The Reality of "Death of a Salesman"

In class, someone brought up that they did not believe that “Death of a Salesman” is a realistic story. It was said to be over exaggerated, and not believable. I personally think that “Death of a Salesman” is a very realistic story, and one that is probably common in households throughout the United States. Everyone wants to reach a certain level of what they believe could be seen as success. Many Americans try to reach success at early ages through schooling. After that, it is a competition of who will reach the highest, desired, level in the work force. In America, there seems to be a preconceived notion of what success is. The term “success” seems to be granted to those who have developed a certain wealth, hold a prominent position in the work force, or achieve some sort of notoriety. Unfortunately, sometimes, through the struggle to gain success, people stop thinking about what makes them happy, and instead get caught up in reaching more glory. Many workers do not always seem content with the position they hold, and always strive to keep climbing the business ladder. I think Willy is a victim of this. He was never satisfied being a salesman. Therefore, he always put on a front to make others believe he was more powerful than that. He wanted to gain success by making people like him, and by gaining wealth. Sadly, through Willy’s struggle, he lost the ability to look for the good in his life, and the areas where he had been successful, (such as his family) and instead became brainwashed with society’s standards of success. I think it is not rare for people to lose themselves on their journey to success like Willy Lohman. At the end of Willy’s life, Willy lost all hope, and all self integrity. In his eyes he had failed. He had never accomplished what he had always pretended to others he had, and what he had strived for throughout his entire life. For Willy, suicide took away the pain and emptiness he had inside of him. He felt worthless. He even said once, that he is worth more dead than alive, so in his eyes he believed he was helping his family by giving them the money he could never provide, not even considering that his love for them means so much more. I think it really is tragic that people can get so caught up in society expectations, but I think it is probably an easier thing to do than one would think.
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