Introduction
The classic “Death of a Salesman” reminds readers how tragic love can be, no matter how selfless and pure. Loman proves that the love for one’s self is usually overpowered by the love for others. The sacrifice of the value of life remains to be the most memorable and redeeming part of the story. It makes readers realize that there are more valuable things in life than one’s career and achievements. Thus, it reminds us to value these intangible things in life before it is too late. Set in the cities of New York and Boston, “Death of a Salesman” the story happens during the 50s and 60s, the story reminds readers that there is more to life than just pursuing the material things. The story delves into self-analysis, reconciliation and that all American Dream. The main characters reflect on the truths about themselves, their past, and their mistakes. After realizing their shortcomings and weaknesses, they all changed because of a single situation – the death of the main character, who happens to be a salesman. Willy Loman, is a salesman who shows his dilemma as he approaches the crossroads of his life. He feels guilty because his son witnesses his womanizing and thus comes to grips about his true being as well as the false pretenses and lies he has been living with. Willy almost kills himself. Biff vows to mend his ways and find work and not follow the ways of his father. He plans to build a ranch with his brother leaving Willy to bear the responsibility of finding the money for Biff’s business.
Main body
Meanwhile, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is a story that is narrated by Holden. It centers around his three days after he is kicked out of Prep and this comes right before Christmas in 1949. He visits his teacher in History, old Mr. Spencer, who flunks him and which takes him back to his dorm. He thinks of spending life alone in New York City because of the spats he had with some of his fellow students. His life in New York is characterized by heavy drinking and meeting a lot of people. Like Willy in Death of a Salesman, he lives an aimless life feeling empty most of the time. Holden feels that the people around him are not being true to him because of the way they behave. This is similar to Willy’s feelings about the people who seem indifferent to his plight. Like Holden, Willy also has some flings on the side, although Holden has a run-in with a prostitute who swindles him of his money. Holden does not find any fulfillment with the relationships he has even with his past girlfriend, Sally Hayes.
When Willy Loman realizes that he is a less effective salesman with financial problems, so that he confronts the important issues in his own life as well as that of his family. He thinks that he can leave his sons a legacy and give his insurance proceeds to them. The story is remarkable because tells readers what truly counts in life and how frustrating it is to run after material things. This is a valuable read because it demonstrates a lot of insights about life and the real values that matter most—persistence, acceptance, and love.
The scenes take Holden to several relationships such as Mr. Antolini who demonstrates some homosexual overture on him. These experiences leave him jaded about his life and what is in store for him. Readers empathize with his feelings and the discontent that he experiences seem to strike a cord at their minds and hearts. He is very much affected by the death of his brother as well as the suicide of one of his schoolmates. What adds to the jaded attitude is the critical attitude he has of his life. Like Willy Loman, he analyzes his life and comes up with the conclusion that there is nothing worthwhile to live for.
“Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules” as quoted in Chapter 2 summarizes what Holden thinks about his life and how one ought to behave. He thinks life is a game. Both stories dwell on the lack of zest for life of both characters and how they are influenced by the people around them. Deep inside the main protagonists in both stories, they stay angry. They spend their lives feeling that life ought to give them more. One way they trick themselves into leaving the here and now is by pretending that they can do something about future events that one can’t actually affect. They did not think that the way to be in the present is not to try to push the future out of their minds but to pay attention to what was happening in the present time. Trying not to think of the future is still thinking about the future.
Conclusion
Life is full of trials for these two main characters and the events that happen to both of them just aggravate the attitudes they have about life in general. Holden has several criticisms about the people he encounters as well as the phony ones whom he thinks are backstabbers who brand him as a good-for-nothing person that he thinks he is. Sometimes his views actually just reflect on his own personality. Both stories delve into desperation and hopes of two men whose expectation of life does not meet their own experiences.
References
The Catcher in the Rye. 2008. Web.
Salinger, J.D. (1991) The Catcher in the Rye Little, Brown and Company.
Miller, Arthur. The Death of a Salesman.