Death of a Salesman and A Raisin in the Sun

colourthorn I never wake up from the American ambitiousness. Carrie Latet describes the most sought afterwardwards dream the dream of a signal surrounded by a white picket fence, the dream pot pee-pee their entire lives for, the dream people get by wars for the American dream. However, Americas try out to industrialism in the 19th and 20th centuries replaced this dream with the proclivity to get rich fast. This change led people to believe that it is possible, plebeian steady, to obtain wealth rapidly in time this is non the topic.Sometimes, when an individual is unable to draw such extreme wealth, he bring into being a sense of false veracity for himself, his common sense is blurred, and he lives opportunities where there atomic number 18 none. Characters Walter Lee young and Willy Lo hu piece of music beings are prime examples of this, twain pinning their feigns on unattainable dreams to hide the feelings of failure. The revolutionaryspaper of f e genu inely(prenominal)acy versus touchableity is present in both Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the sunshine and Arthur Millers Death of a Sales public with the portrayal of main extensions Walter and Willy in their fences for happiness and prosperity.Although the two characters piddle akin(predicate) dreams, Walter, a dynamic character, presents through the deception trance Willy, a static character, ashes trapped in his illusion. Willy Lo homo has a rattling specific dream, a contorted var. of the American dream. Willy dreams of being succeederful and providing for his family, to a greater extent e rattlingplace also to be popular and loaded the liked a offer by the familyic American dream, which is gener wholey effective to have a joyous breeding. dictated by his need for success and popularity, Willy ignores his call for character and throws all his heart into go a salesman.Willy is enthralled by the flooring of Dave Singleman, his inspiration and idol. I realized that interchange was the greatest economic aider a man could regard. Ca substance abuse what could be more lusty than to be able to go, at the eld of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people (Miller 81). This story is the furbish up rea watchword for Willys desire to be a successful salesman, but what he does not realize is that Singlemans case is one in a million.Although he doggedly pursues a career in sell, Willy also completes his need and desire for nature in his retirement visualises. As he tells Linda, Before its all all all over were gonna get a footling place out in the country, and Ill raise whatever vegetables, a twin of chickens . . . (72). However, his failure to acknowledge nature as his unbent sexual love fuels his failure in the business area as well. Denis Diderot concludes, barely disco biscuitions, great passions, can elevate the in stinct to great things. Tempted by success and coin, Willy veers from his passion for the outdoors towards business, for which he has little passion.The theme of nature is prevalent from the vivifys beginning as, A melody is heard, play upon a flute. It is small and fine, telling of heap and trees and the horizon. (11). This specific tune is often associated with Willys character, distancing him from the environment, but emphasizing the affiliation Willy has to it. more would argue, Willy has set himself up for failure by choosing the business career. In order to fly the feeling of dejection, Willy reverts to his falsely joyful prehistoric and creates multiple illusions for himself, seeing the introduction through a glass clouded with desire and failure.One of Willys greatest stiltslope is refusing to accompany Ben to Alaska. If Id asleep(p) with him to Alaska that time, e actuallything wouldve been totally different (45). Bens success in Alaska not nevertheless present s Willy with the possibleness of currency, but it would also satisfy his connection with nature. Bens voice in the play continually represents Willys resentment of his conclusiveness to stay, and his longing for a second rule to take the opportunity. Next, Willy fondly retreats to his old, a past glossed over in gold. Willy imagines a happy and cheerful history with his family, including his father, whom he never actually k in the buff. Ben Please tell slightly Dad. I want my boys to hear. I want them to know the resistant of stock they chute from. (48). This is ironical, because Willy doesnt remember his father digression from his beard and his flute, so he would not know if his father would be psyche to admire. Even though Willy does not have a job, he wants so badly to continue being a salesman that he still drives out to Boston and some other cities, deluding his faithful married woman, Linda Loman, and in part, himself, to think that he is personnel casualty on imp ortant selling missions.Willy lies so convincingly that, when Ben proposes the idea of going to Alaska, a shocked Linda exclaims, Youre well liked, and the boys love you, and someday why, old man Wagner told him however the other day that if he keeps it up hell be a member of the unshakable . . . (85). Linda is proceed inly un thoughtful to the fact that Willy is crestfallen and miserable. Willy even tries to institute to himself that he is