The Importance of Dreams in Death of a Salesman by Arthur...

The Importance of Dreams in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller There is a wide range of dreams throughout the play. Every Character is living a dream and these dreams are what affect and change how the play flows. The main dream is the great capitalist American Dream, The dreams dramatically affect relationships, jobs and even threatens lives, and these dreams are usually unachievable so are never going to be reached. This however doesnt ever stop the Lomans from dreaming and eventually at the end of the play it gets the better of them. Willy Loman is a salesman whom lives his life chasing the American Dream. The American dream destroys Willy. Willy didnt want to believe that he was†¦show more content†¦Willy also daydreams about money and his financial situation. He dreams about being a great salesman and earning lots of money, Im telling you I was selling thousands and thousands We know this is a dream because he hasnt earnt much because he has to borrow money off Charley. In the play once Willy realises he has failed he puts all his hope in his sons. Willy wants Biff to become a great salesman. Willy has failed at this but he wants his son to fulfil his dreams for him, Ill get him a job selling, hell be big in no time. Ultimately Willy is trying to push Biff towards the American dream. This is because Willys last ambition was to help Biff, Can you imagine that magnificence of $20,000 in Biffs pocket. Miller portrays America as the total opposite to The land of opportunity. He uses Willy and Biff to show how there is set standards in the American society. One is regarded a failure If they dont have a successful job with a high wage, ====================================================================== There is nothing more inspiring or beautiful than the sight of a mare and a new coltà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I suddenly get the feeling, my God, Im notShow MoreRelatedThe Importance of A Dream in Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller1252 Words   |  6 Pagesmust have a dream. However, with the wrong dream, even a fulfilling life is not a happy one. For example in the play, Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, the protagonist, Willy Loman, dreams of becoming a respected and successful salesman. However, Willy Loman dreams the wrong dream and as a result its leads to his tragic demise. This is evident through Willy’s dream being unrealistic, Biffs troubles due to Willy instilling his dream into him, Willys pride resulting from his dream, and the illusionRead More The Importance of Biff in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman682 Words   |  3 PagesThe Importance of Biff in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller  Ã‚  Ã‚   The play Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, follows the life of Willy Loman, a self-deluded salesman who lives in utter denial, always seeking the American Dream, and constantly falling grossly short of his mark. The member’s of his immediate family, Linda, his wife, and his two sons, Biff and Happy, support his role. Of these supportive figures, Biff’s character holds the most importance, as Biff lies at the centerRead More Importance of Ben Loman in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman690 Words   |  3 PagesThe Importance of Ben Loman in in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman      Ã‚   Ben Loman is an important character in Death of a Salesman but he is quite unusual.   The audience encounters Uncle Ben during Willy Lomans hallucinations of the past and as a result, it is tempting to disregard his character as just another creation of Willys delusional mind.   However, Ben is much more than that.   His character is representative of Willys unrealistic dreams as well as the realty of his life.   Read More Destruction of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman Essay1042 Words   |  5 Pagessame dream that says this is a country where anything’s possible. No matter who you are. No matter where you come from.† -- President Obama, Commenting on the American Dream The American Dream is a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success. It is the belief that, no matter how poor you begin life, you can achieve upward social mobility for your family and children. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, crushes the ethos of the American Dream. Miller’sRead MoreAnalysis Of Arthur Miller s The Death Of A Salesman 1325 Words   |  6 PagesArthur Miller is one of the most successful and enduring playwrights of the post-war era in America. He focuses on middle-class anxieties since the theme of anxiety and insecurity reflects much of Arthur Miller’s own past. The play addresses loss of identity and a man’s inability to change within him and society (Miller 16). The American Dream has been an idea that has motivated society for centuries. It often times becomes the main theme for many movies, novels, and poems. In, The Death of aRead More Willy Lomans Illusions and Delusions in Arth ur Millers Death of a Salesman796 Words   |  4 PagesWilly Lomans Illusions and Delusions in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman    Charley says something in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman that sums up Willy’s whole life. He asks him, When the hell are you going to grow up† (Miller 97)?   