Free Essay

Deluded Hopes

In:

Submitted By shogun100
Words 629
Pages 3
For many parents the “American Dream” means leaving the world knowing their children will have it easier than they did. But how far can a hope drive you and how hard will you work for it. Ironically in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman William Loman’s quest for the American dream leads to his defeat. He often becomes depressed and filled with envy and regret due to his self-deluded perspective of becoming successful. Isn’t weird how a prosperous harmless dream can lead a man into turmoil?
Willy’s way of over working to show his sons the proper work ethic to becoming rich only hurt them because he was continued telling them that being well liked will get you the farthest in the race to prosperity. Willy, often not home to watch the effects of his advice leads his children to take their own interpretations of his counsel. In the Death of a Salesman Willy’s over exertion in his job takes him far from what he calls fulfillment. In Act 2 Willy argues with Charley, stating that naming his past bosses’ son (Howard), should have value and could persuade Howard toward moving Willy closer to New York. Charley, in contrast, tells him that in sales no one cares about naming children. This shows how sentimental he has made his occupation and how far he has thrown himself into fulfilling the “American Dream”.
With so much stress and no one to share the load, Mr. Loman needed support from the family. Sadly on the road that isn’t always possible, “The Woman” was only one he could seem to relieve himself to. Willy’s tried so hard but couldn’t overcome being human, with the feeling of lust. When Biff came to reality with his Willy’s hypocrisy he loses faith in everything his father has said or done, doesn’t finish school, and ducks under his father’s expectation. Knowing that his son doesn’t think of him as a role model anymore, William becomes unstable an insecure. How was he to compensate for the years of anguish Biff has gone through when he was still working off to pay the house? Miller often uses the house as a metaphor to compare to the life work put into it, but the emptiness expressed by the lack of occupants, but in this case it was used to express the of the priority of well beings others and self-development.
Mr. Loman has made some good choices and has made some disappointing choices. His biggest regret was not going to traveling with his brother. He fantasizes numerous times throughout story about the life he could have had and given to his children. His sulking regret is one of the problems that steer him away from his dream of success; because not only does it depress him but it drags down the hopefulness of others around him as well. Do not expect the members of a football team to do their best if the couch doesn’t boost their self-confidence and lift them up. Without hope there is nothing to look forward to and without that there is no reason to continue living.
The “American Dream” means leaving your children more prosperous than what they started with. William Loman’s journey for prosperity and riches leads to the turmoil of him and his family. He loses a reasonable perspective on life by means of deluding is view of things and making regretful choices. Life is never going to be peaches and crème, so expect a high for a low and take it with a grain of salt. One must stay hopeful, but ground in good principals if they wish to live happy. Riches gravitate to those who wait and let life come around and give them what they deserve.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Clinical Interview Questions

...a direct approach (to a point) is best because I believe many people who see a psychologist know why they are there. Many clients do not realize past events and childhood plays a large role in the way people are and can be to blame for many different problems in one’s life. Building a rapport with your client makes the client more comfortable so they will not hold back valuable information and in hopes help overcome life problems. Tell me about yourself- 1) Why are you here? (ex: my Mom/Husband made me...) 2) Why are you here now, instead of before this time in your life? 3) How long have your “symptoms” been happening- are they worsening? 4) What have you tried to do about your symptoms? (Drugs, alcohol…) 5) Thoughts of suicide/homicide or hurting yourself or others? 6) Do you have good relationships regarding, friends, co-workers, family, and possible spouse? 7) Do you take any medications prescribed to you? If so, what are they? 8) Tell me about your family/childhood, any abuse? (Physical, sexual, verbal) 9) Are you happy with your job/schooling? 10) What do you hope to make of these meetings with me? psy/270 week...

Words: 256 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Health

...Coping with events Numerous people appear to be quite resilient to significant stress struggles that may possess an orientation to events that are resistant to such threats. We propose that one significant aspect of this orientation is the tendency to view adversities as something that can happen to anyone and is reflected in the tendency of people entering uncertain contexts to prepare by imagining a range of possible outcomes. Positive psychology represents a branch of psychological science concerned with understanding the development of well-being, virtue and resilience. One standpoint is that wellbeing, virtue and resilience are achieved by complex strivings that are not attributable simply to being optimistic. Meaning focusing on the positive, expressing positive emotions and leaving the negative behind. This does not mean that there are no negative thoughts or emotions but rather that it plays an important role in health, wellbeing and personal growth ( Davis, Asliturk). 1. Build Positive Beliefs in Your Abilities Research has demonstrated that self-esteem plays an important role in coping with stress and recovering from difficult events. Remind yourself of your strengths and accomplishments. Becoming more confident about your own ability to respond and deal with crisis is a great way to build resilience for the future. 2. Find a Sense of Purpose in Your Life After her 13-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Candace Lightner founded Mother's Against Drunk...