happy, but the altogether true(a) reason he remains a salesman is to gain the notes he believes accompanies the job. stop over-to-end Willys agitate, Charley, a FOIL to Willy, is unceasingly at Willys side service him.Charley is Willys crutch, his reality check, and basically his exactly friend. era Willy fights to keep his family afloat, Charley has a calm job while Willy manages his childrens lives, Charley leaves his entirely son, Bernard, to find his own path while Willy loses his grip on reality, Charley has a firm grasp a nd a level head. Charley is the true example of the hard working, happy man achieving the American dream. Willys failure to recognize his own despondent state is to begin with what causes his sad downfall. As the play nears the end, Willy is face up with a decision.He knows that he get out not be able to work such(prenominal) longer, and that at some point, he testament have to rely on his sons. Willy also realizes that he has goose egg to pass down to his sons. The antecedent he comes up with is suicide. Willy determines that this proposition is legitimate because it benefits his whole family. While express of the town with Ben, Willy justifies his decision by saying, Lindas suffered. . . Remember, its a guaranteed twenty-thousand-dollar proposition (125-126). When Biff con walk outs him, Willy comes to an staggering realization Biff he likes me (133). This only further deepens Willys desire to institutionalize suicide, which would allow his family to collect the da mages money. However, the real reason for Willys tragic end is his static personality. His refusal to see the piece as it is and his refusal to change means that he is hide by his distorted vision of smell forever. Willy is never able to break through his illusion, truly believing that he is more valuable dead than alive. Finally, the decision is make and Willy commits suicide. The car speeds off . . . moving a focal point(predicate) at full speed. . . The music crashes down in a frenzy of sound, which becomes the batty pulsation of a single cello string (136). The rest of the Loman family is left alone, without the amends money. As Charley sums up at the funeral, He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong (138). Willy died because he didnt know how to forge his own path. Although he had the chance to convolute back, he remained a salesman because he was in it for the money. Had he changed his mind and followed his heart, he would certainly have had an wholly different end.But that was his predicament Willy Loman did not have the ability to change, something that Walter Lee jr. does have. Walter Lee Younger has dreams that are very uniform to Willys to provide for his family and to be successful. Unlike Willy Loman, though, Walters dreams of happiness for his family in extension to success. As an African American man, Walter constantly struggles against racial boundaries. The pressure to brave out his struggling family, including his sister and mother is a constant weight on his back. Walter informs mum, I want so many things that they are driving me crazy . . Sometimes its like I can see the future stretched out in front of me . . . full waiting for me a big, looming hollow space full of nothing (73). homogeneous any father or husband, Walter desperately wants a poufable and content life. The tightness between Walter and his wife, Ruth, partially stems from Walters inability to disperse with his low income, low class job. I open and close doors all day long. I drive a man around in a limousine and I say Yes, sir no, sir very good, sir . . . that aint no kind of job . . . that aint nothing at all (73).Not only is Walter dissatisfied with his job as a limousine driver, but he is chagrined by it. Walter is desperate, but as a black man, his options for a new air are limited to those of a similar caliber to his current job. However, Walter finds an opportunity that could turn his life around. I been out talking with people who understand me. People who care round what I got on my mind. (87), . . . we got it figure out, me and Willy and Bobo (33). Inspired by this new hope, Walter envisions a future of prosperity and happiness. This is mostly supply by Walters idol Charlie Atkins. homogeneous to Willys infatuation with Dave Singleman, Walter believes that Atkins, who owns a change cleaning business which grosses $100,000 per year, is success incarnate. Atkins is Walters inspiration for his own dream of purchasing hard liquor store with Bobo and Willy Harris, which could be do possible by the insurance money from his fathers death. In addition to his dreams for himself, Walter also has dreams for his son. Like most fathers, he wants a better life for his son, Just tell me where you want to go to school and youll go. Just tell me, what it is you want to be and youll be it . . . Whatever you want to be YessirYou just name it, son . . . and I hand you the world (109). Although Walter has all the corresponding dreams as a white man of his age, they are harder to obtain due to racial boundaries, and Walter essential find a way to overcome these limitations. With so many things unperfected in his life, Walter sees money as a solution to his problems. For the Youngers, the symbol of money represents a new house, new clothing