 Corresponding author: Jalan Seteran Dalam No. 9, Semarang 50134, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia E-mail: kristin-marwinda@untagsmg.ac.id p-ISSN: 2252-6323 e-ISSN: 2721-4540 35 RAINBOW Vol. 11 (2) 2022 Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/rainbow Understanding the hidden meaning of Death of a Salesman: Derrida's deconstructive approach Kristin Marwinda 1  , Inti Englishtina 2 1 Faculty of Languages and Culture, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Semarang, Indonesia Article Info Abstract Article History: Received 28 July 2022 Approved 25 October 2022 Published 31 October 2022 This paper focuses on analyzing the drama script entitled Death of a Salesman as one of the representations of literary work in the modern period using the deconstructive approach. The purpose of this study is to figure out the hidden meaning about the American Dreams represented by Willy Loman. The method used in this paper is descriptive qualitative. This paper uses deconstructive approach from Jacques Derrida. The result of this research shows the belief of the American Dreams cannot be applied in the modern era to all of Americans. Most Americans hold a strong belief that everyone will get a happiness and a successful life in America. This deconstructive analysis finds a hidden meaning that the belief of the American Dreams could not guarantee the success of people who live in America. Death of a Salesman represents the character of Willy Loman as an American who fail to accomplish his success to be a salesman, a husband, and a father. © Copyright 2022 Keywords: deconstructive approach, American dream, modern period How to cite (in APA Style): Marwinda, K., & Englishtina, I. (2022). Understanding the hidden meaning of Death of a Salesman. Rainbow : Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies, 11(2), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.15294/rainbow.v11i2.58869 INTRODUCTION America experienced a major depression in the 1920s or what we know as ‘the Great Depression’. In that period of time, America promises a better life and success for the citizens in the future. According to Adams (Adam, 1931), in his book The Epic of America, dreams for many Americans are an integral part of their identity and the dream has a very important function in American culture. America is said to be a country that becomes "... a dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone". The land of dreams here means that all people can accomplish the success they want by having a decent life in terms of economics and a pleasant life on the land of America. America is a country that is said to be a land of dreams because everyone has the opportunity to achieve success and a better life, especially in the economic field. Everyone must have dreams or ideals in his life. The basic concept of the American dream is about a dream of hope of success and victory (Kasiyarno, 2014). There are three important things in general in the ideal of the American dream, namely endless opportunities, progress (life should keep getting better and better), and the independent (self-reliant individual will triumph). Endless opportunities here means that America is a new paradise as a land that promises beauty and a variety of unlimited resource. Next is progress, which is a good thing that can be optimistically expected that life must be even better. And the third dream is about an independence that every individual will