The American Dream in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Throughout Death of a Salesman, the men of the Loman family cannot distinguish between the reality of the American dream and its illusion. Willy can't see who Happy and Biff really are as individuals or himself for that matter. Therefore, Willy and his sons believe that they all know and have what it takes to succeed in life and business. In reality, the success of both fell far short of the ideal American dream of their time. In the entirety of this play, Willy Loman struggles with the reality of his two sons and himself being the way he thinks they should be. He believes that being liked through personal attractiveness is the key to prosperity. Near the beginning of the play, Willy falls back in time, to a place where Biff and Happy were perfect sons. Biff plays football like Willy wanted too and Happy tries hard to get Willy's attention at all costs. Willy tends to focus on Biff and all the potential he thinks he has. Happy simply seems to be carried away during the play by the constant attention to Biff. At the very beginning of the play where it takes place in the present tense, Willy says: “Biff is a lazy bum!” » (Miller 1938). Then he changes his mind, saying that Biff is lost but that he is a hard worker and "he's not lazy" (1938). Willy can't seem to hold on to the reality that Biff can't succeed in his life and forget the illusion that he will achieve his dreams. Biff clearly states the reality here: “Pop, I’m in spades and so are you” (2000). Willy cannot turn his life into a dream and ends up reconciled by committing suicide. During the play, Biff and Happy talk day after day about their American dream but never really begin the steps to achieve it. They both struggle their entire young lives. Biff tries to rebel against Willy at first by failing math and moving west. Happy, on the other hand, tries hard to get his father's attention, for example by exclaiming: "I'm losing weight, notice, Pop.?” (1947).