Dreams in Death of a Salesman Essay

Dreams in Death of a Salesman

Death of a Salesman holds many themes within its narrative, but the theme of dreams is the most prevalent. The purpose of dreams is used to describe both an alternate form of reality as well as the characters aspirations. This essay will discuss the importance of dreams to Death of a Salesman, arguing that it is this theme that is central to the play. Other themes existing within the novel such as performance, honesty and alienation, while significant, are secondary to the dominant theme of dreams.

Dreams play a vital role to the development of plot and character within Death of a Salesman; it drives the main characters with their need to obtain their aspirations to a point of obsession that dominates their lives. This never ending pursuit of a non-existent perfection is what leads Willy, Biff and Happy and those around them into a false idea of happiness. They believe that wealth and reputation are the path to success, unfortunately this road leads to only poor and selfish choices leaving everyone unsatisfied and full of regret. Willys dreams for himself and his sons set the stage for the novels sequence of events. They are the reason that Willy cannot seem to find success, and when he cannot meet his high expectations for himself, he lies and cheats in order to keep the unachievable ideal alive instead of being satisfied with less than perfect. The theme of dreams as aspirations, in this way, is what drives the main characters choices and therefore the entire play.

Dreams also represent an escape from reality in Death of a Salesman, many times in the form of hallucinations. It is through Willys hallucinations that the audience is exposed to the past and they also provide a window into his feelings of regret. The audience learns about Willys affair through his delusional memory at the Chophouse, this form of a dream explains his and Willys estranged relationship. It also provides the core reason for their abandonment of other aspirations such as Biffs desire for an education and Willys chance at a solid relationship with his sons, driving the plot forward.

The theme of dreams is more crucial than honesty to the development of Death of a Salesman because honesty, or the lack of it, is the direct product of failed attempts to live a glorified dream. Without Willys constant pursuit of what is known as the American Dream, there would be no plot. It is this quest for perfection and never ending dissatisfaction that ruins his chance to be content. It is very difficult for Willy to separate dreams and aspirations from reality, which makes it hard for him to be honest with himself and others. This deluded world that he lives in and his inability to accept failure, is what makes him exaggerate and lie in order to maintain his pride, his perception of himself and remain well liked. Without this failure of dreams there is no reason for Willy to be dishonest, such as when he looses his job and lies to his wife, or for Biff to cheat his way into good grades which he had been taught as acceptable by his father, and these are only a few examples. Biff blames his fathers high expectations (dreams) for his dishonesty in life, he says I stole myself out of every good job since high school!...and I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody! (Miller 131) Therefore the dishonesty that occurs in the play is a direct result of failed dreams, the theme of a dream is the independent variable and honesty within Death of a Salesman is dependant upon it.

Dreams as a theme within the play is more important than the theme of performance. The main characters feel they must perform successfully as a result of their high aspirations, if they do not, they feel like failures. Success and performance is essential to Willy as a salesman, he often neglects his performance as a father, and husband in favor of pursuing his dreams and desires. The need to perform often overshadows Willy, Biff and Happys needs to love, be loved, and be in touch with the people around them. An example of how performance is a result of a dream and therefore secondary to the theme of dreams is Happys desire to show the people around him, namely his father, that he is capable of success and living the dream he was raised with. Even when Willy kills himself Happy holds onto the dream and remains motivated to perform with success. This is apparent when Happy states Willy Loman didnt die in vain. He had a good dream. Its the only dream you can have-to come out number one man. He fought it out here, and this is where Im gonna win it for him;(Miller, 139)

Lastly the theme of alienation comes secondary to the theme of dreams, the main characters frequently feel alienated from each other, their families, their work and even the places where they live. This alienation mainly comes from the constant desire to reach a dream. Willys job separates him from the people in his life because he is always on the road. This is a sacrifice he makes willingly in order to attain this dream of riches and respect. When he is home, he still alienates himself emotionally from his family. He can not confide in Linda about his lack of success on a trip because he is ashamed and deflated. He puts up a front with his sons, preventing them from getting to know their father for who he really is. None of the Lomans have any real friends that they confide in and are close to. Alienation, though an important theme in the play, is a direct result of the race to be successful, which stems from the dreams and aspirations the Lomans long to reach. If they could only be satisfied with their dreams they would have no reason to alienate themselves from their loved ones. They would have the ability to see more than just their material goals.

Dreams play a very vital role to the development of plot and characters within Death of a Salesman. This theme fuels the play more than any other theme mentioned and is the central rationale for why characters behave the way they do. It is their need to obtain their aspirations to a point of obsession that dominates their lives which is the basis and moral of the play.