Miller, Arthur: 1915-2005

Death of a Salesman, 1949 - Thematic Parallels: American Dream

Miller, Arthur: Death of a Salesman, 1949
The play is a tragic examination of human ambition, societal expectations, and the cost of chasing a dream that may be unattainable.
The following books are thematically simliar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Fitzgerald, F. Scott: The Great Gatsby, 1925, ~190pp
  This classic novel explores the American Dream’s allure and its destructive impact, focusing on wealth, social status, and disillusionment, similar to themes in “Death of a Salesman.”
  - Both works examine the illusion versus reality of the American Dream and the human cost of chasing it. They serve as cautionary tales about ambition, identity, and the cost of chasing societal ideals.
- Lee, Harper: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960, ~300pp
  This novel deals with social justice, morality, and racial inequality in America, indirectly critiquing the American Dream’s limits.
  - Both works use personal stories to explore societal injustice, the fragility of human dreams, and moral responsibility. They depict individuals confronting societal pressures, with outcomes that reveal the limitations and flaws of the communities they inhabit. Both are deeply American texts that use individual stories to critique broader social structures.
- Pierre, DBC: Vernon God Little, 2003, ~270pp
  This is a satirical novel criticizing American culture and the concept of success.
  - Both works share key similarities in their critique of societal pressures, the tragic consequences for protagonists, and the destructive influence of public perception and unrealistic ideals. "Vernon God Little" employs satire and modern absurdity, while "Death of a Salesman" uses realistic tragedy, but both illuminate the human cost of pursuing or being crushed by societal expectations.
- Williams, Tennessee: A Streetcar Named Desire, 1947, ~100pp
  This play deals with American life and personal struggles, offering a tragic perspective on personal aspirations similar to Miller’s work.
  - Both works critique American society, explore illusions versus reality, delve deeply into psychological and familial conflicts, and portray the tragic consequences of characters unable to adapt to changing circumstances. They are moral and emotional explorations of human vulnerability in a modern, transitional world.
List of general discussion questions on the American Dream (pdf)
List of essay prompts on the American Dream (pdf)