Willy spends his entire life in an illusion, seeing himself as a great man who is popular and successful.   Willy exhibits many childlike qualities and his two sons Biff and Happy pattern their behavior after their father.   Many of these qualities, such asRead MoreA Survey of Tragedy984 Words   |  4 Pagesa dramatic, not in a narrative form: with incidents arousing pity and fear; wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions.† I believe Aristotle’s meaning of â€Å"Imitate† is to play out, as in acting, and with â€Å"Magnitude† is to imply great importance or consequence. The phrase â€Å"complete in itself in language† is the method in which the drama is delivered to the audience, while â€Å"pleasurable accessories† would refer to the costumes, props and stage. Where Aristotle states; â€Å"each kind broughtRead MoreArthur Miller ´s Death of A Salesman: A Commentary1170 Words   |  5 Pages Arthur Miller Born on October 17, 1915 in Harlem, New York. Arthur Miller was raised in a moderately household until his family lost almost everything in the Wall Street Crash of 1929. They moved from the upper east side in Manhattan to Gravesend, Brooklyn. After graduating from high school, Miller worked little jobs so that he can save up money to attend the University of Michigan. Arthur Miller took courses with playwrightRead More Importance of Self-Image in the Loman Family1483 Words   |  6 Pages Published in 1949, Arthur Miller’s Death of Salesman is a post Second World War American drama that highlights the plight of isolation and desolation experienced by the common man, as symbolized by Willy. The play deals with the society, life’s absurdity, various internal and external conflicts, death and above all, the tragedy of existence. It is located in the industrial society of the twentieth century where the pressure to succeed and the financial difficulties seem insurmountable. The playRead MoreEssay on The Failure of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman1480 Words   |  6 Pagesland of opportunity. Out of that thinking comes the American Dream, the idea that anyone can ultimately achieve success, even if he or she began with nothing.  In The Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses the characterization of Willy Loman to represent the failure of his ideal of the American Dream.  Willy’s quest for the American Dream leads to his failure because t hroughout his life he pursues the illusion of the American Dream and not the reality of it. His mindset on perfection, obsession

I Was Hard Work to Success - 871 Words

I Was Hard Work To Success? While growing up, my family stressed the fact that hard work and success go hand and hand. With that stated, Im not a big believer in luck being the reason for someone success in life. Im not saying that I do not believe that luck exist or that lucky is only a part of fairy tales. I just believe that anyone who is truly successful has worked hard for it and earned all their accomplishments throughout their life. Whenever I get good grades in school I knew it is because of hard work and me pushing my abilities not luck. Whenever I think of my home and my belongings, I know it all came from hard work. Hard work is the key to any successful formula! Hard work is putting in more effort than before and†¦show more content†¦Sometimes people get their wishes very easily and are branded lucky. But, once they get there they cannot depend on luck to do their job. For instance, a sports player gets signed to the team of his dreams. Even though people know the capabilities of the sports player, they say he was lucky to get onto the team. But once the game begins it’s the sports player’s hard work that shows during the game. At that point players cannot depend on their luck, performance and ability are the only dependents. Many of players also established a major business that continues to bring him more success each time he releases a new idea. But just because you work hard, doesnt mean you will be successful. Everyone in the world can’t be successful. Unfortunately, some people go their whole lives trying to make it and accomplish their goals, but ever succeed before their time is up. so, we must be good job as work hard and have smart ideas to success. If you wasn’t believed it, try to doShow MoreRelatedSuccess Is Not For Success944 Words   |  4 PagesSuccess has just as many faces as any other possible theme, depending on the society in which it is measured, and the character of the person who measures it. Wrongfully, many people confuse success is only associated with wealth: they assume that a person s triumph can be concluded from the expensiveness of his or her watch, car, or house. But will they be successful just because they are rich? Albert Schweitzer famously once said Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to successRead MoreSuccess Is The End Of Success844 Words   |  4 PagesSuccess has many different interpretations. Some people distinguished success by social status and riches. Other people think that success is completing high school or finding his or her inner self. My mother once told me that success is within the mind of the individual. I believe success comes when a person desires to achieve the goal he or she is striving for. In my opinion, happiness is the end result of true success. If I put my mind into being the greatest cross country runner in De Queen,Read MoreDifferent Directions