Category: Death Of A Salesman

The author Arthur Miller as analyzed through the book Death of a sales man and the author Flannery OConnor as analyzed through the book A good man is hard to find are both similar because the authors are inclined towards tragedy. In other words, their works both end disastrously.

However, the circumstances surrounding these downfalls are very complex and dependent on the dissimilar surroundings that the two writers were focusing on. In Death of salesman, the author talks about a delusional and self obsessed man. However, his tragedy was partly a direct result of his own inadequacies.

Therefore, Miller breaks away from the traditional form of tragedy because the protagonists ruin was his own undoing. He was under the misconception that greatness could be achieved merely through ones personality yet this was not so; such kind of thinking led to his self destruction.

In this regard, the death of the protagonist also causes readers a sense of despair because the main character was not transformed prior to his death. All lessons are to be learnt by the audience only.

On the other hand, author OConnor focuses on growth or transformation in her main character (Votteler, 53). Initially, the grandmother is a selfish and overbearing individual who wants to bully the whole family into going for a vacation at her choice destination.

Her selfish ways are also seen when she attempts to save her own life during the encounter with the Misfit. However, at the end of the story, grandmother is overcome by grace and soon realizes that she has been living a pretentious life. Therefore, although this play is still a tragedy in that the main character died, the author created a different twist to her character by illustrating that she has undergone a transformation and is now more charitable and graceful.

OConnor and Miller also resemble one another in their attempt to depict an everyday person. Readers can relate to both types of writings because the characters embody everyday Americans.

Miller and O Connor also want to bring back their characters to reality and if this eventually involves some form of violence or even their own demise, then the authors were willing to take it there. In Death of the salesman, Arthur Miller continually illustrates the importance of taking reality seriously through Willy.

Willy asserted that in order to be successful, one should be well liked (Miller, 1949). However, when he soon finds out that this was not insync with reality then he immediately looses hope. Also his continual resistance to technology and the new developments in society put him at odds with it.

He believes that he has more worth if he were dead than if he were alive. Eventually, this despair causes his tragic end. OConnor also stresses the importance of reality through the grandmother. This protagonist has been living under the illusion that she is the perfect Christian.

She has her mind fixated on her own ways and does not really care about the perspective of the people around. Since grandmothers head is so deeply separated from reality, the only aggressive way of bringing her back is through an act of violence.

The violent acts of the Misfit eventually caused the protagonist to look at herself and realize that she is indeed a mirror image of the hardcore criminal who has attacked them in their trip. Even the murderer remarks that grandmother was meant to be a good person the only thing she needed was to be shot everyday. In other words, OConnor sacrifices the life of the main character in order to prove a point on reality.

To this author, violence was the only way that grandmother would ever look at herself for who she really is. Likewise, Miller saw that Willys end was the only way that readers could identify with the importance of reality (Sandage, 2005).

These writers literary works may also be viewed as commentaries on society. Miller wanted to despise the individualistic nature of American culture, corporations and its people.

These entities have become carried away with image/perceptions rather than solid character. Many Americans can identify with the protagonist Willy because salesmanship has permeated all aspects of Americans lives. Everyone seems to be in a continual quest to be the best but this is never really possible for everyone.

Nothing drives this point home like Willys situation. Similarly, OConnor also gives a commentary about society. She wanted to illustrate that most people lack an understanding of true spirituality. They are obsessed with self preservation and may border on being deceitful and egotistical.

The authors also had mostly unlikeable characters in their works. OConnor chose Grandmother  who was always quite petty and dominating  for a reason. She wanted to illustrate that even the worst of us deserve a little grace.

There were plenty of opportunities for the protagonist to mend her ways and become graceful but she chose not to take up those challenges because of her spiritual blindness.

Many characters in this story also miss critical moments of truth because of this blindness, however, when they finally do, it is clear to realize that even the most unlikeable individuals still deserve grace.

Similarly, Arthur Miller has used an unlikeable character to drive his main point across. Willy thinks that he and his sons are likely to succeed in the business world owing to their greatness.

He thinks that likeability is all one needs to be successful. This grave misconception causes the audience to realize how pitiful Willy is. Furthermore, as the play continues, Willys mental state gets further and further away from the norm. He is always resisting change and often questions any new technological developments.

These are all issues that make his character seriously flawed. However, in the midst of all this, the author is still able to make his main point which is that the frantic and often self obsessed American culture has its casualties and never really offers real solutions to problems.

Comparison of OConnor, Miller and Faulkner

Faulkner is similar to OConnor in terms of his description of the American South at that time. It may be true that the South may have changed from 1939 when Faulkner wrote A barn is burning and 1952 when OConnor wrote A good man is hard to find, nonetheless; these authors were still writing about a region that was rarely the focal point of literary works.

In fact, these writers sparked off a lot of controversy because of this. OConnors protagonist comes from the South and she was representative of what actually goes on in most households there.

Non southerners misunderstood the Grandmother and wrote her off as nothing more than an evil character. However, when a Southerner reads about her, one can easily relate to her because it is likely that the reader also has a relative who is just like Grandmother. In fact, this makes Southerners more sympathetic towards the protagonist in A good man is hard to find because they all realize that she means well (Oschshorn, 1990).

