American Values ​​and Success in the Death of a Salesman by Arthur MillerThe purpose of this brief essay is to examine Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesman, as it relates to its reflection of the impact of American values ​​and mores on what constitutes "success" on individual lives. George Perkins said that this play has been described as "perhaps the best play ever written by an American (Perkins, p. 710)." The play marks a brilliant fusion of the ideas and issues central to Miller's artistic and creative life; among these issues are the relationship between selfishness and altruism and the need to define an achievable moral code for oneself (Perkins, p. 710). Willy Loman, the dominant central character of the play, defined morality in terms of one's ability to provide financially for his family. Frederick Karl (p. 329) states that Willy Loman was the result of a "mood of depression", suggesting that he defined "success" in relation to income, maintaining a job, and financial security (all elements of man's work that literally disappeared overnight during the Great Depression). Loman is a “sales cowboy,” whose travels consist of days and weeks spent “in the field” looking for another “big sale.” Arthur Miller himself argued that Loman's situation – that of a once-successful and now unemployed salesman, unable to find a reason to continue living – was such a general quality of life in the United States that he ( Willy) was a victim “of the fact that we are what we are (Karl, p. 330)”. According to Perkins (p. 710), Willy Loman's "fatal flaw" has been variously interpreted as a pitiful blindness to the realities of the American dream, as a loving father's unrealistic hope that his son will advance in age adult. . middle of paper......Willy Loman represents, so to speak, every American man who defines himself as a man, a husband and a father when it comes to his professional success and his ability to grab a share of work. American material dream. Willy Loman is a man who made mistakes and judged himself more harshly than his wife or his son. His tragedy is that he understands this illusion too late to make changes in his life. Whether or not we, readers or audience members, agree with his judgment is irrelevant. It is Willy's own failure that is important in this play. Works Cited Karl, Frederick R. American Fiction 1940-1980. New York: Harper Collins. 1985. Miller, Arthur. Death of a seller. London: Penguin, 1982. Perkins, George. Editor. Benet Reader's Encyclopedia of American Literature. New York: Harper Collins. 1991