May Lead For Success1338 Words   |  6 Pagesdirections may Lead to Success Challenges are like mountains, climbing each step will encounter difficult stages that each individual will face. Whenever it is a block or clear path there are obstacles and different strategies to go from point A to B. When overcoming obstacles it is only the beginning and one step closer to the success. Several factors of success are: mindset, learning and failure, working hard, persistence and understanding will guarantee a high rate of success. In the article, â€Å"Brainology:Read MoreWhat if the Secret to Success is Failure? Essay623 Words   |  3 Pagesthere is more to success than just talent and intelligence. People are born with the natural ability to be intelligent, but that does not predict their dedication and commitment to a successful life. Characteristics like grit are pursuing with long-term goals and desiring improvement. Even after failing, one exerts self-discipline to succeed from a motivational perspective. Continuous learning efforts after experiencing discouraging setbacks can enhance the outcome of achieving success as Duckworth mentionedRead MoreThe Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and its Illustrations of the American Dream1474 Words   |  6 Pagesthere is equal opportunity for all in the American society to achieve success. Success is not pegged on social status, race, or creed, but rather on an individual’s own efforts. The definition of the American dream has unique interpret ations to different people. The most common meaning is that of a life of abundance and prosperity, characterized by economic rewards that enable one to live a middle class life of comfort. Here, success is measured by material possessions such as beautiful homes, cars,Read MoreAndrew Carnegie Self Made Mans Speech Summary1322 Words   |  6 Pagesthe belief that anyone can achieve prosperity and success from even the lowest-ranking positions. One of America’s finest â€Å"self-made men† reflects this flawed ideal that fails to account for the variety of factors stacked against an individual. In his speech, â€Å"The Road to Business Success: A Talk to Young Men†, Andrew Carnegie argues that the self made man exists, and it is possible to become a successful businessman and leader through hard work. He begins his speech by arguing that all successfulRead MoreGraduation Speech : 3 Idiots, And Its States Do Not Chase Success848 Words   |  4 PagesOne quote th at I live by on a daily basis both in and out of school comes from an Indian movie called 3 Idiots, and its states, â€Å"Do not chase success. Follow excellence, then success will chase you.† In my school life, this pursuit of excellence has allowed me to reach great levels of achievement in all of my subject areas in high school. However, I especially excel in the areas of math, science, and social studies. My excellence in these areas of learning can be attributed to many factors, includingRead MoreAnalysis Of Malcolm Gladwell s Outliers 962 Words   |  4 Pagesthat success is shaped by external entities which certain individuals are granted precise opportunities and advantages that not everybody is given by fate. However, even though Gladwell’s theory at attaining success holds some validity, he completely avoids and excludes the value of hard-work and determination. The core of success is always within the individual which can be achieved by perseverance th rough difficult times and setbacks as opposed to solely capitalizing on other people’s hard workRead MoreThe American Dream By Kimberly Amadeo1637 Words   |  7 PagesNowadays, a large number of people migrate to the United States to work and achieve the American Dream. According to the Article â€Å"What is the American Dream?† by Kimberly Amadeo, â€Å"The American Dream was first publicly defined in 1931 by James Truslow Adams in Epic of America. Adam’s often-repeated quote is, ‘The American Dream is that dream of land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.’† There are many peopleRead MoreThe American Dream Is Not Alive1609 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å" Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence (Colin Powell).† The American Dream is the idea that every US citizen should have an equal oppo rtunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Whether you’re tall, short, lean, obese, African American, White, wealthy, or poor, anybody can achieve success by working hard. Although many people believe it is not alive, the American dream has shown why many people

Crimson Tide Review of Leadership Roles free essay sample

A leader can express their power in various manners, in French and Raven’s (1959) Five Base Model of power, a characterization of power in leadership and management, defined in five bases and citied by Hinken and Schrieshiem, (Bass, 1990) as followed: * Expert power  is having the capability to administer to other individuals facts, knowledge based information, or expertise. * Referent power  is having the capability to administer to other individual’s feelings of personal acceptance or recognition. Reward power  is, having the capability to administer to another person’s desires or to remove or decrease things he/she does not desire. * Coercive power  is, having the capability to administer to individual’s things he/she does not desire or to remove or decrease things he/she does  desire. * Legitimate powers are, the