Miller and Faulkner are also quite similar because they both utilize protagonists who are not sure about themselves. In Millers  Death of salesman, Willy is a product of the harsh corporate system that used him down to the last drop then poured him out once he was of no use to them.

His identity is therefore shattered because he can no longer be the salesman that he was so used to being. He is in dire need of curving out a new identity but his inability to do so has caused him his demise. The same thing goes on in William Faulkners Barn burning. Sarty is struggling with his identity as well.

He does not know whether to take actions based on loyalty to his father or whether to focus on his own moral principles (Faulkner, 154). This individual is quite confused and even goes through an emotional rollercoaster. At the beginning, Sarty sticks to his family inclinations when he expresses solitude and support to his father.

He stretches this loyalty when he becomes a partial accomplice to his dads ill actions by fetching the fuel to be used in lighting the fire. However, he eventually sheds off this identity of a good son by listening to his inner conscience. The story is therefore characterized by a continuous battle to find himself as a person.

Faulkner also resembles OConnor because protagonists in both narratives get to redeem themselves or to find themselves. Sarty avoids becoming a victim to his fathers manipulations, threats, paranoia and selfish thinking by running away from him.

It is these inadequacies that bring Sarty and the family much discomfort; his father causes them to become poor plus they are always in a state of transit. Eventually, this protagonist sees his dad for who he really is and thus frees himself from such bondage. Similarly, Grandmother also goes through a similar experience by the end of the narrative.

At first, she is driven by her own needs and thinks that she is the ideal Christian. Eventually, she redeems herself when she sees a reflection of herself in the hardcore criminal who had attacked her family (OConnor, 1955).

Generally, all three writers focused on tragedies but these were dependent on the ideals prevalent at the time of composition i.e. modernist and realist thoughts. Their portrayal of the tragedies was also dependent on their themes and the ends that the authors were trying to achieve at any one time.

Works Cited

Sandage, S. (2005) Born losers: a history of failure in America. Cambridge: HUP

Miller, A. (1949). Death of a salesman. NY: Viking press

OConnor, F. (1955). A good man is hard to find. NY: Harper

Oschshorn, K. (1990). A cloak of grace: contradictions in a good man is hard to find. Studies in American fiction

Faulkner, W. (1939). Burn Burning: selected short stories of William Faulkner. NY: Modern Library

Votteler, T. (1969). OConnor, Flannery on her own work. Gale research Inc, 21(5): 1-67

Introduction

Authors often use such themes as family relations in their literary works. Arthur Miller and August Wilson also resorted to this eternal issue. Their vision, their works Death of a Salesman (Miller) and Fences (Wilson), was praised by many people and is now regarded as conventional. Both plays received many awards and Pulitzer Prize among them.

In-depth analysis of human relationships made the two plays significant literary works. The two authors illustrate hardships of aged men who fail to reveal their affection and care towards their family members. Apart from the depiction of relationships between family members the two authors also touched upon such issues as social and economical hardships and their impact on peoples relationships, insanity and death. The two plays explore the same themes which can be regarded as eternal since even nowadays they are up-to-date.

The importance of the main themes of the plays is unquestionable

I have chosen the plays Fences and Death of a Salesman because they deal with issues which are topical at present. People face similar problems in modern American society. Economical hardships made people more concerned with earning money rather than paying attention to building proper relationships with their family members.

Moreover, people tend to close themselves into their shells. Thus, the main characters of the two dramas were the major decision makers in their families. They tried to be the real heads of their families. Unfortunately, this led one of them to insanity and the other one to alienate himself from the rest of the family. Admittedly, when people face problems in outer world the only way to overcome these issues is to construct metaphorical fences around their families which will support come what may.

The two plays have very much in common in terms of the themes revealed. They are written at different times but dwell upon the same issues. The issues remain unsolved because they are really ever-lasting. Perhaps, only in several hundred years people will see the only possible solution which was suggested by Miller and Wilson in the twentieth century. Thus, the main reason I chose the plays is that the themes disclosed in them are really important for people.

Family relationship is the main theme in the plays

The major theme of the two plays is family relationships in hard times. Both families have certain financial constraints. The both protagonists of the plays believe that a man got to take care of his family (Wilson 38). This seemingly perfect formula is not realized by them. Troy Maxson and Willy Loman focus on things that are not of primary importance.

Of course, it is essential for the head of the family to earn enough money to bring up his children and support his wife. Nevertheless, the two protagonists fail to fulfill the most important part of being a father and a husband: to build proper relationships with their children and wives, to support not only financially but psychologically. In both plays children get tired of their fathers indifference and the lack of their support.

This distance between the father and the children is better revealed in Fences where Troys wife, Rose, that their family consists of halves (Jacobus 884). The family has three children from three mothers. The father is alienated from all of the children and his wife. Troy is concerned with racial issues and social injustice, his mistress Alberta and his glorious sport past.

Troy stipulates that he has to take care of his family though none of his children or wife has his support. Cory, his son wants to achieve something in his life playing football, though his father does not want him to get all tied up in them sports (Wilson 34). Tory believes that there is no place for non-white people in sports since he was once rejected. Troy is disappointed in his first son, and simply hands in his born out of wedlock child to his wife, Rose.

