Abstract and Key Words 

Abstract: The thesis aims to seek the embodiment and disillusionment of the American Dream in the Death of a Salesman. Circling around the death of Loman, the main character in Death of a Salesman, this thesis analyses the influence of the American dream on him, pointing out that Loman is tormented by the American dream. The process of his defeat is actually the course of the disillusionment of his American dream. It holds that the tragedy of the insignificant individual must be the tragedy of the whole society. The tragedy of Willy Loman may be considered as a tragedy of an individual, of a family, and of American society as well.

Key words: Death of a Salesman；American Dream；embodiment; disillusionment

摘要：本文旨在探索“美国梦”在戏剧《推销员之死》的体现以及“美国梦”幻灭的原因，围绕《推销员之死》中主要人物洛曼之死,剖析了美国梦对他的种种影响,指出洛曼是为美国梦所累,他走向失败的过程正是他的美国梦逐步破灭的过程。文章认为小人物的悲剧实际上是整个社会的悲剧。主人公洛曼的命运悲剧不仅是其个人的悲剧，也是家庭关系的悲剧，更是美国社会的悲剧。

关键词:《推销员之死》；美国梦;体现；幻灭

1. Introduction
1.1 Brief Introduction to Arthur Miller and His Major Work
Arthur Miller was born in New York in 1915. His father was a Jewish merchant. During the Great Depression his father’s business failed, leaving the family quite poor. When Miller finished high school, he could not afford the university, and had to go out to make a living. He worked in a company for two years and saved some money. Afterwards he entered the University of Michigan, where he began to write plays. He wrote two plays at the time, and was awarded prizes on two occasions.
Arthur Miller was regarded as one of America’s most famous playwrights of the twentieth century. In his lifetime, he created a number of great works, including All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, The Crucible, The Price and many others. Among them, Death of a Salesman met with great success and won him international prestige. Miller wrote plays on broad social themes. He put a special emphasis on depicting the inner thoughts of individuals and their conflicts with the morality of their society.