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.

A Walk to Remember

 

 

 This assignment could not have come at a better time in my life; this past month has really challenged me. As I strive to further my relationship with God personally I am continually stumbling. I feel as if I'm taking one step forward and two steps back. Which is why questions swarmed my head the second I stepped out of the door. What do I want with my life? Where is this journey taking me? What kind of person do I want to be? How long do I have to stumble and break before I get to pick myself up again? Although I didn't find many answers to my questions, I did realize something else: the past is behind me, the only thing I can do is continue on the walk of life and make the best of every opportunity.

I began sifting through childhood memories as I strolled around the places I would walk to when I was younger. During my childhood, going on a walk was my refuge, my comfort and escape from reality. Whenever I needed a break from life, school, family or friend problems I would let the freedom of the outdoors clear my mind and resolve my issues. As I've gotten older situations become more complex and difficult, but one thing remains: embrace the freedom of nature. God has given me everything I need to survive in nature and yet this society continues to become lazier as technology advances and leaves people sitting at home all day hooked on the bright, enticing screens of TVs, cell phones, computers, the list could go on. I have become immune to seeing God's gifts unless they hit me square on the forehead. Therefore, my new years resolutions stand as these: stray away from technology and envelope myself in God's creation, spend more time making the best out of situations rather than dwelling in the bad, and ultimately be free (embrace reality for its ups and downs and remember from here on out the past is an "exit only"). I cannot change my choices so I must move on and face the next day but don't take God's grace for granted. I've done that in the past and it doesn't solve your problems, in fact it makes it harder to discover who you really are and what you believe. In the end the questions I fully answered were, what do I want to do with my life and what kind of person do I want to be? I discovered my goal: be a light -- be that unique person who loves life and display beauty for all to see -- just like the last picture on the blog. I want to be an place of refuge and escape for others, just like God's creation is for me.

Haemon and His Wisdom

 “It is no weakness for the wisest man

To learn when he is wrong, know when to yield”

-Haemon

            In this part of the text, Haemon talks with his father, Creon, about sentencing Antigone to death. Haemon’s entire speech is brilliant and discusses the importance of wisdom and how “man’s wisdom is the gift of heaven” (144). Just as creation is a gift from heaven, the ability to formulate wisdom is also a gift. Without pondering the world and observing mankind, no man could grasp the knowledge necessary to be wise. Moreover, this quote also reveals the wisdom of Haemon and his respectable character. He courteously stands up against his father and fights for his love’s life. Likewise, Haemon points out another very important factor of wisdom; a “wise man” understands his wrongdoings and works towards fixing them. Haemon’s speech furthers the characterization of Creon and display Creon’s faults. Through this excerpt the audience can infer the prideful nature of Creon because of his inability to identify his mistake. Creon does not ask for help or guidance which ultimately leads to his downfall in the end.

            I love this quote! I believe it still correlates to society today when people are too prideful to ask questions. I know that I sometimes don’t want to recognize my own faults and am too fearful to ask for help. Also, this quote really stuck out to me because of the respectable manor that Haemon says it to his father. The wisdom of Haemon and his character shines through during this passage and helps me to see the importance of humility. For example, in my family I usually act as the mediator and my sisters continually tell me I am way more mature than my age and it blows them away to see my “wisdom,” (as they call it...I’m not so sure I agree with them). But I struggle with asking for help during my hardships. Even times when I complain about things I rarely ask for help because I don’t want people to think I’m weak and can’t control my own situations. Yes, if I’m having a bad day I won’t hide it but I don’t like to talk about situations that will hurt my pride. That is why this quote really spoke to me; it reminded me that even the greatest and wisest men alive need help and ultimately the true help we need comes from God. It is all a matter of releasing your pride and being willing to accept your faults in order to become wise.

Unscrambling Mere Christianity

"To love and admire anything outside yourself is to take one step away from utter spiritual ruin; though we shall not be well so long as we love and admire anything more than we love and admire God" C. S. Lewis

In this quote Lewis discusses the importance of selflessness. He continues his ideas of Pride, how it thrives off of competition and power, and puts it into perspective for us. He reveals that "pride may act as a check on vanity." However, Lewis explains that not all pride is evil. It all depends on how we use the word pride; Lewis states that "the phrase 'is proud of' means ''has a warm-hearted admiration for'. Such admiration is, of course, very far from being a sin." Lewis analyzes the restrictions we must put on our pride in order to direct our path to follow God's will. Therefore, he encourages reaching out toward others and placing them first; along with realizing that God is the ultimate prize. There is no hope in idolatry, which is what thrives when we place ourselves or other items ahead of God.

I agree with what C.S. Lewis says. Pride thrives off of our own selfish feelings. It is because of our inner desires that we become prideful which then leads us toward the path of destruction. The way that Lewis explains pride is brilliant. Yet, I love the simplicity in this quote. There is no complex way to get off the path of destruction. Lewis just gives us simple little steps. In order to rid ourselves of our pride we must first acknowledge those around us. I agree that we are not fully able to love God unless we can first love our neighbors. We may not always see or understand the way God works, which is why i think it is important to love those around us. If we can handle their complexity then we will ultimately be able to love God to an even deeper extent. The greatest result in a conscious love for others, especially God, is a happy life that brings glory to our Creator.

Just for kicks :)