This journey with many trials and tribulations trying to achieve this wealth and happiness through the American Dream in short stories, “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller and ”Fences” by August Wilson. Miller presents a fictional character who continues to age as a traveling salesman, the journey of committing one’s life towards an idealistic goal such as the american dream. Miller, a man struggling to hold onto the little dignity he has left in a changing society who later hits a rough patch in his life.
A tragic hero was defined as one who falls from grace into a state of extreme despair. Loman becomes increasingly miserable as he advances from a dedicated, loving father, and soon becomes a delusional man. Loman’s tragic flaw leads him to the idea that standing in society has more relevance in life than knowledge and education to survive as a salesman. Lomans grand error of wanting recognition drove him insane which led Loman to his tragic death. Loman’s fatal flaw is the belief in american dream and his reason he earned a spot as a tragic hero.
In Fences written by August Wilson, Wilson represents a fictional character as well continues to dedicate his fault to providing to his family and making sure his sons achieve. Wilson prevents anyone from intruding into his life by surrounding himself around a literal and metaphorical fence that affects his relationships with his wife, son, and mortality. “Jesus be a fence all around me every day. Jesus, I want you to protect me as I travel on my way” (Wilson). Fences follows the journey of an African American family, the Maxons, and their fight to handle the appearance of both physical and metaphorical fences.
127 our experts are availableright now
Maxson is a character who used to do good deeds in light of others but was eager to let his flaws and inner struggles overcome him. Maxson represents more than a man who is bitter from his past experiences but maxson represents a character who needs to adjust to a social change. Maxson becomes a perfect example of a tragic hero by doing what he thinks fits and through the people around him that his actions will have a different effect but strives to persuade his own course of actions. Maxsons fatal flaw leads to his death and leaves what he wanted best for his children.
Both Protagonists can relate to each other with the same issue. Willy and Maxson deal with financial problems and being a dysfunctional father. Troy Maxson crosses racial discrimination has feared troy into being neative while Willy Loman has a mental issue into thinking he needs to succeed into being a rich saleman. Loman’s obsession with wealth runs him into a bigger problem instead of Loman realizing that he is just an ordinary man and isn’t meant to be rich. Despite the different backgrounds each protagonist faces, they are both trying to achieve their dreams. They both seem to fail ironically in similar ways. Loman and Maxson strive to be successful, yet they die in the end feeling they did not earn the respect they deserved.
Therefore, Loman and Maxson are identical characters that nothing could be further than the truth. Not only are these characters holding back from reaching their dreams but rather than their bad choices that they decide to follow through with.
