“Death of a Salesman” – Drama Interpretation

“Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller is a text that allows the readers to reflect on a rather popular concept – the American dream. Various characters present different understanding of it. Overall, Miller suggests that the American dream is the idea that is never reached, it makes the life look like a jungle, and it is absurd in its nature.

The characters reflect on the fact that the American dream cannot be reached in man instances. In one of them, it is expressed in the following words: “Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there’s nobody to live in it” (Miller 10). In other words, even living the American dream will not make a person happy since there is no time to enjoy the results of it.

Secondly, the process of the social mobility turns the society in the jungle. This is what is said in the text regarding it: “Never fight fair with a stranger, boy. You’ll never get out of the jungle that way.” (Miller 38). This means that pursuing the American dream makes the people worse than before as they turn hostile to others.

Finally, Miller claims that the very concept in question is quite absurd. This is how one of the characters reflects on one’s life: “I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been!” (Miller 82). This shows that there is a risk that in the end, a person will come to realize that while pursuing the American dream, one was actually pursuing the lie that ruined one’s life. This may be the ultimate disillusionment.

Having examined all the points that were mentioned above, one might speculate that Miller is rather critical of the American dream altogether. He states that it can never be reached, it shapes the society as the jungle, and it’s absurd in its nature.

Works cited

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Penguin Books, 2007.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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