Millers protagonist Willy is also somewhat alienated from his family. Just like Troy Willy fails to keep the proper relationship with his children who do not feel their fathers support. However, in this play the father is eager to be a good father, but makes only mistakes. He has tried to find the way to make money for all his life: Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and theres nobody to live in it (Miller 10). Another excuse for Willy is his insanity. He cannot possibly pay much attention to his family since his own brain alienates him from reality.

The plays have other themes in common

Building fences is an important theme in the plays

The theme of building relationship with other people is supported by another theme: fences. Both protagonists of the plays created fences around themselves. They isolate themselves from the rest of the world. For instance, Troy only sees obstacles and does not want to find the way out.

He tries to rebel but fails  he loses his job. He does not believe that his son will not succeed in sport because Troy constructed a fence when he could not make it out in sport himself. Willys fences are even more substantial. His mind starts creating barriers. His children try to stand their fathers insanity though they fail.

Willy is alienated from his own children because of his mental disorder. It is important to add that these fences do not make Willy and Troy invisible and invincible. Vice versa, the fences prevent them from seeing the real world. They do not estimate situations correctly. Eventually, they both lose their jobs and this makes them build new, more substantial fences.

Thus, one of the greatest fences Troy and Willy has built is their reluctance to accept changes. They would like to live dreaming about their past success. Troy is fond of his sport career. He is proud of it. However, he does not want his son to devote his youth to sport, because Troy does not believe in changes.

He still thinks that it is impossible for a colored boy to make a good career in sports. Willy is also concerned with his past success. Of course, in the play he is not that successful salesman as he used to be. Perhaps, this is the reason why he does not like changes as well.

Insanity is also dwelt upon in the plays

The two plays also highlight the theme of insanity. Of course, this issue is revealed in different ways and insanity plays quite different roles in the plays. However, this theme is very important for both plays. Thus, in Death of a Salesman the main character becomes insane because of the hardships he had to overcome. His insanity is manifested by his talks to imaginary people. This insanity alienates the protagonist from his children.

Of course, it leads to his death. As far as the play Fences is concerned, it is necessary to point out that it also pays significant role. To my mind, the insanity of Troys brother Gabriel positively influences Troys life and gives him salvation. Gabriels insanity enables Troy to build his house.

In the end Gabriel opens heavens gate for his brother. Thus, Troys fences are destroyed (metaphorically, of course), he becomes less alienated from his family after his death. Eventually, the family members try to be respectful to their fathers after their death.

The authors would appreciate each others works

In my opinion, the authors would appreciate each others works since the plays reveal burning issues and evoke many thoughts. Both plays deal with certain disappointment in life which led to worsening of family relationships. Of course, if the plays were identical the authors would not like them. However, Fences and Death of Salesman depict similar problems in families pertaining to quite different worlds. The Lomans have some financial problems but still have more opportunities than the Maxsons who have to face racial intolerance and suppression. Thus, both writers reveal different facets of the same social and personal issues. This could be the main reason why Miller and Wilson would like the works of each other.

Conclusion

On balance, the plays Fences and Death of a Salesman contain several similar themes. Both plays main theme is the family relationship in the times of changes. Apart from this the plays dwell upon such issues as success, insanity and personal alienation. Attention to such important themes makes the plays best examples of the perfect literary works which can inspire people to act or react.

The works like the two plays can help many people think of their own problems from the different angle. Moreover, I am sure that many people will find the necessary solutions for their real life issues.

Works Cited

Jacobus, Lee A. Bedford Introduction to Drama. Boston: Bedford / St. Martins, 2008.

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York: Penguin Books Ltd, 1998.

Wilson, August. Fences. New York: Penguin Books USA Inc., 2010.

Introduction

Arthur Miller wrote brilliant plays which reflected the world of the middle of the twentieth century. He managed to reveal vices and virtues of people who lived in the American society of those days. Admittedly, Death of a Salesman is one of his best works.

One of the central themes in this play is the life of little people and the tension between little people and big issues (Popkin 35). Many critics agree that the protagonist of the play, Willy Loman, is one of these little people who fail to solve big issues. Martin agrees that Loman is a little man who tries to solve big issues (97).

However, the researcher argues that this little man is capable of heroic deeds (or at least one heroic deed), which can help him to solve the big issues (101). Nonetheless, this is one of the biggest miscomprehensions as Willy Loman cannot be regarded as a hero. His final act cannot be regarded as a heroic deed as it can only be seen as an attempt of a little person to find the way out which is as little as the little man himself.

Merits of Martins Arguments

It is important to note that Martin does state that Millers protagonist is a little person struggling against the cruelties of the world (99). The researcher also claims that this is one of the most significant peculiarities of Millers works.

Miller was one of those who changed perceptions of the heroes. In ancient times (as well as in the following centuries) only heroic deeds and courageous people were glorified (Martin 97). More so, only such people were regarded as worthy characters for literary works.

However, Miller reflects the world he lives in. Admittedly, the society consists of little people. Thus, Popkin stresses that Miller makes sure that his people are sufficiently small and the protagonist of the play under consideration is labeled a little man by his name (35).

The society of the twentieth century is revealed in the play. Miller mentions that Loman is past sixty, he is dressed quietly and his exhaustion is apparent (Miller 12). The playwright depicts one of the major characteristics of little people who are tired of the struggle as they can hardly win.