ability to administer to another person’s feelings of obligation or responsibility. (pg. 232) This paper is an analysis of t he leadership roles and the influence of power that the leading characters in the movie Crimson Tide (Scott, 1995) possess. We will write a custom essay sample on Crimson Tide Review of Leadership Roles or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The leading actors and their characters are Gene Hackman (Captain Frank Ramsey), Denzel Washington (Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter), and George Dzunda (Chief of the Boat Cobb). In this movie analysis, we will analyze the leadership roles of each character and how they interact among each other and the other officers on the submarine, and the power that they have over them and each other. In addition in terms of leadership and compliance, we will discuss the role nuclear submarines play in present society, and what was the function it served in the film prior to the vital action, and after the vital action. The incident that took place on the nuclear submarine raised an issue involving Navel procedure that caused the board of the Navy distress. Discussion of the issue, the roots, and how it has run its course since then will be discussed. Movie Plot Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) was the Commander of the submarine, USS Alabama, equipped with missiles. Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington) replaced the Executive Officer from the Alabama due to an attack of appendicitis. The Alabama, was assigned to intercept the rebel Russian troops who captured nuclear missiles of the former Soviet Union. While on the mission, the USS Alabama receive a preliminary launch order, however, the EAM radio contact was lost prior to a confirmation or abort order was received. EAMs are messages sent digitally from the Pentagon in the event of nuclear war, the messages are picked up by the submarines with a special antenna. This lost radio contact brought about the most infamous scene in the movie. Do to the fact that the required confirmation was incomplete, Captain Ramsey pushed forward and ordered for the launch of the missiles. For the ordered to be fully completed, the launch must be â€Å"concurred† with, and repeated by the Commander, and Executive Officer of the Boat. This was Hunter’s first position in the field and once again new to the Alabama. The entire crew was loyal to Ramsey who has been in command of the Alabama for numerous victorious missions. â€Å"When a new person comes into an organization or the work group, various means are used to teach the new person  how we do things around here† (Schein, 1999). Ramsey used his transitional leadership methods to try and enforce his point of view of what should be correct. Now Hunter could have easily said, â€Å"I concur†, and went ahead with the missile launch. However, Hunter did not, he fostered the use of proper military protocol and maintained that the launch be delayed till the EAM radio transmission could be confirmed and fully received from Washington. This is where leadership roles and power come into play, and how Ramsey, Hunter, and Cobb the Chief of the boat became part of the most infamous scene in the movie. When Hunter refused to â€Å"concur† the orders and stated his opinion, he sited Navy procedure, telling Captain Ramsey that based on operating procedures when releasing nuclear weapons they cannot launch missiles unless both agree. Ramsey then states, â€Å"As commanding officer of the U. S. S Alabama I order you to place the XO under arrest under the charge of mutiny† (Wikiquote, 2013). Hunter then yelling louder than Ramsey states, â€Å"Backed by the rules of precedents authority and command, regulation 08150H6 of Navy regulations, I relieve you of command, Captain† (Wikiquote, 2013). This Texan standoff had all the officers in an uncomfortable situation, do they on the Captain’s side and remain loyal, or do they ally themselves with Lieutenant Commander Hunter. Chief of the boat Cobb was put in a precarious position, which left him no other choice than side with Hunter, but, not for the reasons you might think, we will discuss that further later. Captain Frank Ramsey The concept of power is an applicable leadership concept. Leaders use power to decipher whether they have the ability to acquire the commitment or obedience from their workers/officers. Leaders that are educated or trained under the old-paradigm, have low levels of expectations of others around them, and tend to use power to dominate and control. Leaders that are educated or trained under the new-paradigm are human-relations leaders; these leaders have a high level of employee expectations; with the use of power leaders are encouraging, engaging, and inspiring for the followers/officers (Vecchio, 1988). Gene Hackman (Captain Frank Ramsey) is a character that used coercive power to force the officers into doing what he wants them to do. Ramsey was educated under the old-paradigm, he uses power to dominate and control the individuals around him. Ramsey, who threatens his minions’ job security by using his coercive power; coercive power is a power that is a characteristic of transactional leadership behavior that fosters compliance in lieu of commitment from the officers. Ramsey has power, but how he used that power is a decision that his character chooses to make. Hackman’s role chose to be a dominate force and control by