英语戏剧论文.doc

Broken of American Dream In Death of a salesman 08劳动与社会保障1班 2008162131 张亚 The greast dramatist to come out of the 1940s is Athur Miller who was ,along with Tennessee Williams ,led the postwar new drama.Death of a salesman,one of Athur Millers best play,is his mastrepiece,won him the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949 and some other prizes.Unlike the classic Greek or Elizabethan tragedy,which focuses on the downfall of a noble character,Death of A Salesman focuses on an ordinary character,a common American man.Its said that Miller is criticizing and capitalism as a promoter of socialism.Its demonstrated through willy ,the protagonnist during the story,who struggles to support his family and even himself. Its a story of a man at the end of his life,who realizes he was wasted his years in pursuit of a goal is not only unattainable,but was never real to begin with.I think this dramas protagonist willy lomanproblems in life were usually caused of hia chase towards the American dream.In Death Of A Salesman,we can learn a lot about the broken of American dream a belief that as long as the United States after a hard struggle will be able to achieve the ideal of a better life, that is, people have to work through their own hard work, courage, creativity and determination to move towards Prosperity. there are also many other factors could direction our life.Death of a Salesman is centered around one man trying to reach the American dream and taking his family along for ride. Willy is at the bottom of the totem pole in a capitalistic world.He owns nothing,and he makes nothing,so he has no sense of accomplishment.He believes that if a person is well liked and has a great deal of personal attractiveness,then all doors will automatically be opened for him,and he built his life around those dream.He lived everyday of his life trying to become successful,well-off salesman.His self-image that he portrayed to others was a lie and he was even able to deceive himself with it.He travelled around the country selling his merchandise and maybe when he was younger,Willy loman,the salesman of the title ,is as “phony” as Mark Twains Colonel Sellers but hardworking and honest,but in reality not as successful and “great” A Survey of American Biterature the 2nd Edition nankai university 1987 P306.Working through own hard work,courage,creativity and determination to move towords prosperity is the main idea of the American dream,but in the Death of A Salesman,we cant feel it.As a memmber of the Wangner Company ,he worked for thirty-four years,finally,he was fired by Howard Wangner who is willys boss,he is a symbol of the modern businessman-professional,clinical,and utimately ruthless.when willy is no longer able to contribute,he is too professional to arrange a new job for him,and fired him,despite the friendship between his father and Willy.Then,as a middle-aged salesman who is no longer able to earn a living,willy has been reduced to working for commission alone,has to travel long distances,and even has to borrow money from Charrley to make ends meet.In order to escape from his own failure,he pressures his sons to make something of themselves,then is crushed when they dont live up to his expectations.Biff loman,the order son of willy and linda,he is the all-star athlete of the family,After discovering his father had an affair,he abandoned all of his dreams and set out to make his own way.Unfortunately he cant escape his path or what he was taught as a child.he comes to realize that he was only footing himself into believing in his fathers lies(the loman have “never told the truth for ten minutes”in their house A Survey of American Bitrrature the 2nd Edition nankai university 1987 P307) about himself. Harod happy loman,the younger son of Willy and linda,epitomizes all of Willys negative points,such as Willys bind following of the American dream.Happy is generally supportive of his father,he seems to only worry about making his parents notice him ever if it means making lies.Two boys has their own idea about their life,they plan to star a suporting goods business in Florida and put exhibitions for publicity.At that time, willy is outraged,he owns nothing,he cant support his sons.He receives only a small commission as he ages,and he slowly loses his mind and attempts to kill himself by inhaling gas from the water heater of from crashing his car.As we can see,he can do nothing except this ,his death was also in vain,his sons got nothing from his death,his dream finally broked drown. Willy Loman,like so many other American men of the last century,is in conflict with society ,his family,and himself,and himself. In his struggle to compete in materialistic American,he comes up short,society beats him down.In his effort to communicate with his son Biff and mold him into a success,he fails.In a war with his own inner self,he refuses to accept what he is ordinary,average,unremarkable.Ultimately,willys inner and outer outer conflicts destroy him “Plot Summary” Find the erfect Gift By Michael J.Commings 2003.At the funeral,Hap says Willy “did not die in vain.He had a good dream,its the only dream you can have- to come out number-one man.”Willy lives with American dream until his death.One dream is not worth all the pain and problems his caused,he should have learned to be content and,as harsh as it may be to believe,he should have realized what he could have accomplished and given up his unable