Societal Expectations In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman

In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, societal expectations to achieve the American Dream cause Willy and Biff Loman to struggle in freeing themselves of this notion. The American Dream holds the expectation of success, and for these two characters, it causes much hardship in their lives. Willy possesses a skewed idea in obtaining this idea. As a result, Biff feels trapped because of his father's unwillingness to compromise his own view of the American Dream with Biff’s perspective and desires. Desiring escape that the country setting provides, Biff remains unhappy in the city and by the pressures of his father. Willy and Biff, individually yet connectedly, struggle with leading a life that fulfills the expectations of society. The American Dream is a theory and expectation of success, of which Willy and Biff strive for but struggle to obtain. With prosperity, comes the assumption to own quality material goods. A home remains one of the most obvious external ways to observe this expectation. Regarding the ultimate goal of the American Dream, a house should be sturdy and neat-looking. In contrast, the Lomans’ home looks “small” and “fragile-seeming” (Miller 1). In the 1950s, the ideal suburban home included a white-picket fence with a nice garden and tidy lawn. Because the Loman’s house so deeply contrasted this concept in its present condition, it displays their poor financial state. Money, created by success the American Dream entitles,
The American Dream puts even more pressure on Willy and in turn on Biff as well. Willy struggles most with not achieving monetary success, whereas Biff struggles most with being free from his father’s American Dream entirely. Societal expectations and the American Dream cause Willy and Biff in struggling to free themselves and leading the lives they wish to in order to gain success and