Ben's Wealth Analysis

By fixating on this and ignoring the specifics of Ben's journey (emphasized in Ben's earlier statement “when I walked into the jungle, I was seventeen...and by God, I was rich!”), Willy demonstrates his naive belief in easy shortcuts to success. His repetitive chanting of “I was right” underscores his desperate need for validation and his clinging to outdated beliefs that no longer serve

It is clear that the reasoning behind the color-blind parenting approach can be argued and in this case proven to be unrealistic expectations that do no match reality. But why does this matter? Is it really that big of a deal if white children learn about race from social media and believe that race does not affect them? Yes, because in our current day and age, race issues have not gone away, and do not seem to be going away anytime soon. The book “The Color of Wealth: The Story Behind the U.S. Racial Wealth Divide” is written entirely about how even after hundreds of year, America still has an astonishing racial wealth divide, this book even states “for every dollar owned by the average white family in the United States, the average family

Later, Willy asks both Biff and Hap to steal lumber and sand from a construction site for the front porch.  He is not dismayed as the security guard chases Biff. He also raises no objection when Ben encourages Biff to fight unfairly. Willy's mixed moral messages eventually lead to Biff's habitual stealing, which is responsible for his continued failure in life.  Even when his sons are older, Willy continues to promote immoral behavior.  Willy urges Biff to lie to Oliver about his work experience so that Biff might borrow $15,000 and start a business.

Wealtheow is the second woman who appears in Grendel. She is as Helming princess who is given to Hrothgar as his child wife by Hygomod, a rival king as tribute to Hrothgar’s power and prestige. Both Grendel and the Danes are spellbound by Wealtheow’s beauty and Grendel describes her as, “a women in a robe of threaded silver, her smooth long hair was as red as fire and as soft as the ruddy sheen on dragon’s gold, her face was gently, mysteriously calm” (Gardner 100). The name Wealtheow means “holy servant of common good” (Gardner 100). As Hrothgar’s wife, Wealtheow is a servant to his people and his kingdom. Grendel is instantly drawn to Wealtheow not only because of her beauty but the way she is able to dispel conflict with Hrothgar’s people.

If Willy was as liked and successful as he puts on to be, it is very likely the family would not have to stress that much about money. This false perception that Willy has of his life begins to affect his relationship with people in his family, especially his eldest son Biff. When Biff was younger he and Willy had a strong relationship. Willy was very proud of his son in regards to his athletics and believed that he would one day become very successful. Biff, as an adult, did not fully meet his father's expectations as he remained jobless for an extended period of time. Willy is very disappointed in Biff and resents him for not meeting his expectations, becoming one of the things, including Biff knowing about his father's affairs, that caused a large strain in their relationship. Willy knows deep down that he did not achieve the american dream and he is disappointed because he believes Biff is following in his footsteps and will not achieve it either.

A nation’s wealth is determined by its increase in long-term economic growth. It is an increase in the potential gross domestic product, GPD. The growth is displayed by an outward shift in a nation’s long-term aggregate supply curve (Riley, 2016). The United States as a developed nation, transformed by technology long-run economic growth is the advancement in innovations, quality natural resources and human capital. The long-term growth produce goods and services in output indicating the nation’s standard of living example employments, spending, saving, and investment. As we learned, from the week’s lesson notes, output increases the market aggregate demand and a company’s scale of production for specialization and division of labor with the

Andrew Carnegie wrote The Gospel of Wealth in 1889 describing what he thought to be the responsibilities of the wealthy. Carnegie believed that it was important for the wealthy to set an example by living a modest life. He believed those with wealth should actively engage in using their money to benefit the greater good of the public in enduring ways instead of squandering it on personal indulgences. Rather than giving to charities he sought to “help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give those who desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist, but rarely or never to do all”. In his essay, Carnegie cites three ways, or “modes”, in which the wealthy can distribute their wealth:

Coming from humble beginnings as well, Carnegie and I share the same life experiences. He could have felt sympathy for those who were like him, but he didn’t really. Bitter as it may seem, life is unfair and we are all selfish. Carnegie was human and I do believe that if his views were not ethical, then at the very least they are logical. Nevertheless, I do understand his point of view on self-made rich: if I worked hard to be here, others shouldn’t have the easy way out. This man is right on the accumulations of wealth. I especially agree with his philanthropy and his stance on not giving directly to the poor. Many instances happen when you are waiting for the light to turn green at a traffic light and a homeless man will come up to you asking for money. You don’t know