It is necessary to note that the littleness of the protagonist is obvious and no critic can ignore it. This is also one of the major features of Lomans character. Therefore, all critics should (or even have to) agree upon the fact that Loman is a little person.

Martin dwells upon Lomans littleness in detail and this is one of the major merits of the critics article. Nonetheless, Martin argues that Loman is one of those little people who manage to win as they perform a heroic deed (97).

Did Loman Perform a Heroic Deed?

Martin states that Loman does act heroically as he sacrifices his life to help his sons to succeed (101). The researcher claims that

Willys death serves to underscore the point that the capacity to act is considered more noble and heroic than ones limited capacity to live in harmony with a mechanistic society that eventually destroys by entropy. (Martin 103)

However, suicide cannot be regarded as a heroic deed as it is more likely to be the least effortful act. These effortless acts are usually done by little people who do not see another way out. In the very beginning the protagonist states: Im tired to death (Miller 13). Of course, this can be seen as a figure of speech.

However, these words reflect the inner world of Willy. He is already prepared to die. He admits that he is (figuratively speaking) at the deaths door. Thus, it is possible to state that he does not come to the decision to sacrifice his life through some psychological struggle. He already sees his death as one of the ways out. Notably, there is little to be done to die. Death presupposes fewer movements than living and struggling, and eventually succeeding.

It is also important to note that the playwright gives various hints throughout the play. These hints suggest that Loman, being a little man, cannot accept the reality as it is. He strives to live in an unreal world of his dreams and memories. Of course, these memories and even dreams cannot be productive.

One of these hints is the light. Thus, Willy contemplates his sons sport achievements and his glorious times. He dreams and articulates: God Almighty, hell be great yet. A star that, magnificent, can never really fade away! (Miller 68).

However, Miller recreates the reality with the help of the fading light which shows that little people, even if they occasionally become stars, disappear leaving only some memories behind them:

The light on Willy is fading. The gas heater begins to glow through the kitchen wall, near the stairs, a blue flame beneath red coils (Miller 68).

This idea of Willys inner world is another confirmation of the fact that he is none of hero and he is incapable of performing heroic deeds. Willy talks to his diseased brother. He is surrounded by his memories which enter his consciousness now and then. Miller creates the randomness of memories and dreams with the help of the characters appearance on the stage as they enter Willys house without using doors.

He is incapable of any actions in the real world any more. He chooses to wonder about and think of his past and dream of his sons future. He does not see himself as a part of their future. He is distant. Willy could perform some heroic deeds as he could try to encourage his sons to listen to their hearts instead of trying to follow someones dreams and adopt someones ways. However, he chooses another simpler way.

He simply abandons his family, the real world. Of course, he leaves some financial aid to his children. However, he fails to give them something more important. Even though they could become heroic little people, Willy does not give them useful tips to succeed. He chooses the simplest way  just to die without necessity to be the support and model for his children.

Conclusion

It is possible to note that Martin reveals the major characteristic feature of Willy Loman. This is one of little people who lived in the middle of the twentieth century. However, the researcher states that this little person performed a heroic deed when he sacrificed his life to help his sons to succeed. However, his suicide should not be seen as a heroic deed as he simply chose the easiest way. His death was not a heroic deed.

On the contrary, a heroic deed would be living his life trying to encourage his sons to choose the right path. This heroic deed could help his sons to be happy little people. What Loman achieved was sorrow of his wife and his sons who were still unable to use the prize.

Works Cited

Martin, Robert A. The Nature of Tragedy in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman. South Atlantic Review 61.4 (1996): 97-106. Print.

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman: Text and Criticism. New York, NY: The Viking Press, 1971. Print.

Popkin, Henry. Arthur Miller: The Strange Encounter. The Sewanee Review 68.1 (1960): 34-60. Print.

The article of Debra Brunch is characterized by a properly organized structure and clear analysis of the characters from different literary works. This author introduces the characters, which need to be analyzed, and presents enough powerful reasons of why this attention to physiological characteristics is important.

This article turns out to be helpful because the main characters of Death of a Salesman and The Glass Menagerie are not only properly defined but also characterized according to their emotional state. For example, one of the main characters in Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is identified as a mentally and emotionally confused person (Bruch 8); the male character of The Glass Menagerie is under a threat of his consciousness of his wants (Brunch 7).

In this article, the author pays her attention to such important details as characters clothes and the ways of how they speak. To represent a proper analysis of the characters, it is necessary to evaluate emotional, physical, and psychological state of the characters. The article under discussion may become a good example of how male characters may be represented to the reader and what literary techniques and writing tools are better to use to achieve the necessary success and understanding.

A definite structure of the article helps to comprehend what aspect is analyzed and what features should be mentioned at first. This article is not only an educative source for future writers and those, who want to improve their understanding of the plays by Tennessee and Williams, but also a reliable structure according to which it is possible to represent the analysis.

Analysis of Female Characters

King, Kimball. Tennessee Williams: A Southern Writer. The Mississippi Quarterly 48.4. Fall 1995: 627-647.

The article by Kimball King is mostly focused on the works and achievements of Tennessee Williams and the impact of his works into the world of literature, and The Glass Menagerie is one of the plays under consideration. The creation of male characters takes an important place in Williams works, this is why the author of the article decides to analyze not only Williams approaches to plays development but also compare his methods with the other not less popular works like Millers Death of a Salesman.

