Two Plays

Two plays, Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” and Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” both illustrates the lives of the low-classed families’ struggle of life. Characters from these plays, Willy and Biff Loman and Walter Young, are similar in many ways because they face and go through similar obstacles and hardships, seeking for alternative lifestyle that is more stable and relaxed. Successful life and bright future are the main goals that all three characters equally hope for.

The protagonist Willy Loman from “Death of a Salesman,” has been a salesman all his life. He worked hard to raise his family, and, to keep his title as a salesman. From the labor, he has wanted higher income to pay the bills, and to gain respect as a workingman and as a father. Biff, Willy’s first son, seeks for a job. Ever since graduating from high school, he has done nothing but disappointed their parents for not having a job. The destruction has confused him, and pulled him down to misery that is hard to recover from. By Willy forcing and emphasizing Biff’s failure everyday, Biff goes out to find a job so that he can obtain some recognition and acknowledgement from his father. As well as Willy, the main character and also the head of a family from “A Raisin in the Sun,” Walter Young, wants more income to feed his family. However, the difference between Willy and Walter’s aim is that by being a Black person in the 1970s, when racial inequality still existed, he seeks to win jackpot money because he knows that no matter how hard he works, he cannot earn big amount of money from the limited job opportunity for black people. So unlike Willy, Walter does not continue to keep the job that he already has, but invest a lot of money seeking more of a fortune than hard work.

Throughout the plot, these character’ expectations turn into failures, and they face misfortunes such as a struggle between the family members, and loss of money, friendship and even death. Out of these three characters, Willy...