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Nekkio Ness
Ms. von Holst
English 3
25 November 2014
Death of a Salesman Multi-Text-Analysis
Both Author Miller and F. Scott Fitzgerald analyze and elaborate the American dream
and how it really changes Gatsby and Willys life. The American dream is a topic that if often
talked about as being the best that you can be, and achieving your goals that you want to meet in
life. In F. Scoot Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and Author Millers Death of a Salesman they
both share that the American Dream isnt entirely possible by having troublesome moments and
equally depressing endings. Even though these authors portray the American dream differently,
all and all the stories never capture the main characters achievement of the American dream.

When it comes to the American dream, the way the characters are wanting to achieve
their American dream are quite different. In Death of a Salesman Willy thinks that charisma is
everything when it comes to his American dream of providing steady funds for his family. While
on the other hand, Gatsby wants to achieve his American Dream which is finally living with and
being with Daisy, by making and pushing himself to the top by doing anything he can to do so.
Even if it means doing illegal actions. Unlike Willy who wants to work hard for his
achievements in life by staying true to his job and having dedication but also strongly belie that
you must be liked in order to be successful. In Death of a sales man Willy states WILLY: Dont
say? Tell you a secret, boys. Dont breathe it to a soul. Someday Ill have my own business, and
Ill never have to leave home any more. HAPPY: Like Uncle Charley, heh? WILLY: Bigger than

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Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not liked. Hes liked, but hes not well liked. (Miller 30).
This conversation between Willy and Happy proves that Willy believes he will be able to make
more money and start a bigger and better business just because hes going to be more liked then
Charley. Tom from the Great Gatsby finds out about Jays illegal actions I found out what
your drug-stores were. He turned to us and spoke rapidly. He and this Wolfsheim bought up
a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter.
Thats one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasnt
wrong. (Fitzgerald 133). This quote makes out Jays dark side by sharing his past time of
bootlegging. Proving that Gatsby didnt earn his wages truthfully in order to make his dream
come true, but he used outside sources and old friends like Wolfshiem to make a few extra dirty
bucks.
A similarity in the American dream that both texts have is the idea that the American
dream is impossible to achieve. Although both characters are striving to accomplish their dreams
they ultimately fail in the end. In death of a salesman Willy finally realizes he cannot really
fulfill his dream of getting a steady flow of money for his family. So he decides to commit
suicide. In the story Death of a Salesman Willy is talking to Ben about his life insurance plan
saying How can they dare refuse? Didnt I work like a coolie to meet every premium on the
nose? And now they dont pay off? Impossible! (Miller 93). This statement by Willy perfectly
sums up his struggle with his American Dream. Willy believes he has worked so hard for
everything he has ever done but there is always still someone or something there to bring him
down and say he really never has accomplished anything since he started. Gatsby also died a
pretty lonesome death like Willy. Nick has a conversation with Owl Eyes about Gatsbys death
I couldn't get to the house,' he remarked. Neither could anybody else. Go on!' He started. 'Why

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my God! they used to go there by the hundreds.' ,,,,,'The poor son of a bitch,' he said
(Fitzgerald 185). This conversation really shows that people see Gatsby as a poor-son-of-a-bitch
in the long run. Gatsbys main problem with his American dream is that he chased it but at the
same time he was also chasing his life span. All in all Gatsby did end up dying in the end like
Willy.
In conclusion, Author Miller and F. Scott Fitzgerald have different concepts of the
American dream and how its actually not possible to achieve. Just like Mr. Jay Gatsby in The
Great Gatsby Willy made every effort humanly possible to chase his American dream and in the
end just like Gatsby he just ended up chasing death instead. So in the end it can be said that over
all the American dream is actually just a dream and not something one actually achieves, its just
a word or phrase to make push someone harder to accomplish their goals in life.

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WORKS CITED

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York: Viking, 1949. Print.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott, and Matthew J. Bruccoli. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1996. Print.