amplifying his legitimate power. Ramsey follows transactional leadership, expecting structure and subordinates from his officers. Ramsey’s role as a transactional leader is to retain authority, dictate the manner in which task should be performed, he makes decisions without input from others, and he discourages input from other officers; Ramsey is an autocratic leader (McGregor, 1960). Transactional leadership, emphasizes the role of supervision and works within a group or organization. Under this form of leadership followers perform the best when the chain of command is definite and clear, Ramsey is known by his crew as a stern commander to say t nicely. Ramsey is a leader, a leader who expects when an order is given that it is followed, his officers and commanders should be obeying the orders given and follow in line. This was not the case when it came to Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter. Hersey and Blanchard (1979) stood by the fact that there were a wide variety of leadership styles. Where Ramsey was a lea der that could be characterized as a rigid leader, Hunter was a leader who concentrated on building a strong foundation among the crew. Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter Denzel Washington (Lieutenant Ron Hunter) demonstrates referent power demonstrating ethically, morally, and sensibility towards the officers. Hunter displayed desirable characteristics; he displayed integrity and treated the officers with respect. Hunter does have a component of coercive power because he removed the Captain from his position and had him locked into his quarters, however Denzel Washington’s character is based on honor. Hunter displays referent power; referent power being a component of transformational leadership that fosters commitment from the officers. Transformational leaders focus on the follower/employees/team members, making the point to motivate them to excel and achieve their goals, and in the process help them mature as individuals. In the transformational leadership model, the leader provides â€Å"influences (charisma), inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration† (Avolio amp; Yammarion, 2002). Transformational leadership gives the leader the opportunity to step-up and become a role model for their followers/employees/team members. In addition, they have the capability to encourage and inspire their followers/employees/team members. One characteristic that is pertinent to possess when becoming an effective leader is genuine concern for the feelings of others, a leader must be considerate and care how their follower/employees/team members are doing. Hunter is a transformational leader that has a high level of performance and the other officers are satisfied by the manner in which Hunter is leading the submarine. The transformational leadership theory in addition theorizes, â€Å"how leaders exert motivational effects through linking follower’s self-concepts† (Avolio amp; Yammarion, 2002) to promote the title of the transformational leader. Transformational leaders have positive expectations for their team members/follower, so they lead their team with the mindset that they will succeed; there is no room for failure. Transformational leaders empower, inspire, and motivate their follower/team member/employees to excel above the average level of performance. At one point in the movie Hunter was discussing with a Petty Officer Third Class Russell Vossler (Lillo Brancato Jr. ), a EAM radio controller, on how he was going to fix the damaged controller. Hunter kept an open dialog with Vossler making the association of Star Trek and the need of warp speed. Hunter possesses the aspects of a transformational leader. Chief of the Boat Cobb Chief of the boat Cobb (George Dzundza) was put in a difficult position when Captain Ramsey and Lieutenant Commander Hunter were in the process of trying to remove each other from their positions. When Cobb spoke up and stated that the Captain could not fire the missiles with out Lieutenant Hunter concurring with the order. The Captain was surprised with Cobb’s admittance, and then was removed from his post. Hunter then went over to Cobb and said thank you for backing him up. Cobb then told Hunter the only reason that he did was because the Captain did not have the right to replace him to fire the missiles. Cobb has respect for legitimate power; he has respect for authority and not on relationships that are formed on a more personal level. Much like Hunter, Cobb has respect for Naval procedures, but he has been with Captain Ramsey on numerous missions, and he respects him as a leader. Cobb is a task-oriented leader, he structures the work tasks and roles making sure to clarify the work processes and procedures and ensures that the officers comply with policies (Denison, Hooijberg, amp; Quinn, 1995). Role of Navel Nuclear Submarine The navy nuclear submarine fleet is power-driven by nuclear energy and signifies contemporary, proficient and operational weapons in the military arsenal. The difference between a nuclear submarine and a conventional submarine lies in the area of the driving force and several maintenance functions. The submarines are driven and controlled for the most part, the same as a conventional submarine. A nuclear submarine has the ability to operate unobtrusively, expeditiously, self-sufficiently, and for a prolonged length of time, and at a depth of 1500 feet (The National