The Dying Dreams :: essays research papers

Arthur Miller profoundly explores the subject of morality and mankind determine in his two famous plays, Death of a Salesman and both My Sons. Though dealing with a common topic , the works agree major differences that help to make them unique. Death of a Salesman describes the tragedy do-nothing shattered dreams and the effects that they bring on entire families. It focuses greatly on illusions created by individuals and the inability of those individuals to except reality. All My Sons, on the other hand, explores the shake reality of peoples insensitivity and their moral values and the illusions created to cover up the tragic reality. The reality versus illusion theme exhibits the parallelisms and the distinctions between the plays. The subject of human values may be compared through the points of view, the imagery, and the life lessons of the two works.All My Sons denounces crime more than directly then Death of a Salesman. Joe Kellers refusal to stop the freight rate of cracked cylinder heads causes the deaths of innocent American soldiers. The grim reality is that he allowed the people who were defending him and fighting next to his sons to die, thus committing the ultimate offend of murder. In All My Sons Joe Keller immensely influences the lives of many outside his family while care only about his own. By contrast, in Death of a Salesman Willy Lowman commits adultery, a rather minor sin when compared with murder. His influence is limited only to the lives of his married woman and sons, while he desires to impact the lives of those outside his family. Arthur Miller emphasizes the destruction of lives more apparently in All My Sons then in Death if a Salesman. However, both plays are linked to events dealing with acquisition of coin. The theme of square wealth can often be noticed as the root word for many actions in the two works. Joe Keller commits the terrible act because he fears loosing his business line and thus, not being able to pro vide for his family materially. He willingly chooses money over the lives of the soldiers and over the life of his friend and partner. Similarly, Willy Lowmans every action in life revolves around money and material success. His obsession with acquiring wealth destroys his relationship with Biff and his own sanity and happiness. Willy has an affair only to supercharge himself in his career, only to attract more customers.