Similarities Between Death Of A Salesman And Fences

When it comes to comparing and contrasting two different cultures and morals the differences can be night and day. In Death Of A Salesman and Fences, these stories follow two middle-class families around the same time period (late 1940-1950’s), who are both facing problems within their own household’s. From marital issues to failing father/son relationships, both of these stories paint a picture to the audience of what life in an urban family living in that time setting was like through the author’s eyes. And even yet with all the things between these two plays that make them alike, there are also many things that make them very different.

Many workers today go through a low time or a struggle and give up. Today’s workers do not necessarily commit suicide when they are in a low point but they do things such as quitting the job or relying on government assistance. Willy strives to achieve the American dream and he eventually realizes that he has failed and gives up on life. This dream is a belief in America and that all things are possible if you work hard enough (Criticism of ' the American Dream' in 'Death of a Salesman'). Arthur Miller uses this story to expose the problems with pursuit of such a dream: “What Miller attacks, then, is not the American Dream of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, but the dream as interpreted and pursued by those for whom ambition replaces human need and the trinkets of what Miller called the ‘new American Empire in the making’ are taken as tokens of true value” (Bigsby). “Death of a Salesman” creates a challenge to the American Dream and shows that an American should live a prosperous and plentiful life instead of get lost and die tragically (Criticism of ' the American Dream' in 'Death of a Salesman'). Gradually throughout the play, Willy gets farther and farther away from achieving his idea of the American Dream. His income slowly decreases to nothing: “as a salesman, Willy stages a performance for buyers, for his sons, for the father who deserted him, the brother he admired. Gradually, he loses his audience, first the buyers, then his son, then his boss” (Bigsby). His problem is that he completely surrenders to the American Dream and by the team he realizes his mistake, he has nothing to fall back on (Panesar). If Willy would have embraced his natural talent for manual labor and his family’s love for the countryside, the Lomans could have a totally different lifestyle (Panesar). Towards the end of the play, Willy became overwhelmed

The Fences written by August Wilson and Death of a Salesman was written by Arthur Miller are two plays that can be considered different in terms of their plot. Both plays have two very different cultural backgrounds. The background affects each protagonist therefore differently. However, there are also similarities beyond the plot. Despite the different backgrounds of each protagonist or main characters, they are both trying to achieve their dreams. They both fail ironically in similar ways .Willy Loman in the death of a salesman and Troy Maxson are both hardworking men trying very hard to help their families . They strive very hard to be successful, yet they die in the end feeling they did not earn the respect they deserved.

While Willy and Blanche have different images of the American Dream, both strongly reject the unfolding changes occurring in their realities in order to maintain the delusion of their personal dreams. Willy’s defiance to change is

Fences written by August Wilson and Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller are two plays that could be considered very different in terms of their plot. The plots of both plays contain two very different cultural backgrounds which affects each protagonist differently. If the reader or audience looks past the plot into the theme and symbolisms used they can see that the plays are more similar than they are different. In spite of the different cultural backgrounds of each protagonist they both are tragic heroes that are trying to achieve the American dream as it relates to each character; both of which fail in drastic yet similar ways. The American dream has always been an important factor in many American’s lives as it is to Troy

The American Dream is a sought after idea sold to Americans and immigrants alike. It promises the opportunity to create a better future for oneself. So long as said individual works hard it promises a happy ending. Arthur Miller reveals the reality of the American Dream in his play Death of a Salesman through the life of Willy Loman and his family. Willy represents the primary target audience as a working class man providing for his family. His pride causes him to be two steps behind in his life-long quest to achieve the American Dream and his family inherit his failures in their own individual quests.

Have you ever been pressured into following the so called “American dream”? Feeling like if you don’t follow it you will be nothing in this world, no one will even bother with you? That is how Troy Maxson in “Fences” and Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” felt while they were growing up, raising both of their boys, living with their family during the 1940’s and the 1950’s. Both these men who are working hard towards their American dream that they so desperately want to achieve in their life. Are these men similar to each other?

