Death of a Salesman

Death of Salesman

How much of willy's tragedy is the result of American society and how much of it's caused by himself?

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Last updated by Aslan
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I think it is Willy's view of the American dream that is at fault. I think Miller was really drying to deconstruct the American dream through Willy. As readers, we quickly understand that Willy's version of the American dream is largely an illusion. Success, simply for its own sake, becomes a self-fulfilling failure. Willy wants his success quickly and easily without passion or pride. The spoils of his "success" never materialize. As Willie's illusion disintegrates, so does his identity built on that illusion.