The peculiar feature of this article is the concentration on one particular writer and the ability to evaluate other representatives of Southern literature.

The author of the article admits that Williams works as well as the works of other significant writers are characterized by a perfect reflection of the characteristics of Southern writers noted by literary critics in the modernist era, beginning in the twenties and thirties, and they anticipate the postmodern dilemma in an era begun by integration and the growth of the formerly despised middle classes (King 627).

In this article, certain attention is paid to family relations, which are described by Williams and Miller in peculiar ways. The universal significance of these plays is investigated by Kimball King; he underlines that the role of women in society is represented by Tennessee and Williams in different ways. Miller always restricts female duties and rights; and Williams, in his turn, tries to present his women as complex and powerful beings, who make numerous attempts to achieve the necessary control over situations and their bodies.

Works Cited

Bruch, Debra. Character Analysis. Apollos Voice 9,5 (June 2002): 6-8.

King, Kimball. Tennessee Williams: A Southern Writer. The Mississippi Quarterly 48.4. Fall 1995: 627-647.

The play Death of a salesman is indeed an anatomy of the American dream especially because the plot of the story revolves around some of the basic material gains that individuals in the American society yearn for. This is evident from the onset of the play when the lead character Willy Loman arrives home after a failed work mission and immediately embarks on blaming some of his woes on his under-achieving son Biff.

From the flashback Willy is disappointed that Biff was a representation of a bright future when he was much younger but turned out completely different on growing up (Miller 1-3). This is definitely what happens to most families in the American society where individuals get into life hoping to have all the best in terms of material wealth as well as have families that would be the envy of most of their neighbors (G.Perkins, B. Perkins and Phelan 1928).

Fathers and mothers have dreams of how their children would be even more successful and they (the parents) tend to bend their children towards growing up in this direction which is sometime informed by the parents failure to achieve certain goals in their own childhoods. Unfortunately, in most cases, the children tend to have their own wishes and aims and in the process of trying to fulfill the desires of their hearts they end up disappointing their parents.

The rant by Willy about not taking the opportunity to accompany his brother on his mission to Alaska and Africa, and therefore missing on the chance to become as wealthy as Ben is a complete revelation of how individuals in the American society fail to appreciate the little blessings they have in their wish to have everything. This desire for all the best of things in the world is the guiding principle of the American dream and figuratively speaking it is the primary fuel that keeps the fire burning.

In society most people would not appreciate the fact that they are lucky to have three square meals a day and even the potential to bear children just because they can see other individuals living better than them. If the sons that Willy found a failure were to be taken out of his life by him not being given the ability for procreation, it is definitely predictable that Willy would start complaining about his inadequacy as a man.

It is Willys inability to attain most of his hearts desires that leads him to committing suicide. His son, Biff, also responds to his own inability to achieving the American dream by resorting to theft. He regards his kleptomaniac state as a way of rebelling against the corporate world which he could not penetrate. In the American society, most individuals would resort to inappropriate ways of dealing with their frustrations and Biffs case is not unusual.

The American dream leads individuals to always want appreciation from other people in society. Almost everybody would do anything to become popular and when they fail to do so, they enter into a realm of self-pity. This is evident by Lindas disappointment at the small attendance of Willys funeral. Ideally Linda should be saddened by the loss of a life partner to notice such a small thing as they number of people at the funeral.

It should actually not matter whether it is only the direct family members who show up at the burial but as a person wishing to achieve significance in society, Lindas hope is that her social network is big enough for people to appreciate her pain.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. Death of a salesman: A play in two acts. New York City: Dramatists Play Service, 1952. Print.

Perkins, George, Barbara Perkins & James Phelan. The American Tradition in Literature, Volume II. 2^nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print.

This essay will start with the analysis of August Wilsons Fences which was performed less than ten years after Death of a Salesman debuted. The film is often seen as a Black American play that is about the downfall of a white salesman who goes by the name of Willy Lowman. In all the two plays, there is a similar pattern observed where there is a decline of a patriarch of a single family. There are interesting father-son dynamics where these family members are entangled in melodramatic activities that culminate to entertain viewers. The two fathers of the different plays both commit adultery. Furthermore, the two characters try hard to achieve the American Dream. It became clear that the protagonists idea of the American dream takes center stage in both plays. The two characters, Willy Lowman and Troy Maxon, can get a lot of challenges and fences in their quest to achieve the American Dream.

One common idea in the two plays, Fences and the Death of a Salesman is the father-son relationship. The true characters of the fathers and sons are seen in the actions that they undertake in their quest. Troy Maxson and WillyLoman have different methods which they want their sons to follow to achieve the American Dream. However, it becomes apparent that the fathers have tailored their values and beliefs in a poor way that hinders success. An illustration is this is seen when Willy Loman, who is the father of Biff, encourages his son to excel at football as opposed to getting good at his studies in school. This idea is ignorant and stupid, as his poor grades end up costing him his scholarship. In the other film, their background Death of a Salesman, Troy tells his son to drop football and leave his dream of an athletic scholarship so that he can work at the A&P store (pg 236). He loses his opportunity to study at a premium university for a low-paying job. This is nothing less than being ignorant and not seeing the bigger picture.