Words: 943 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Hope

...Hope is something everyone needs. To be without hope is to have a dismal future. Without hope, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Hope is something that everyone needs when there is nothing they can do in a seemingly miserable situation. I was placed in this position not too long ago. It was like any other day, I was walking home from school with my siblings. When I entered through the front door, I instantly felt a sense of tension in the air. My mom, older brother, aunt, uncle, and grandparents were all sitting in the living room, with looks of weightiness upon their faces. My mother told me and my little brothers to have a seat next to her. We sat down and she grabbed my hand, then she told me the horrible news. She told us that she had Cervical Cancer. The announcement struck my heart to the core, the tears started to gradually fall from my eyes. Those were the tears of a broken heart. They started flowing until there are no more tears left to express my pain. Once I finally stop crying my mother gave me big hug and looked at me and said everything was going to be okay. From that day on I told myself that would be her rock, and she could depend on me. Months have passed, and I have gone to every surgery and chemotherapy appointment my mother has had. The first month had went by like a breeze, it really did seem like she was going to come out of this healthier than she went in. As the second month started to approach, I started seeing changes in my mom. She...

Words: 699 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Mammita's Garden Cove

...does not clearly answer the first question, instead stating he is used to being asked of his origin. So used to it, in fact, that he ignores it and keeps going on his search for a job. In this same paragraph the question “How couldn’t it be?”, in which he responds with a bit of dry humor; “After all he was in Canada.” This question and response means that, when he first came to Canada, he compared it to a safe haven to his native country, in his words “a sweet heaven”. He entered Canada with hope. This eventually leads to the final question, “Was it that far-gone?”. The question indicates his past, in which he states he’s not sure if it’s too far out of his reach. His response leads into a paragraph about his hope in Canada. While answering “Was it that far-gone?”, Max’s tone changes. Max’s tone takes a few dramatic turns throughout the passage, beginning in the first paragraph. In the first paragraph, he’s obviously tired and distressed. After all, he is jobless, starving, and lacking hope in faith. He even felt “prepared...

Words: 981 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Strength and Challenges

...I cannot wait to get a deeper understanding on your philosophy. I am curios to hear and looking forward to classroom lectures. Although I speak of all my positive outlook and hopes I have not stepped into any sort of educational facility since graduating high school. With that being said I am somewhat nervous. I take everything with a grain of salt. I understand this is no simple or easy task. But with my positive outlook and proper support I hope exceed your expectation of me. I really feel that I have the capability to learn a whole lot in this new field. I’m a very hard worker that is something was instilled in me at a very young age. Also when I am committed to something I seem to enjoy or like, I will not turn away from it. I give my all to things that I know in the long run will better my life. I’m a very humble young man and I appreciate every opportunity that is presented and don’t let them slip by. These strengths combined are what will propel me to succeed in this class. Some of the obstacles and challenges that I face in this class a nothing really overwhelming. They are more so objects that I must take a day at a time. Or just things that you learn with practice. As I mentioned earlier, I have never done anything like this before. So I come in raw to ITT. I just hope to learn and hope not to fail. Milton...

Words: 287 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Creative as

...L10 9R5 18th June 1865 Dearest Walter, I’m writing to you today with a cup of tea by my side to let you know that I am safe in London. I do not want to discuss much about myself, likewise what I am doing; I want to discuss how Laura is. After I had the message about my letter being delivered to Laura and her not wanting to respond, I felt I ought to write to you. Hearing nothing after I have sent every one of those letters leaves me in the dark. I hope Walter, to not patronise you with this letter nevertheless I feel as though I have to get someone to articulate to Laura that I’m well. Her natural sensitiveness makes me hesitate to write to Laura once more. I do hope that she will find enough courage to compose me back a letter as not only does she needs to know I’m adequate; I need her to certify the same. By Laura not replying I hope I have not misunderstood her silence in thinking she is infuriated with me. I miss her writing to me, of her own thoughts and impressions, amid all the wonders she has seen. I hope you can comprehend my reasoning for leaving you and Laura. I realise it was a selfish act. Walter, as I write this letter to you and my darling sister; I think of Laura sobbing which seems to tear me to pieces. You realise Walter my tears are like mens for they do not flow as easily as they ought. In the year I spent helping you with your children, and situated by the fire reading stories, I learnt two very knowledgeable pieces of information. Firstly, you...

