In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, the life of the main character (Willy Loman) criticizes middle-class Americans' belief in the social mobility of the American dream. Her belief that a nice and attractive man will undoubtedly be successful ultimately leads to her rapid mental decline. Just like Willy, many Americans believe that success and opportunity are within everyone's reach. However, the current inequality in the country and the changing definition of the American Dream suggest that many Americans are certainly deluded. The country's growing inequality gap is a clear indicator that it is becoming increasingly difficult for many Americans to climb the economic ladder. Indeed, more and more Americans find themselves classified in the lowest income brackets. According to new census data, “the middle class has shrunk as families have been added in the lower and higher income brackets” (Chokshi). The Death of a Salesman is one of the greatest classics because it challenges the American ideal that the American dream is a possibility for everyone and the United States is a land of equal opportunity. The definition of the American Dream has changed constantly over time. The original coiner of the term James Truslow Adams believed that the American Dream was a "dream of a land in which life should be better, richer, and fuller for all, with opportunities for each based on ability or achievement" (Chokshi) . In this sense, his definition resembled the characteristics of a meritocracy, a society in which people can move up the socioeconomic ladder solely on the basis of their merit. In the 1950s, however, the definition of the American Dream materialized. Because of the...... middle of the paper......ns (Inskeep). These trends paint a frightening picture of the country's current condition. In addition to these findings, further data shows that “…of people born into low-income families, few will ever make it into the middle class” (Hargreaves). This evidence suggests that inequality is threatening the American dream and making it elusive for many Americans. Death of a Salesman has stood the test of time thanks to its resonant theme of the American Dream. Regardless of the numerous definitions of the term in the work, each subsequent generation has been able to identify with the work's strong and powerful message. Similar to the life of Willy Loman, many Americans today believe that the American dream is becoming an elusive ideal. With growing inequality, unemployment and financial insecurity, the future of the American dream doesn't look so bright.