The Dream.
I went to the local library for the first time in 6 years and borrowed 'Death of a Salesman'. If you've never read it before then you should give it a go. It's not a very long play, I'm sure you can kill it in one day (hey if I can do it...).It's a really good play because it has much to say about the futility of man. It describes a man whose life goal is to be successful; he places his hopes and dreams onto "making it", being rich, being better than everyone else, being liked by everyone else. The central character, Willy Loman, has an almost religious zeal in his belief in success, wealth and popularity. He clings onto these things with increasing desperation, driven by unyielding insecurity, as he fails to cope with the growing disparity between the dream and his own pathetic reality. What's sadder is that in his pursuit for such a dream, he loses his integrity, fails to appreciate the good things in his life (e.g. his wife and friend Charley), and alienates his son as he burdens all his hopes and dreams onto him.
This play is particularly pertinent because the other day I was reading an article in the 'Money' section of the SMH. I was actually going to blog about it but then kinda forgot. Anyhow it was about the explosion of DIY investment books in the last 5 years, and why the demand for such books had grown so significantly. Rather than a straightforward answer of "er, cos people are greedy?", the writer suggested that this was a response to an underlying insecurity that people had about their lives. The future feels increasingly uncertain, particularly since 9/11 and this new era of terrorism, along with rising oil prices and stupidly expensive houses in Sydney. Add to that baby boomers spending their offsprings' inheritance on themselves, leaving young people with no guarantee of a secure 'nest-egg', an increasing societal burden as the aging population grows exponentially... well you get the idea. The future looks grim. Our only saviour? Financial security. Success. Riches. The American Dream. Anyone can make it, you just gotta have a dream, kid.
And boy don't these books sell you a dream. Apparently now everyone can pay their mortgage off in 5 years, make a million by age 25, have an extensive and "healthy" portfolio, retire by 40, and start their very own multi-million internet company from the comforts of their own home (I think the secret has something to do with listening to a Rich Dad instead of a Poor One). Going hand in hand with personal wealth is personal success. How to Win Friends and Influence People, Seven Habits you can adopt to be one of the Highly Effective People.
If only we are rich, if only we are popular. And not just that -- we want to be just that little bit richer and better liked than everyone else. To drive a better car than most, to have a better house than most, to have smarter kids than most. Once we have that then we are set, our future is secure. We will have control* of our lives. Then we will be safe, we will be happy. This is the mantra of the religion that is capitalism.
How much is this faith ingrained into the outlook for our own futures? And more importantly, will this faith carry us through, or like Willy Loman, will we be driven to despair in chasing this phantom stronghold that is the American Dream?
(*haha yes that is a reference to you who's all about power and control et al... *rolls eyes*)
posted by me. @ 12:52 AM
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