Arthur Miller's American masterpiece Death of a Salesman, first presented on the stage in New York City in 1949, represents a successful literary attempt to merge the themes of social and personal tragedy in the same dramatic framework. Yet the story of Willy Loman is also a story of false values ​​upheld by nearly every advertising agency in the national life of the United States. Therefore, Willy Loman accepts at face value the over-hyped ideals of material success and unabashed optimism, and therein lies his personal tragedy. His fall and final defeat illustrate not only the failure of a man but also the failure of a way of life, that of the door-to-door salesman. Miller's ability to project the story of his tragic lower-middle-class hero into the common experience of many Americans, who support themselves and their families with illusions and ignore reality, makes Death of a Salesman one of the most significant figures of the American theater. over the last fifty years. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The character of Willy Loman, the themes of social and personal tragedy, and the general commonality found in Miller's work are prime territories for further exploration through the use of psychological criticism and literary deconstruction. In the field of psychology, Willy Loman's achievements and sources of pleasure appear to be simple and direct, yet they provide an excellent psychological foundation to his life, as he leads a very average existence as a traveling salesman which, in his opinion, allows him to him and his family to obtain wealth and comfort. For twenty-five years, Willy has worked to pay off the mortgage on his modest home, and once accomplished, he will achieve a sense of freedom, or the "American Dream." This goal, in light of the economic/social conditions existing at the time the play is set, presents a perfect picture of his ultimate purpose in life, clearly delineated by dollar signs and a sense of ownership, two key points for his personal growth. happened as far as Willy is concerned. Psychologically, the key aspect that leads to Willy's depression is his inability to deal with reality in the present. His life, it seems, is lived in the past and the future, and his statement "Wait, boy, before it's all over, we'll find a little place in the country" (Miller 57) symbolizes his constant reflection on some rather uninteresting dreams practical. As a salesman, Willy travels from state to state, staying in cheap motels while on the road selling his wares. This increases the importance of his house because it is not only a place of residence but a representation of fleeting stability, a concrete necessity that cannot be taken away once the last payment has been made. While discussing his children with his wife, Willy boasts "And they'll get married and come for a weekend..." (Miller 62) which symbolizes his pride in home ownership. Through it all, Willy remained steadfast and vigilant, maintaining his unshakable belief that he was truly living the "American Dream." Furthermore, the competition Willy encounters in his daily sales activities is too tough for his modest talent. , and the path he has chosen denies his true being at every step. He idolizes the "dream" beyond the truth itself and becomes a romantic, a dark non-entity whose only happiness lies in looking forward to miracles, as reality constantly mocks him. His actual skill at manual labor outside of salesmanship seems trivial to him, as he tells his son Biff in Act II, 1999.