America has long been known as the land of opportunity and the idea of ​​the American dream is quite appealing to most. Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman addresses the ongoing conflicts within a family. However, he also uses the play to make an indictment of the American capitalist system, and exposes the potentially harmful and destructive myth built around the American dream and the struggles to obtain it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The setting of the story takes place in Boston and New York. At the beginning of the play, the setting is described as a typical American home with a kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and, above the bed, an authentic silver trophy. The description of Willy Loman's house is used to illustrate the American capitalist dream of homeownership. In particular, the “genuine silver trophy” symbolizes competition within American capitalism. However, the setting description also includes "a solid arch of apartment buildings around the small, fragile-looking house" and "towering angular shapes behind it, surrounding it." on all sides.” Willy's house is surrounded by tall apartment buildings, he is trapped both literally and metaphorically. Miller uses the Lowman House to symbolize the tension between society and the individual, in the quest to achieve the American dream. In the drama, Arthur Miller attempts to criticize capitalism and societal values, as shown in Willy Loman's flashbacks with his children, Biff. and happy. Biff, Willy's oldest son, holds out the soccer ball he stole and asks, "Did you see the new soccer ball I got?" » and declares that he “borrowed it from the locker room”. However, to readers, the tone of this scene does not seem serious, as he laughs about it with Biff. In doing so, Biff subconsciously learns that it is acceptable to steal for his own personal gain. The scene is significant because readers become aware of the parallels between the scene and capitalism, where people are tempted to engage in immoral actions without having any respect for others. Later, at the restaurant, after Biff's visit to Bill Oliver, Biff nervously says to Happy "H-Hap, I took his fountain pen." Readers are made aware of Biff's constant theft. He goes on to say, “I don’t know. I just wanted to grab something, I don’t know.” The repeated words "I don't know" suggest that Biff was feeling nervous and insecure. Biff's difficulties in explaining his actions to Happy suggest that stealing has become a subconscious impulse, suggesting that he is unable to stop himself from committing immoral acts. actions aimed at obtaining financial gains. Miller uses this scene to question whether or not money trumps moral virtues in a capitalist society and criticizes societal values. Throughout the drama, sixty-three-year-old Willy Loman struggles to cope with the realities of a new and aggressive modern society. Arthur Miller, Miller chooses to make his main character, Willy, a salesman, a symbol of capitalism. In the second act of the drama, during his desperate meeting with Howard, Willy tells him that the joy of being a salesman is being "remembered, loved and helped by so many different people." He goes on to say that when the old seller died, “hundreds of sellers and buyers were present at his funeral Things were sad on many trains for months after that.” The benefits of Willy are endless... 1502-1506.