Research conducted by Sandra L. Hanson and John Zogby concerning shifting attitudes toward the American Dream states, “lack of thrift, effort, ability, motivation, and self-control are the most popular explanations for poverty among Americans” (Hanson 571). Such explanations demonstrate the growing issues that help to create the darkness of the American Dream. In placing such an emphasis on achieving success, the American Dream belittles those unable to achieve it and allows no room for failure. Though some individuals may work hard their entire lives, they may never find the material success that others such as Ben or Charley do. Even in the case of characters who have worked their entire life, such as Willy, the lack of tangible, material success creates a false idea that they did not do enough or did not work hard enough. Concerning Willy’s career and life, Ben states, “What are you building? Lay your hand on it. Where is it?” (Miller 1271). This statement pushes the misconstrued idea that whatever success one has achieved needs to be tangible and seen, which is not always the case. It can be argued that by the end of his life, Willy had found success. Linda’s proclamation that they were “free and clear” after having finally paid off the mortgage furthers this argument (Miller 1298). Out of debt, and with the comfort of a devoted wife and loving sons, Willy had achieved a life that many can only dream. However, because he and others do not recognize love and happiness as

The two plays that I chose to read are, Death of a Salesman and Fences. While reading these two plays and examining the father and son from both stories, I found a special connection with both of them with personal life experiences and stories. While comparing and contrasting these characters, I discovered great insight through other peoples life experiences with failure and success. Although Death of a Salesman is a more tragic story and Fences is more of a coming of age story, the relationships between the characters are similar.

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and Fences by August Wilson have similar themes of conflicts between fathers and sons, conflicts between husbands and wives, and the need to focus on a small unit of space in order to achieve success. In the process of developing these themes throughout the two plays, three similar symbolic elements are used including the insecure father figure, the "other woman," and the garden.

Throughout the American literary canon there have been a number of special stories that exemplify a meaning that goes beyond the plot and what the characters go through. The plays “Death of a salesman” by Arthur Miller and “Fences” by August Wilson are two such stories that convey a deep meaning as to what the protagonists want and expect out of life. Fences is considered to be the black version of DOAS and rightly so due to its similarities, especially in the characteristics among characters. Furthermore, the most noticeable similarity is the thin line between fantasy and reality that the main characters draw themselves in. DOAS and Fences both present a fantasy that the protagonists go in and out of that

While most people know and think more about the main characters in a story or play, not many put too much thought about the secondary characters who have just as much to say. In this analysis, you will be reading and comparing two of the secondary characters, Jim Bono from Fences and Grandma from The American Dream.. While The American Dream is based on a white couple in 1950, is considered an absurdist play. Fences is based off a black family in late 1960s and a realism play, which does make for major differences in characters, language, and attitudes. You will be reading a discussion of both the characters importance in each play and why no one see’s them as bigger characters The play Fences, written by August Wilson, is revolved around the main character Troy and his family.

Fences by August Wilson and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller are two plays that are very similar to each other. They are different in terms of plot, but they are both stories about family conflicts and relationships between family members. In both plays, sport plays a big role in the life of the characters as both sons of the main characters wish to play sports in school. Also, the women in both plays have an unfortunate marriage as their husbands both had an affair and betrayed their marriage. In addition to these similarities, death is also a strong concept; as both stories end with the main character’s funeral. Although there are many similarities in both plays such as sports, marriage, and death; there are also many differences in these same themes.

The characters Willy and Troy, from the plays “Death of a Salesman” and Fences,” share several qualities of personality and achievements. They are both fathers nearly at the twilight of their lives, suffering the consequences of decisions they made when they were younger. These men have worked for their whole lives to make money, as opposed to doing something for which they have passion. Willy and Troy spent their lives trying to achieve stability with money, only to come up with lives that constantly strive for payday, and families that begin to emulate their behaviors.

    In Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesman, Miller probes the dream of Willy Lowman while making a statement about the dreams of American society. This essay will explore how each character of the play contributes to Willy's dream, success, and failure.