“The home base also enables the //Gana to store items of wealth and the means to obtain wealth, particularly skins and furs, which are collected in quantity and traded outside the Central Reserve (Cashdan, Elizabeth A., 1980, pg 2).” Acquiring wealth opposes the traditional !Kung lifestyle. Efforts are made in the !Kung and Nharo societies to distribute wealth and avoid hierarchy or stratification. The //Gana do acquire wealth with the ownership of donkeys, horses, cattle, drums, and goats. The number of any of these items accounts for personal wealth or band wealth. Those who do not own significant numbers of these items often tend to the livestock of others.

Ben, Willy’s older brother, believes that his American dream was that he started out with little, and ended up being very successful. It is ironic, because Ben brags that he came out of the African jungle a rich man, so he did not necessarily achieve the American dream, since his wealth began in Africa. Although Ben is not alive anymore, he frequently appears in Willy’s dream and can be considered as a symbol of the success that Willy desires. Another character who struggles with trying to pursue the American Dream is Happy, Willy’s youngest son. Happy possesses many of the same traits as Willy and lives the lie of the American Dream. Happy shows many signs of delusion, even believing that he is in a higher position in his store than he really is. Another character, Biff, the oldest son, also struggles with the idea of the American Dream. Biff’s main struggle throughout the play is between pleasing his father or pleasing himself. Willy wants Biff to inherit his world of sales, but Biff finds himself happier outdoors and is a farmhand. At the end of the day, Biff realizes that his happiness is more important than being rich and achieving the American dream. He returns to the farm where he makes less than $35 a week and does manual labor. Biff can also be considered a relatable character because he redefined his version of the American dream.

This developing liberal trend within the middle class produced conditions that allowed for the exploring of social thinkers such as John Locke, a philosopher of the 17th century, who theorised on politics and liberty and the individual. Then there was the Magna-Carta adding further to the liberal maelstrom of the political debate at this time. There was Adam Smith, who promoted a laissez-fare approach to economics, which was a further expression of liberal thinking. Smith’s book, ‘The wealth of a Nation’ heralded new thoughts about trade and the market. He suggested that the market should be left to regulate itself, reducing governmental control. This gave the enterprise class further opportunity to break with the old restricted practices of

He describes him as “the only man I ever met who knew the answers,” “a genius,” and a “success incarnate!” (1600)(1598).Again we see Ben as this rich, adventurous man, who Willy idolizes. Ben offered Willy a chance to go with him to Alaska but Willy chose not to. Throughout the play you can tell that Willy regrets not going with his brother. He asks himself “why didn’t I go to Alaska with my brother Ben that time...what a mistake! He begged me to go” (1598). When Ben comes to visit, or when he’s visiting in one of Willy’s illusions, Willy tells him “[y]our just what I need,” and he asks him “what is the answer?”(1604).

Ben is also a very peculiar character.  The audience first encounters him with the full knowledge that he is dead.  Ben is also the one figure that is able to move freely between the past and the present.  Because Ben represents that which Willy seeks, Willy feels that he can achieve his goal the same way that Ben did and so he believes that "opportunism, cheating and cruelty are success incarnate" (Smith).

Ben from “Death of a Salesman” the brother of Willy believes that the American Dream is the ability to start with nothing and somehow to achieve a great fortune “William when I waked into the jungle I was seventeen. When I walked out I was twenty one. And by God I was rich!” Throughout the play Willy is portrayed as envious of his brother. Willy’s wife is rather not pleased with his presence, she sees Ben as mischievous character that is up to no good. This can be seen when Ben comes over and is playing around with Biff, once Biff starts winning the sparring match Ben trips his and points his umbrella at Biff’s head. Ben believes that only certain people can achieve the “American Dream” and they need to be ruthless or mischievous to achieve it.

Wealth has affected american society and evermore has affect the fabric of families. Has the distribution of wealth gotten so out of control that the effect will reverberate for generations to come and as a society can we do something about it.