Reality versus illusionIn 1938, Arthur Miller began writing plays after graduating from college. All My Sons was his first successful play which earned him recognition from critics and audiences. He went on to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1949 for Death of a Traveler and became a successful playwright in the 1940s and 1950s. His plays are unique in the way his characters use ordinary dialogue and deal with ordinary family problems. Death of a Salesman is a play about the importance and value of the American dream of success. Most of us think of the American dream of success as living in the country with a family and a house with a white picket fence. This is why many people came to America. They came with the dream of being successful, of being able to live happily with their family and of having financial security. Willy Loman is the male character of a salesman in Miller's play. He is what most people call a tragic hero. He is an old salesman who has failed to succeed in his life. He is very old, he has a dead end job, his sons have not succeeded and he is losing touch with reality. Finally, he commits suicide because he realizes that he is worth more dead than alive. Willy does not realize the reality of his life. He believes in the illusion that he and his sons will one day achieve great success. Arthur Miller uses the theme of reality versus illusion throughout the play Death of a Salesman. Willy Loman is blinded by the illusion that he and his boys are successful men with great potential. He does not see the reality of his failures in life as a father and businessman. Willy Loman is a relentless salesman who fails to succeed. He travels everywhere during the week and barely manages to earn enough money to support his family. He has two sons of whom he is very proud and hopes that they will also be successful. Willy Loman hasn't realized he's not a good salesman. He has the illusion of being a successful businessman that everyone respects, but in reality he is not respected at all..