We look at Miller's play Death of a Salesman from two different vantage points. From a sociohistorical perspective we look at different variations of the American dream that are embedded in the play. From a psychological perspective we look at the particular family and individual dynamics that haunt Willy Loman. We examine how these two sets of forces, social ideologies, and individual psy-chodynamics come together to create a perfect storm, unleashing intense passions that push Willy into despair and suicide. In the last section of this essay we offer some thoughts about the connection between the play and Miller's family history and why this connection might have been unclear to Miller.