Universality of Death of a Salesman :: Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman's universality comes from its fundamental themes and ideas which will adhere to place and time period it is. They have the ability to connect with such a universal audience because they take into account human nature. We, as readers or viewers, of the play can connect with the concepts presented because they are part of our everyday lives. Let's start off with one of the major themes in the play, which is the pursuit of a dream. For Willy Loman, it is the American dream. His false notion of this dream, which he believes with firm conviction, if you are "well liked" and "personally attractive" you will do well in business and life. The American dream is something that can be pursued, but not the way Willy perceived it. For example, Chris Gardner, the successful owner of stock brokerage, went from being a homeless man sometimes sleeping in public bathrooms to opening becoming a multimillionaire. His rags to riches story, like many others, show hard work and dedicati on can help you achieve your goals. Thousands of people come into the U.S. each year, many of them with the hope of building a better life in the "land of opportunity." Dreams can vary. We all have dreams because we want to achieve more so we can have a better life, whether it is in terms of wealth, health, family, or happiness. However, even with dreams and achievements, we may not always be able to get what we desire. Willy Loman was unable to see this. Even with defeat staring at him, his denial as well as his inability to face it, blinded him from accepting the truth. Another thing that makes this play timeless is the idea that, regardless of who we are, each one of us is a salesman and we will continue to be salesman. For example, teachers sell their beliefs and ideas to their students. People aspiring for a job sell themselves to the employers. The same thing goes when applying for colleges or when finding a mate. So, in that sense, we have a little bit of Willy Loman in us making this connection we can relate to him and hope not to make his mistakes. Death of a Salesman is just as significant in this time period as it was in 1949 is because a common man is trying to make it in his world.