Death Of A Salesman Analysis

Post World War II America was prosperous, America was in better economic condition than any other country in the world, but this didn’t mean all Americans were home free. Especially working-class Americans still clinging to the hope of the infamous American dream. Both Death of A Salesman, and Fences major themes revolve around the demise of the American patriarch of a single family, including fathers who commit adultery and illustrate their characters' attempts to make the elusive American dream a reality, specifically the fictional families of the Lomans, in New York, and the Maxson's, in Pittsburgh.
The heads of these families are both unsuccessful, unhappy, ordinary men, who desperately concerned with their social statuses, and both …show more content…
Nor is it necessarily a weakness. The flaw, or crack in the characters, is really nothing-and need be nothing, but his inherent unwillingness to remain passive in the face of what he conceives to be a challenge to his dignity, his image of his rightful status” (Tragedy), these two men also have issues with their children, issues that the wives, unknown to the husbands have their own burdens to bear from it. Willy and Troy both have very specific dreams for their sons, but those dreams themselves are based on the specific beliefs and values of the two fathers. For instance, Willy Loman wishes his son Biff would focus on being a football star rather than getting good grades, which eventually costs him a scholarship, while Troy Maxson of Fences makes his son to quit the football team, revoking an athletic scholarship, so that he can maintain regular working hours at their towns local A&P store. The issues that arise from these situations seem to be issues fought between father and son, but the mothers are the ones off to the sides left to deal with both parties at the end, which puts a strain on their own relationships with their husbands and …show more content…
Sadly her life is put second, always catering to Willy, she always hopes that things will work out for the better, although it never happens. Linda shows her loyalty to Willy when she claims, “I don’t say he’s a great man. Willy Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He’s not the finest character that ever lived. But he’s a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. He’s not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must be finally paid to such a person. You called him crazy…” (DOS Act 1 Pt 8). Linda is always focused on others, putting herself last in every situation, she takes on the burden for him, especially when it seems like others are not truly taking notice. His affair was never revealed to Linda, although others in the home were aware, she had so much love for Willy, it would have crushed her. Linda stood by Willy through all of his ups and downs, trying her best to support him, when all others in his life had walked out on him. Linda ended up being in a sense all he had left, which still was not enough to keep him

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