Museum of American History, 2000). The weapons systems both include torpedoes; however, the nuclear submarines have nuclear capabilities. The electronic systems for communications and discovery and defense are all modern. The contemporary nuclear submarines are technologically advanced compared to the old submarines (Answers, 2013). â€Å"Determining the cost of advanced military technological systems, a 1998 study estimated that the United States spent $2 trillion dollars in 1996 on all strategic nuclear forces throughout the Cold War† (The National Museum of American History, 2000). In the movie Crimson Tide, (1995) the nuclear submarine the U. S. S Alabama is sent to the Pacific Ocean because a radical leader and his followers are trying to takeover the Russian government and is intimidating Russia and the United States with a threat of firing nuclear missiles. The Alabama is sent to troll the waters so that if the Russian missiles are launched the United States and counter-attack instantly. A practice drill is carried out, Captain Ramsey is not happy with the results and asks Lieutenant Commander Hunter to have the crew to keep practicing the drills. Then the Alabama gets an order to fire missiles, however, in the middle of receiving its orders the submarine in damaged and was unable to get the full message. In the process of waiting for the confirmation of the orders Hunter ends up taking part in rebellion and defiance and is countered by mutiny. Like stated before, having the crew split-up and taking sides in an awkward situation, goes against everything they were trained to do. Training involves harmony in something as momentous as launching missiles. As of current date there had not been mutiny on a United States warship. US Navy Board of Inquiry After the standoff on the Alabama Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter and Captain Ramsey were called in front of a review board. The panel was convened so that the Navy could investigate the events that happened subsequent to the conditions for strategic missile launch, the panel was headed by Admiral Anderson (Tommy Bush). Testimony was taken from the officers aboard the Alabama, as well as Captain Ramsey, and Anderson made his recommendations to SUBPAC (Pacific Submarine force) without Lieutenant Commander Hunter’s testimony. The main concern of the panel was the fact that the system the Navy put into place had failed due to the fact that two senior officers could not work together and handle their differences while preserving the chain of command. It was Anderson that said it best, â€Å"A mutiny aboard a United States nuclear submarine, violation of nuclear launch protocol. This is the dilemma that will occupy this panel, this Navy, and this country’s armed forces as a whole long after you leave this room†.

Is Santa Claus Real free essay sample

Every December, I delve into the mind of the wise and noble Linus Van Pelt, as I perform the role in the annual children’s show my drama club performs for the elementary schools in the district. Linus, the beloved â€Å"Peanuts† cartoon character who, when asked, tells Charlie Brown the meaning of Christmas by reciting the Bible’s story of the birth of Christ, is tenacious in his conviction that there exists a powerful entity who protects humanity. But Linus’s philosophical understanding of the world goes much deeper than his small frame, and tiny voice would suggest. As a child I wasn’t ever completely convinced in the validity of anything that couldn’t be proven, and as I â€Å"became† Linus each year I felt like a fraud. So, what I don’t know is whether or not I will ever allow myself to accept on faith the power of Linus’s â€Å"entity†, and as a first lesson I have decided to challenge myself with a simpler pr oblem. We will write a custom essay sample on Is Santa Claus Real? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Is Santa Claus real? While all science suggests it is highly improbable that a huge, old man with a long white beard is traipsing down people’s chimneys carrying gifts, I find the goodness this man spreads impossible to be manufactured by a toy company. Sure, no man can live at the North Pole where temperatures range from -45 to -15 degrees Fahrenheit, and it can be argued that Saint Nick would never have enough time to deliver gifts to the near 2.1 billion â€Å"Santa believers†. And the chances are indeed slim, that a man would be able to break into every single one of those houses without being attacked by angry dogs, burnt in a fireplace or given away by an intruder alarm. But before the existence of Santa can be completely debunked, there is much more to be considered. After all, isn’t Santa’s legacy about more than waking up and finding presents under the tree? How can all of that emotion you feel inside be â€Å"imaginary†? Maybe it’s better to keep belie ving in the â€Å"illusion† as long as it allows me to be optimistic. There are plenty of things that are real, that we can’t see. Do we have to see him to understand his message? Every day I find that there are things I don’t know for sure, but somehow it doesn’t matter. If I strive to keep my head high, I will be excited for what is to come in my life, proactively seek contentment and I will know that each day is what you make of it. Though I still don’t know if Santa Claus is real, like Linus, I will continue to wait for him. And if you know the answer, don’t tell me. I’d rather not know.