Death of a Dream: Between Individualism and Social Conformity

This paper analyzes Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman as a critical reflection on the tension between individualism and social conformity in post-Great Depression American society. The study explores the historical, economic, and cultural context of the American Dream and examines how the protagonist, Willy Loman, represents a declining model of individual success in a modern capitalist society. Drawing on historical and literary sources, the article discusses the transformation of American values from rugged individualism to social conformity and demonstrates how Willy Loman’s tragedy reflects the broader crisis of identity and adaptation in twentieth-century America.