It becomes clear from the start that Fences is a play that questions the legitimacy of achieving the American Dream. There is the general notion that everyone in America, regardless of their background, can achieve success. However, in the case of Fences, the patriarchal family has the perception and ambitions to go places, but the world is not in their favor as they face a plethora of challenges as they go about their business. First, the fathers of both children miss the mark of communicating this objective to their sons.

According to Willy Loman, the success of the American dream can be done in specific ways by taking shortcuts. He believes that it can be achieved by personal attractiveness and by establishing certain types of connections. He was completely mistaken when he believed that one of the successful businessmen he knew could grant his son Biff a loan (pg 955). He believes that because he encouraged Biff once when he was in high school. Taking shortcuts does not work in the real world, and this speaks a lot about determination and level of ignorance. Similarly, Troy Maxson does not believe in achieving dreams and goals through hard work and diligence. In his mind, he believes that the only way his son could make it in life is by obtaining a football scholarship. It is surprising that after an investor began to show interest in his sons football career, he decided to let him off football and limit his dream. There is a huge irony in these two modes of thinking where the American dream is not likely to be achieved as the patriarchs do not consider the variability of success in America which is often a product of serendipity, hard work, and taking advantage of opportunities.

References

Arthur Millers play Death of a Salesman is on pages 221-286. August Wilsons play Fences is on 921-967. Both are in Volume E: Literature Since 1945, the third of our three textbooks.

Introduction

Although he appears visionary and hardworking, Willy Loman fails to teach his sons the lessons of becoming successful in life because of his beliefs. Willy survives with a misconstrued ambition of becoming wealthy and inculcates this idea into his sons, Happy and Biff, even though he did not know how to achieve it. He trained his sons on his approach to life and hoped they would follow and achieve his dream of success.

He has no plan for his life and concentrates on his past failures, and his children seem perched to being successful, primed on his world hypotheses. Salesmanship has given Willy a feeling of greatness and merit. He believes that the present world has dishonored them by taking away the personality of salesmen.

Willy has taught this notion to his sons, who are very receptive and obedient to their father. However, these believes have caused him disappointment as they end up turning down his principles and goals. Willy Loman fails to guide his sons to greatness in their lives because of his personal and cultural beliefs.

Personal failure

Willy has an insensitive personality. He does not realize that his capabilities and aspirations are different from those of his sons. While Biff wanted an outdoors job, his father wanted a white collar job for him. Willy does not admit failure nor consider the opinion of his sons. This has led to rebellion from his sons, when they discover what is right for them.

For example, Biff disliked the business life recommended by his father and opted a life on the farms after realizing that success means an enjoyable life and not money. Willy believed that Biff would be successful in business because of his attractiveness, and his past splendor in high school soccer. However, this notion was wrong as Biff failed to graduate from high school and join college because of his arrogance.

He later recognizes his true personality and decides to work on a farm, where he would enjoy and feel comfortable. Willy is very upset in him and is discontented in all that he does. Contrary to his believe that popularity and fame lead to success; Willy never earned handsome wealth despite his claim for fame, and many years of experience.

This is made unsound when his boss demotes him, and he merely earns a commission before he finally gets fired, despite his friendship with Wagners father. His claim for connections fails him again. Willys idea of connecting Biff with important people at Penn State would be futile as football does not seem to be the best career for him. To Biff, having the right connections does not always help.

The expectations of Willy that his requiem would be fully packed due to his well connection and popularity failed to turn out as he thought since only the family members were present. Willy had inculcated a sense of superiority in Biff Loman that made him arrogant. This made him unsuccessful in graduating from high school and advance to college.

Cultural failure

Willys melancholy originates from the misconceptions he had about the American dream and his incapability to connect how the world works with how he thinks it should work. The American dream stated that: through the established qualities of determination, creativity, hard work, and resilience, one may get contentment through riches and that a good-looking and loved man will no doubt attain the comforts of modern life.

This dream can be divided into two significances; the traditional dream and the business achievement dream. When one owns a house, has a good paying job, and lives a secure life, then h/she has accomplished the traditional dream. Willy Loman has accomplished this vision as he has an occupation, a vehicle, a residence, and a family, but he did not appreciate it.

He was so preoccupied with the business dream that he dismantles his family in the end. This dream made him sacrifice going to Alaska in search of his father where he came across the successful salesman, Dave. He decides to follow the same career path as Dave and hopes to get the same success as Dave. It is not until thirty five years of his career when he realizes he had not achieved the prosperity he had hoped to achieve.

What Willy fails to know is that even Dave Singleman, who is his epitome of prosperity, has not fulfilled the American dream. This is because at the age of eighty-four, Dave has not retired, lives in a hotel room, and has no family. His illusion about life and his mental disarray about the real American dream make him fail his sons as he does not know what is really needed of them to succeed.

Conclusion

Willys life was a disappointment as he had the wrong ambitions and failed to teach his sons the lessons for victory in life. He deluded himself that he could be a wealthy salesman, when he knew that he would be excellent at operating with hands. If Willy had faced his capabilities in a rational and sincere way, his life would not have ended this way.

