AMERICAN DREAM IN DEATH OF A SALESMAN

КОНЦЕПЦИЯ «АМЕРИКАНСКОЙ МЕЧТЫ» В ПЬЕСЕ «СМЕРТЬ КОММИВОЯЖЕРА»

Овсепян Юрий Арменакович

студент, факультет иностранных языков и регионоведения, Московский Государственный Университет имени М.В. Ломоносова,

РФ, г. Москва

ABSTRACT

Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman received numerous awards for its literary merit and is regarded by many critics as the perfect embodiment of the modern American drama, which questioned the concept of the American Dream. This article aims to explain the way the author managed to do so.

АННОТАЦИЯ

Пьеса Артура Миллера "Смерть коммивояжера" получила множество наград за свои литературные достоинства и рассматривается многими критиками как идеальное воплощение современной американской драмы, которая ставит под сомнение концепцию американской мечты. Цель данной статьи - объяснить, как автору удалось справиться с поставленной задачей.

Keywords: Death of a Salesman, American Dream, tragedy.

Ключевые слова: Смерть коммивояжера, Американская мечта, трагедия.

First and foremost, it is necessary to explain the concept of the American Dream.  It is a genuine and determined belief that in USA, everyone can achieve everything they wish, regardless of their birth or wealth.

But Arthur Miller shows that his main character Willy Loman has fallen into the trap of the American dream. Capitalism, the desire for big profits, and his competitive instincts have weakened Willy's character. This weakness is also rooted from pressures of the business world. Willy wants to prove to himself that he can be a successful entrepreneur, but when failing, destroys his own life.

Success, wealth and respect is what we expect from business. Ben has achieved and accomplished exactly that. Miller emphasizes success and financial rewards in Ben. This character repeats often, "I walked into the jungle and when I came out I was rich." But despite all his success, there is an emptiness in his soul. He has no real happiness in the eyes of the public.

Meanwhile, Willy has to believe he is "vital in New England," but he knows he is not; he is only fooling himself. Willy has nothing to sell, nothing to offer. He has lost all self-respect.

Willy seems to have failed in life. But he is even more depressed by the thought that the success of the American dream should be available to anyone. This has significantly affected his family, especially his children. Biff is in many ways as hopeless as Willy.

At the core of the town's values is the power that money brings. Willy has never liked the city and prefers the country because there is not as much pressure. He is drawn to the wild, free and open countryside. Willy finds the city a bit claustrophobic. The American dream is built around the family values. That's the spiritual side of the play. Willy's loneliness, infidelity and insecurity push him to start an affair with another woman in Boston. Willy buys this woman new stockings and forces Linda to repair the old ones. But Linda cares deeply for Willy and is trying to understand him.

Willy knows that his affair would have had an incredibly traumatic effect on Biff's life. It would have been devastating for him. That's why Biff went to jail for "steeling a suit." Biff was further "weaponized" to suppress his feelings. Unfortunately, Happy is doomed to repeat his father's mistakes with his attitude toward women.

Willy is a rather tragic character. His whole life has been completely unpredictable. Although Willy is constantly "falling down," the audience sympathizes with him.

The Death of a Salesman is a powerful critique of modern American society. Willy's error in judging the failures of his life is clearly shown in the play. He seems to have failed in his professional life, but in reality, he has failed in his family life. Therein lies the meanness of the true "American dream."

Reference:

1. Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman: Revised Edition. Penguin, 1996.