen from Bill Oliver’s office and realizes that “all [he] want[s] is out there, waiting for [him] the minute [he] say[s] [he] know[s] who [he is]! (Act 2, page 124-125). Because of Biff’s criminal actions he was able to understand his aspirations in life and how different they are from his father’s. No longer is Biff trying to please his father by becoming a salesman, he has recognized his love for nature and working with his hands. Biff’s dream changes from being a salesman in order to please his dad, to becoming a farmer and having a job he loves for the rest of his life.

             As Biff questions his future, the theme of truth versus lies, reality versus illusions, is also in questioning. Willy has glorified his job as a salesman and encourages his sons to embark on the journey of being a salesman also. However, Willy’s life is filled with lies, for example in one of the flashbacks Willy originally lies to Linda about how much money he earned on his trip and has to go back and tell her that what he actually earned is drastically lower. Throughout the play, Willy brags about his friends and success, yet in reality the audience is shown that Willy has failed as a salesman and is only getting paid by commission. This means that he is no longer a usable employer to this company since his salary has been removed. Unlike Happy, Biff is not blinded by his father’s lies and illusions, Biff questions his father’s view of the American dream which means that he is questioning the beliefs his father raised him on. Biff has to discover what reality is in order to find happiness, and Biff succeeds. He is able to overcome the disillusions his father has portrayed and find out what his own American dream is. In the end, Willy commits suicide since he filled his world with lies that came crumpling down on him, Happy continues into the corporate world wanting his father’s approval but heading down the same path of lies Willy went through, while Biff was able to recognize his truth and the fact that his American dream of working on a farm is his reality.

           

            This story greatly contrasts the American society today, no longer do people want the suburbia house, with a good job and 2,5 kids. The American dream has now morphed into doing whatever makes you, personally, happy while you also strive towards earning as much money as you can. The core quest of the American dream is now grounded in greed and selfishness, in my personal opinion. However, there are also people that desire to change the world and make a difference. Those are the people that I hang out with the most, and those dreams are what surround my life but in general the American society has become greedier since they are used to buying as much as they can with little to no punishment. On the other hand, as I reflect over the past seventeen years of my life, God has instilled in my heart the value of family, friends and ultimately living as a light of God. I have formed my dream around helping others, through being an Athletic Trainer, and my life-long aspiration is to start an organization that reaches out to orphans in other countries. Even if I can’t start an organization, I hope that I can travel the world and just love the kids that are in orphanages. The best thing a person in need can receive is tender, loving, care, a little cliché I know, but in all honesty so much more is understood through a touch than words. Ultimately, my American dream can be summed up in three words: make a difference.