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Instead of giving his sons his time and energy, “he chooses to sacrifice himself in order to give his sons the material wealth he has always desired” (Witalec, 145). Because he places a high significance on money, he misinterprets what he should do “when realizes that his true value lies in being a good father” as Witalec explains. In the end, it is this preoccupation with financial matters that defeats him. Although he is aware that his family is most important, money preoccupies most of his thoughts. He feels a sense of shame that he has not attained the same riches as his brother and his father. Willy’s heart knows what is most important, but his love for money shadows over him. For instance, he chooses to support his family rather than go on adventures with Ben and become rich. Despite his desperate desire to be rich, he makes sacrifices because he recognizes the importance of his wife and children. It is clear that Willy truly loves his family, although he is very misguided.

Because he is focused on financial success, he often ignores the more important things in life. As Janet Witalec a critic of Miller points out, his love for money “keeps him from acknowledging the value of human experience-the comforts of personal relationships, family and friends, and love” (Witalec, 145). In Willy’s case, his goal is so strongly motivated by the love of money, he neglects his family. The article claims that this clash is “the downfall of Willy Loman, a salesman whose misguided notions of success result in disillusionment.” (Marowski, Danil G. One critical essay denotes the significance of the materialistic American dream clashing with the individual.

The American dream brings hope to many, but some people become so clouded by the result of their goals that they lose sight of what is truly important. Although, unlike the majority, the American dream has become a hindrance to Willy’s life because of his love of money, his low self-esteem, and his blinding hero-worshipping of three successful men. Either people do not strive for such lofty goals or are unable to due to life events and bad choices. The majority of people find that the American dream is merely a dream and nothing else. It is true that in America we have the freedom to pursue our goals no matter how lofty they may seem, but in reality, few are able to attain the great successes seen by a select few.

Wikipedia, a company started as a result of one person’s American dream, defines the American dream as “a… freedom that allows all citizens and all residents of the United States to pursue their goals in life through hard work and free choice” (Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia 2009).

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