An American Failure

An American Failure

It has always been said that people come to America for a better life, more money, and a picture perfect family. This so called "American Dream" is the epitome of success in some people's eyes. Willy Loman, the main character of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, feels this way. Willy has made choices in the past that he regrets; not going with his brother Ben and having an affair, when he reflects on these choices he feels as if he's failed in the money and family sense of his "American Dream". Willy also has things he's dealing with in the present that make him feel like a failure; he's not successful in his career and his sons haven't lived up to his expectations. Willy Loman is a man who is living with regrets; both his past choices and his present life combine to make him feel like he failed in obtaining the "American Dream" he so desperately wanted.

Through out the play we constantly see Willy going in and out of his memories. When he's going through his daily life something will remind him of the past and he'll slip into a flashback. One example is his brother Ben, Willy thinks about how rich Ben is and how successful he is and he feels like he could've had that too. Ben had offered for Willy to go with him to Alaska to get rich too but Willy turned it down saying his present job was just fine. However when Ben came back from his trip during which he had ended up in Africa and become rich its easy to tell that Willy regrets his decision not to join him. He says "…If I'd gone with him to Alaska that time, everything would've been totally different…"(Miller 45). Willy feels that going with Ben would've led him to have more money and be more successful. Willy also regrets the fact that he had an affair. He remembers a time when Biff walked in on him and the woman he was sleeping with during the memory its clear Willy is embarrassed about the entire thing. When Biff knocks on the door Willy tells the woman "…All