We explored the similarities between Steinbeck's depiction of the American Dream and Miller's perspective of this aspiration in the play. I noted how Willy Loman is not a victim of societal forces but a victim of his own delusions about the achievability of the American Dream. After Joshua took noters off the whiteboard on this topic , we discussed and studied the symbolism of : the car, stockings, and the rubber hose(suggesting Willy Loman's latent suicidal desires).