It is evident that the top secret to success is a fortune in possessing ordinary talents and aptitude, and readiness to take chances in the corporate world, in addition to being industrious, devoid of taking shortcuts with friends. Cultural believes, such as the American dream, should help to instill values in individuals to put efforts in everything that they do.

In his intriguing play the death of a salesman, Arthur miller highlights the conflicts that ensued between families immediately after the First World War. Contextually, his drama politely condemns the materialistic nature of the Americans. Most people practice capitalism as a mentality, which promotes unrealistic personalities among them. Critical analysis of the writing shows that Millers play falls under the group of modern literature. Written immediately after the First World War, in 1915, Miller uses artistic skills to call for a reformation in the social lives of the Americans. Characteristically, modernism literature presents a specific writing style and literary techniques a fact, which Miller emphasizes as expounded next.

The first feature of modernism that miller applies in his play is the use of literary techniques like symbols. For instance, he symbolically refers to diamond, which represents wealth, power, and lavish lifestyle. In act II Willy laments, A diamond is hard and rough to the touch (Miller 75), which shows his anguish. Diamond also represents Willys failure while to Ben it portrays success. Acquisition of wealth was one of the aims of most peoples dreams in the postwar era. Therefore, Miller directly expresses dissatisfaction in the American people who are materialistic (Reeves 17). Authentically, after the war, most countries in Europe struggled to acquire wealth by exploring minerals from Africa. Thus, Miller tries to compel Americans (who existed during his contemporary times) to live within their means. In addition, seeds are a symbol of Willys failure to meet the American dream. Besides, being unable to offer his family the lavish style the Americans wish for, his son Biff seems to be following in his footsteps. Willy says, Nothings planted. I dont have a thing in the ground (Miller 70), which proves his regrets for living in poverty. Therefore, through symbolism, Millers play falls in the class of modernism writings.

The second feature of modernism portrayed in the play is the critical connection of the events in contemporary times with literature to propel the Americans to learn from the thematic elements. Due to greediness and dissatisfaction in life, most Americans were not only dishonest but also failed in life. Most writers in the modern era used language to condemn both social and political vices that prevailed. Willy struggles to leave a legacy behind before his death but all his efforts end up fruitless. Sadly, he dreams about being successful in life yet characteristically, he is dishonest. He lies to his family that his famous while in reality he has failed in his career. If Willy had concentrated fully on his career, accepted his position in society, and motivated his children by not picking fights with Biff every time, then everything in his life would have run smoothly. Caught between the American dream and commercial industry Willys life falls apart, which constantly frustrates him. To confirm his frustrations, Miller writes, I dont say hes a great man. Willy Loman never made a lot of money (Miller 40), which proves that Willy achieved nothing during his lifetime. Therefore, as a modern writer, Miller uses his writing skills to compel American society to practice honesty and live in reality.

Furthermore, Miller uses his literary skills to explore the negative effects of capitalism, a phenomenon, which was common after the First World War. After the war, Americans had high economic expectations that led them to adopt the American dream. Willy dreams of becoming rich yet he is old and he has a stable job, which he neglects. Consequently, he wastes most of his time daydreaming about wealth and not specializing in his career. Moreover, he often scolds his son, Biff, as a failure because he thinks that he will end up in misery like him. Influenced with capitalism Willy asserts, after all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive (Miller 76). Characteristically, modern writers used their literary skills to condemn a vice in society. On the contrary, the postmodern writers leave the reader/audience to interpret their writing and connect them with contemporary society.

In brief, most literary books fall under either the modernism or postmodernism category. Authentically, literary works were written in the early 20^th century. Millers play is modern literature that besides, the playwright fully expressing his emotions and social experiences, he condemns the issue of capitalism an aspect, which was common in his era. In addition, he uses characters like Willy to express reality. Intuitively, the features of modernism include the use of symbolism, imagery, and other literary techniques. Diamonds represent capitalism as a major feature of the American dream. Most of these modernism features blend perfectly with Millers play. Finally, Willy the main character in the play represents the Americans in the society who promote capitalism. Therefore, modern literature directly focused on the social, political, and economic changes in contemporary times.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. West port, CT: Penguin publishers, 1949. Print.

Reeves, Alison. Teachers pack: Death of a Salesman. Scotland: Royal Lyceum Theater Company, 2005. Print.

The play Death of a Salesman has many themes and conflicts. This essay will briefly discuss the main ideas and conflicts depicted in the play.

The Theme of Confusion

This is a theme that Miller exploited so well. There is confusion all over the play; the main characters are engulfed in turmoil. It is not hard to point out the kind of awful mess that the Lomans are in. Willy is entirely unable to differentiate reality from illusion. Will is so disillusioned that he believes that he and his sons have everything to propel them to success. Willy and his sons in a real sense do not have anything that can enable them to be successful.

It is a significant confusion that Willy has thought that for one to be successful, he has to be well-liked by people. Willy quite often falls back to thinking about circumstances which occurred in the past. At the end Willy is seen more confused than ever; he claims that a person can be worth more dead than alive (Miller 2007, p. 77).

Death of a Dream

Willy had a vast dream of living the American life. He looked up to Ben as his model and wished he could live his way of life, The man knew what he wanted and went out and got it! Walked into a jungle, and comes out, the age of twenty-one, and hes rich (Miller 2007, p. 32). Willy wanted his sons to be successful and live largely.