Words: 755 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Com 220 Week 1

...Identify examples of bias, fallacies, and specific rhetorical devices in the speech. Bias: Political Bias In the beginning of the video, the campaigner states “the fighting liberal, the friend of the working man,” showing bias towards liberals. The speaker’s comment makes the audience think that only liberals are friends of the “working man.” Fallacies: Scapegoat The speaker says “Boss Jim W. Gettys' political machine -- now in complete control of the government of this State! I made no campaign promises, because until a few weeks ago I had no hope of being elected.” The power of Getty’s “political machine” is purely to put blame elsewhere as an excuse for the speaker’s neglect to make campaign promises. Scare tactic The speaker says “The working man and the slum child know they can expect my best efforts in their interests. The decent, ordinary citizens know that I'll do everything in my power to protect the underprivileged, the underpaid, and the underfed!” in an attempt to scare the audience into thinking the opposing party will not protect the underprivileged, underpaid, and underfed. Ad Hominen: Multiple times the speaker attacks “boss Jim W. Gettys’” but neglects to ever mention specific policies of Gettys that he disagrees with. It appears as though he simply has a personal vendetta against Gettys. Strawman: “Well, I'd make my promises now if I weren't too busy arranging to keep them.” This statement’s vagueness appears to be an effort for the speaker...

Words: 511 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Exploring Optimism

...Exploring Optimism Optimism and hope are very important to a person’s overall wellbeing. These components essentially shape how a person looks at life in general. Without hope there is only hopelessness. Have you ever felt completely hopeless? What an empty and depressing feeling it is. Optimism plays directly into that as well. Without optimism there is negativity. I know that some days I feel negative. However, on those days I am simply not happy. How could a person be happy with only negative thoughts? The thoughts we have shape the feelings we have in day to day life. So automatically if our thoughts dwell on negative things so do our feelings. This is not good for a person’s wellbeing. While we can’t feel happy all of the time it is important to have an overall optimistic attitude. Because life is going to throw things at us and it’s how we handle it that determines who we are and how strong we are as people. When we have hope we realize that even though things are going wrong now they can get better and they will. I think the way optimism can be harmful is when it is taken too far and real problems are ignored. As I said, life will throw things at you. Things can’t always be wonderful. So it is also not healthy to ignore or overlook issues for the sake of being happy. It is dealing with the issues and coming out hopeful in spite of them that...

Words: 253 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Araby Analysis

...English 1020 01 October 13 "From Boy to Darkness"         In "Araby" by James Joyce, we look into the quest of an un-named boy as he holds onto his last bit of hope while taking the relentless step into adulthood. Instantly, the boy has a sense of unimportance, for he is unnamed. He is desperately searching for a sense of purpose, and change. The boy progresses from an innocent child, to an adult riddled with anguish as a result of his journey to the bazaar. His complications run anywhere from lost religion, and infatuation with a girl, to becoming ecstatic for a bazaar, only to experience his "first bitter taste of reality"(Coulthard97) when he arrives.         The story begins by taking the character down a blind street, which foreshadows that the upcoming pursuit is doomed for an abrupt end that leads nowhere. Also, at the blind end of the street is an uninhabited house that was once occupied by a priest who has passed on to the grave, leaving his earthly possessions to the educational system. The priest is a representation of  the church and religion, which is now deceased and, "detached from its neighbours in a square ground" (Joyce213). Behind the house is an overgrown, unmanaged garden that revolves around a lonely tree. Some could see that this represents the Garden of Eden, and it is obviously being neglected after it's caretaker (the priest) has died. Therefore, the boy starts the story with already questionable faith to religion before his encounters with Mangan's...

Words: 1448 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Love

...Nataly Rodriguez ENC 1101 MWF 8AM-8:50AM Exemplification Essay Optimistic Vs. Pessimistic Optimistic or pessimistic? Being an optimistic person is much better than being a pessimistic person. I think that always being positive and having that good energy around you will bring you more than being a pessimist about everything. The meaning of Optimistic is “believing positively,” always “hopeful and confident about the future.” I believe that I’m an optimistic person. I always like to hope for the best. It's not that I always think every single little aspect is going to come out perfect but I do believe that supportive thinking will help bring a supreme outcome of any situation and will bring more good things than bad ones. The more someone has a good attitude towards anything the more stuff they get done and more good things are attracted to them. Life has many ups and downs but you have to remain strong and look at the positive in every situation. I think that even if those around you are pessimistic you have to keep on being optimistic for yourself and themselves. When people are so negative they miss opportunities, make a bigger problem out of a minor one, and just live a life with negative energy that won't help you with all the situations life throws at us. If you really think about it what's better? To think positive and try to find your way out when you encounter trouble or oppose and sink with the...