and shoes for everyone, oddly forWalters son, Travis, more food for their table, cultivation for Travis and Walters sister, Beneatha, as well as the down payment on W alters liquor store.When Mama questions Walter How come you talk so much bout money (74), Walter responds, it is life, Mama . . . it was always about money, Mama. We just didnt know about it (74). It is ironic that Walter comments that money is life, because the most significant money in the Younger family comes from Big Walters $10,000 life insurance check. As Asagai explains to Beneatha, Isnt there something wrong in a house in a world where all dreams, good or bad, must depend on the death of a man? (135). The illusion Walter holds that money is life contrasts with the reality that the money comes from death.Later, Walter becomes very thwart as he realizes how unfair the world is, Somebody tell me tell me, who decides which cleaning lady is suppose to wear pearls in this world. I tell you I am a man and I think my wife should wear some pearls in this world (143). Because of all this pent-up regret and disappointment, Walter reverts to Willy Harris and Bobos plan for a sourc e of comfort and hope. His desperation clouds his common sense, and when Mama entrusts him with the remain insurance money, Walter invests all of it in the liquor store, even that intended for Beneathas education. scorn his poor decision, Walter has a newfound exuberance (112). He truly believes that this new deal will turn his family around in a new direction, I got fly You got wings All Gods children got wings (125). However, things take a spin when Bobo arrives with the despairing news that Willy Harris, revealed as a con man, has disappeared with the money. Walters incredulity is clear as he realizes that all of the hope he has built up over the liquor store has disappeared like a flash of lightening.Now that all of the insurance money is gone on Walters watch, he is even more credit valuey for his familys desperate state. Luckily, he is presented with a chance to redeem himself. Before the discourage news that Willy Harris stole the Youngers insurance money arrives, Walter is extremely confident. He is even willing to cooperate with Mamas plan to move into their new house in Clybourne Park, a plan Walter had previously opposed. When Karl Lindner arrives to persuade the Youngers not to move into their new house, Walter confronts him. We told him to get out . . . Oh, we was some gallant folks this afternoon . . (142). However, after the terrible news of the lost insurance money is disclosed, Walter is not so sure-footed. He realizes the knockout financial situation, not to summon the peril that this move will displace them in. Ruth, who desperately wants to move, reads her husbands wavering and questions him, You talking bout taking them peoples money to keep us from moving in that house? (142) and Walter replies, Im telling you thats whats going to happen (142). Despite his strong opinion about not moving, Walter experiences a change of heart when Lindner returns.He realizes how much the chance to live is really worth as he sees the potential fo r Travis, Beneatha, and even for himself and Ruth, and how much the new house will help each of them to grow and flourish. reverberation to Willy Loman, Walter learns to value life, learning that money does not necessarily give you a blissful, freewheeling life. Walter asserts to Lindner, We have all thought about your offer . . . and we have decided to move into our house because my father my father he earned it for us brick by brick. . . . Travis . . . my son . . . he makes the sixth generation of our family in this country . . And thats my sister over there and shes going to be a doctor and we are very proud . . . we are very proud people (148). Walters dynamic character allows him to emerge from his black hole of despair, a trait that Willy Loman lacked, therefore triggering his own tragic downfall. Now that he is able to accept his mistake of losing all of the insurance money and has shattered the illusion that it is possible for everyone to be as successful and rich as Ch arlie Atkins, and that excessive wealth does not pair to happiness, Walter can fully appreciate his life, especially his loving family.From a first look, the Younger and Loman families could not be more different. by careful analysis, though, one finds that they are astoundingly similar. both(prenominal) working class families, they consistently struggle to maintain their current standards of living, a struggle made much more difficult by the expectant illusions Walter Lee and Willy nonplus to. The theme of illusion versus reality is live in both A Raisin in the Sun and Death of a Salesman, demonstrating the raspy reality that a persons life will never be perfect, and that some people will use heir imagination to fill in the gaps. The sad truth is that some people, like Willy Loman, are never able to break through the illusion. Bent on success and popularity, Willy renders himself victim to his mind forever, ending in death for him, and tragedy for his family. Others, such as Walter Lee Younger, possess the inner stance necessary to break free from this perfect, fanciful world to see that all they want, all they need, and all they seek, is right before them.