Willy used a wrong approach in trying to achieve the American dream. He wished more than he worked and as a result could not reach his goals. He is also seen using some facts in the wrong way, for example, he claims that if people like you well then you are going to successful; people liking can be used tactfully, but we do not see Willy doing that.

Conflicts in the Story

The death of a salesman is full of conflicts which are evident all over the play. Willy is living a conflicting lifestyle. He has a deep desire for recognition and profoundly wants to live as a successful businessman with a lot of money which is hard to achieve because he does not have the cash to sustain such a lifestyle.

His life generally is a significant conflict to that of his brother Ben who is rich. Willy and his sons more often than not are in conflicts. Willy wants them to adapt to his way of thinking, but his sons are not of his opinions. I view it as a significant conflict that Biff after realizing the mistakes committed by Willy he went ahead to declare that:

Im gonna show you and everybody else that Willy Loman did not die in vain. He had a good dream. Its the only dream you can haveto come out number-one man. He fought it out here, and this is where Im gonna win it for him. (Miller 2007, p. 131)

It is evident that instead of learning from the mistakes of his father Biff instead chooses the very same path that his father walked. Most likely Biff will end up failing contrary to what his father wanted him to be  a successful man.

References

Miller, A. (2007). Death of a Salesman. India: Pearson Education.

Introduction

Although he appears visionary and hardworking, Willy Loman fails to teach his sons the lessons of becoming successful in life because of his beliefs. Willy survives with a misconstrued ambition of becoming wealthy and inculcates this idea into his sons, Happy and Biff, even though he did not know how to achieve it. He trained his sons on his approach to life and hoped they would follow and achieve his dream of success.

He has no plan for his life and concentrates on his past failures, and his children seem perched to being successful, primed on his world hypotheses. Salesmanship has given Willy a feeling of greatness and merit. He believes that the present world has dishonored them by taking away the personality of salesmen.

Willy has taught this notion to his sons, who are very receptive and obedient to their father. However, these believes have caused him disappointment as they end up turning down his principles and goals. Willy Loman fails to guide his sons to greatness in their lives because of his personal and cultural beliefs.

Personal failure

Willy has an insensitive personality. He does not realize that his capabilities and aspirations are different from those of his sons. While Biff wanted an outdoors job, his father wanted a white collar job for him. Willy does not admit failure nor consider the opinion of his sons. This has led to rebellion from his sons, when they discover what is right for them.

For example, Biff disliked the business life recommended by his father and opted a life on the farms after realizing that success means an enjoyable life and not money. Willy believed that Biff would be successful in business because of his attractiveness, and his past splendor in high school soccer. However, this notion was wrong as Biff failed to graduate from high school and join college because of his arrogance.

He later recognizes his true personality and decides to work on a farm, where he would enjoy and feel comfortable. Willy is very upset in him and is discontented in all that he does. Contrary to his believe that popularity and fame lead to success; Willy never earned handsome wealth despite his claim for fame, and many years of experience.

This is made unsound when his boss demotes him, and he merely earns a commission before he finally gets fired, despite his friendship with Wagners father. His claim for connections fails him again. Willys idea of connecting Biff with important people at Penn State would be futile as football does not seem to be the best career for him. To Biff, having the right connections does not always help.

The expectations of Willy that his requiem would be fully packed due to his well connection and popularity failed to turn out as he thought since only the family members were present. Willy had inculcated a sense of superiority in Biff Loman that made him arrogant. This made him unsuccessful in graduating from high school and advance to college.

Cultural failure

Willys melancholy originates from the misconceptions he had about the American dream and his incapability to connect how the world works with how he thinks it should work. The American dream stated that: through the established qualities of determination, creativity, hard work, and resilience, one may get contentment through riches and that a good-looking and loved man will no doubt attain the comforts of modern life.

This dream can be divided into two significances; the traditional dream and the business achievement dream. When one owns a house, has a good paying job, and lives a secure life, then h/she has accomplished the traditional dream. Willy Loman has accomplished this vision as he has an occupation, a vehicle, a residence, and a family, but he did not appreciate it.

He was so preoccupied with the business dream that he dismantles his family in the end. This dream made him sacrifice going to Alaska in search of his father where he came across the successful salesman, Dave. He decides to follow the same career path as Dave and hopes to get the same success as Dave. It is not until thirty five years of his career when he realizes he had not achieved the prosperity he had hoped to achieve.

What Willy fails to know is that even Dave Singleman, who is his epitome of prosperity, has not fulfilled the American dream. This is because at the age of eighty-four, Dave has not retired, lives in a hotel room, and has no family. His illusion about life and his mental disarray about the real American dream make him fail his sons as he does not know what is really needed of them to succeed.

Conclusion

Willys life was a disappointment as he had the wrong ambitions and failed to teach his sons the lessons for victory in life. He deluded himself that he could be a wealthy salesman, when he knew that he would be excellent at operating with hands. If Willy had faced his capabilities in a rational and sincere way, his life would not have ended this way.

It is evident that the top secret to success is a fortune in possessing ordinary talents and aptitude, and readiness to take chances in the corporate world, in addition to being industrious, devoid of taking shortcuts with friends. Cultural believes, such as the American dream, should help to instill values in individuals to put efforts in everything that they do.