The ideal American Character becomes an individual from society, finds his or her identity, and from there can move on to chase an ideal. U2 writes in their song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "I have scaled these city walls...But I still haven't found what I'm looking for." The song expresses the inability to reach a goal once escaped from society, despite endless fighting. Willy Loman and Walter Lee fail to reach their ideals because of the delusion that overtakes their dreams. Willy and Walter Lee are both convinced that they are active in this endless fight; they believe they are "still running," and "[crawling]" to reach their ideal, but because of their failure to realize that the ideal is no longer achievable, they are making no forward steps in the battle.
U2's song describes the relentless efforts taken to achieve a goal, but not being able to reach it. Willy and Walter Lee are in an even worse position, as their efforts are pointless because their goals are unachievable; since their hope for the ideal corrupted into delusion, they failed to see that in actuality their dreams were lost to begin with. This character that is tainted by delusion cannot grow as a person because he or she cannot move on, and instead he or she is stuck as "cold as a stone," in the words of U2.
U2's song describes the relentless efforts taken to achieve a goal, but not being able to reach it. Willy and Walter Lee are in an even worse position, as their efforts are pointless because their goals are unachievable; since their hope for the ideal corrupted into delusion, they failed to see that in actuality their dreams were lost to begin with. This character that is tainted by delusion cannot grow as a person because he or she cannot move on, and instead he or she is stuck as "cold as a stone," in the words of U2.