What does the American dream contain? “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller offers a realistic and raw picture of lives overflowing with longed-for and broken dreams; however, there are no dreams fulfilled here. Their dreams include glory and fearlessness over what can truly be achieved. Although Willy, Linda, Biff and Happy, as individuals, still believe in the American dream, it is clear that it represents something different for each of them. Willy Loman has an innate ability to dream far beyond his capabilities. Over the course of the show, Willy's dreams represent more fantasy than truth, a behavior that his boys clearly imitate. Yet despite the chatter, there is ongoing criticism of the world and the way things work. He boasts about sales made on a trip: “I tell you, I was selling thousands and thousands, but I had to get home” (1224). It is difficult to say whether the stories Willy tells are the ones he believes to be true or the ones he imagines are correct; as a result, he continually tells lies to cover up his flaws and mistakes. Indeed, with all the “thousands and thousands” of dollars he earns, he complains about the necessary repairs to mechanical objects in the house: “Once in my life I would like to own something before it breaks! I'm always running with the landfill” (1244)! Willy's main escape from reality involves his brother Ben, who embodies the American dream; however, Willy's escape with Ben is purely a figment of his imagination. “The opportunities are huge in Alaska, William. I'm surprised you're not up there” (1230). His imaginings about Ben, although they seem like an illusion throughout the story, are completely realistic in Willy's mind. He truly believes that Ben has reached the pinnacle of the American dream. Willy refuses to recognize his true abilities, such as in the construction field. At times he seems to have hope for the future: “coming home this evening, I would like to buy some seeds” (1243). Nonetheless, there is an undercurrent of fear in Willy, as Linda discovers, "...in fact, at the bottom of the water heater there is a new little fitting on the gas pipe" (1237). Although the illusions that Willy proposes are real to him, they are nevertheless simply that: illusions. Deep down he knows that things aren't as they should be, with his family, his job and his life.