摘  要

《推销员之死》是20 世纪美国著名戏剧家阿瑟.密勒的代表作，书中讲述了一个平庸的推销员在其美国社会的压榨下其悲惨的命运。在当时的美国社会，人们都相信最穷的人也可以通过努力获得成功，主角威利也是如此。
美国梦已经融入美国文化与美国人的灵魂，成为这个民族内在的一部分，然而大多数人对美国梦的含义与发展并没有很明确地了解。本文结合美国历史的发展对各个阶段美国梦的含义做出了一定解释。美国梦有其产生、发展、扭曲以及破灭的过程。美国梦也是许多美国文学作品反映的主题之一。20 世纪美国著名戏剧家阿瑟.密勒的代表作《推销员之死》是对美国梦破灭的典型反映。
本文从美国梦的角度对剧中主人公的悲剧进行分析，证明主人公威利信仰了一个不符合现实的美国梦，最终沦为美国梦的牺牲品。

关键词：美国梦； 破灭； 悲剧

Abstract

  Death of a Salesman was the masterpiece of Author Miller. It tells us a story about the unfortunate fate of Willy Loman, a common salesman, who had a deep faith in the American society. And the American dream means the people believed that even the poorest, through hard work and determination, could eventually work their way to the upper class. Willy Loman was no exception.
American dream has become part of American culture, however not everyone knows much about its meaning and its development. Through the analysis of the development of American history and the meaning of American dream at different periods, the paper tends to give a general understanding of American dream. American dream has experienced a process of birth, growth, distortion and finally disillusionment. Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller’s masterpiece reflects the complete smash of American dream.
Through the analysis of the play, the paper tends to proof that the protagonist Wily Loman believes in a false American dream and his story is a complete smash of the American dream.

Key words: American dream; smash; tragedy

1 Introduction
1.1 Brief introduction of the author and his plays.

Arthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American theatre, writing dramas that include plays such as, Death of a Salesman                                                 , The Crucible, and A View from the Bridge.
Miller was often in the public eye, particularly during the late 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s, a period during which he testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee, received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and was married to Marilyn Monroe.