Words: 949 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Hope In John Hersey Father Kleinsorge's Hiroshima

...Hope can band all people together to accomplish great or nearly impossible things. Humans have been around for thousands and millions of years and we have been through painful and tough times. But were still here millions and millions of years later. Its hope that saves us, its hope that makes us who we are. In the book Hiroshima by John Hersey Father Kleinsorge states “please god help me to cross safely…said father Kleinsorge as he aged a few more strokes and carried the wounded across his back. “ (Hersey 75) This shows that Father Kleinsorge knows that there is little hope for those heavily injured but proceeds with carrying them. Even though there is little chance that everyone one will survive they watch out for one another and prosper...

Words: 393 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Emily Dickinson's Hope Is A Thing With Feathers

...In “Hope is a Thing with Feathers”, using a bird to symbolize hope, Emily Dickinson conveys that hope is always present encouraging people. By describing that hope, a “thing with feathers”, “perches in the soul”, for example, Dickinson implies that since a person can’t detach from their soul, hope always remains in everyone (2). Next, when Dickinson explains that the bird “never stops” “sing[ing]”, by using the bird’s song to represent encouragement, she implies that hope, or the bird, never stops inspiring a person (4). Since it takes an extreme situation, “a sore storm”, to destroy a person's hope or “abash the bird”, Dickinson also implies that generally, hope always remains present (6). Explaining that a person can hear the bird’s song “in the chillest land” and on the “strangest sea” Dickinson, describing the entire surface of the world, thus suggests that everywhere a person goes, hope can boost him or her (9). Lastly, because the bird doesn’t “ask [for] a crumb” in return for its song, Dickinson thus implies that hope asks for nothing in return so therefore anyone can obtain it (12)....

Words: 412 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

St. Jude Research Paper

...Victoria Aucoin Mrs. Manetta English IV (H)/5th hour 7 October 2014 Hope for a Hopeless Cause “Never give up. Where there is life…there is hope!” -Lynn Hill. Keeping hope in stressful situations is a trait that families with child cancer patients need to have. A family that has a child with cancer not only has to worry about the child’s schoolwork and illness, but also has to worry about the medical bills. What the St. Jude Foundation does is enable the families to focus on the child, not worry about the payments. The family of the patients at St. Jude never receive a bill for treatment, therapy, or housing. St. Jude Children’s Research Center does more than just treat pediatric cancer patients; it also plays a role in the dynamics of...

Words: 1893 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Hope In America

...According to Google, there are roughly 250,000 words in the English language. Hope, however, is one of the most loaded of them all. Even in the simplest situations, hope is relied on the most: walking to the fridge in the morning in hopes of finding some milk or driving through town hoping that the stop light will be green. Throughout our lives, people ask us what our hopes are for our futures, but honestly, with everything that has been going on in our world recently, it does not look like there is much hope for the future. The history of this country is very important. In order to look forward, citizens need to learn from it and grow into the country that many people see as wonderful by respecting each other, working toward goals, and essentially creating peace....

Words: 662 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Boxer In George Orwell's Animal Farm

...Hope is represented by many iconic characters in literature throughout history. One of the paramount exemplifications of hope in literature is Boxer, a strong and hard-working horse that plays a crucial role in providing for the farm. However, Boxer’s unwavering trust in Napoleon, and Napoleon feeling threatened by Boxer, leads to Boxer’s demise and alternate climax of the allegory. Boxer is a very important animal on the farm that is the setting of Orwell’s allegory. He acts as the pillar that holds the farm and keeps it from collapsing into poverty and starvation. Because Boxer is physically stronger than the other animals, he bears the brunt of the physical labor on the farm. Every animal on the farm considers Boxer to be their most vital labor worker, especially during the building of the first windmill. Though Boxer’s health throughout the story is waning, many animals still take advantage of his devotion to the farm and Napoleon. Though Boxer is physically superior to all other animals on the far, he is very ignorant to the corrupt ways of Napoleon and the pigs. Boxer...

Words: 584 - Pages: 3