American Dream

The topic of our discussions in class this week has been the “American Dream”, which have challenged us as students to define what it really is to us and the people all around the world. With this challenge, we have started reading,”Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller. What I have read of it so far is that Willy, the father, is disappointed in his older son Biff for not becoming successful yet in his life. The meaning of “American Dream” given to us in class for this play clarifies what Willy believes it to be. It was defined as, “the social and financial security that can be earned by hard work and self reliance.” Willy is disappointed in his son for not working hard towards the dream he once had. Willy flashbacks into the past when Biff wanted to have a successful business. In our lives as college students, we may not see the goals we want to accomplish in our lives and the “American Dream” but if you look at in another aspect we are trying to achieve the same as others seeking the “American Dream”. When looking for comparison in our lives with the “American Dream” presented in this play, it will seem difficult because Miller is a Modernists when writing. As we discussed in class, Modernists do not subscribe to absolute truth. All things are relative, but they still search for truth. Modernism challenges readers to gain more knowledge in what you believe in by creating an idea or dream similar to what most agree with. Our generation is very intrigued by this concept because we know for challenging and expanding an idea to something better. This generation is not scared to try something new or failing at something. “Death of a Salesman” is going to show us a different look at failure and not accomplishing the goals you are seek to finish in the future.