美国梦，美国的梦魇——论阿瑟.密勒的《推销员

Abstract

     The production of Death of a Salesman elevated Arthur Miller to the front rank of great American dramatists. It is a social critical play which vividly portrays the conflicts of the Lomans and all the other American families, and realistically represents the social problem caused by the dream of wealth and success in the 20th century.
    This thesis attempts to demonstrate that American Dream is only a nightmare in modern American society.
    Part I is an introduction to the established fame, the arguments about the play, and the statement of my viewpoints.
    Part II offers a glimpse of the origin and development of the American Dream, and then summarizes the forms and essence of American Dream.
    Part III explains how Death of a Salesman reveals the collapse of American Dream. It first discusses the different roles Willy plays in the society and then draws the conclusion that Willys death is inevitable with the collapse of all his dreams.
   Part IV attempts to analyze the causes for the collapse of Willys dream. On the one hand, it is caused by the alteration of social values; on the other hand, it is due to Willy’s incapability to adjust himself to the social transformations.
   The last part draws the conclusion that Willy Loman is a victim of the American Dream .The play means to give American people a warning that American Dream is only a nightmare, and people should abandon it and change their notions.

Key Words: Death of a Salesman; American Dream;
 nightmare; Willy Loman

摘   要

阿瑟•密勒以其剧作《推销员之死》而上升到美国当代主要戏剧家的行列。该剧是1部批判现实主义剧作。它讲叙了威利1家所面对的矛盾，揭示了20世纪的美国存在的由金钱和成功带来的社会问题。 （科教论文网 lw.NsEac.com编辑整理）
    本文从下面几个部分来揭示美国梦只是美国的1个梦魇。
    第1部分介绍了该剧所赢得的声誉及该剧所引发的争论。然后陈述作者的观点和写作意图。
    第2部分首先纵览美国梦的文化渊源和历史发展，然后概括出美国梦的形式和实质。
第3部分阐述了《推销员之死》是如何揭示了美国梦的破灭。这部分阐述了威利在社会中所扮演的不同角色以及威利死亡的不可避免性。
    第4部分试图分析威利梦想破灭的原因。1方面是由于人们价值观念的改变，另1方面是由于内化了的威利内心环境使他没有能力去适应变化了社会形势。
    最后1部分总结出威利是美国社会的1个牺牲品，他所追求的美国梦早已异化，只是1个白日梦。它告诫人们要及时将其抛弃，改变思想观念,以免重蹈威利覆辙.

关键词：《推销员之死》；美国梦；梦魇；威利•洛曼