Comparing thematic parallels in A Raisin in the Sun and Death of a Salesman

¶ … American Dream in a Raisin in the Sun and Death of a Salesman

The American Dream is often portrayed as a good thing and while it is good to dream, it is also good to dream realistically. Two plays that examine the theme of the American Dream are Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin in the Sun, and Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesman. Each of these plays provides an honest look at two families and their version of the American Dream and the difficulties they encounter in their attempts to make that dream come true. While in different settings, both plays are similar because many people share the same characteristics. Walter and Willy demonstrate how the pursuit of the American Dream is a serious effort. It is not typically achieved with fly-by-night operations or selling items on the road. These men offer us the reality attached to the American Dream. They provide an authentic look at life by illustrating how we choose to live it helps us achieve the dream of a lifetime.

In A Raisin in the Sun, we see the notion of the American Dream lived out through Lena, Beneatha, and Walter. Lena dreams of her family living in a nice home in a nice neighborhood. She views the insurance money as the perfect opportunity to make this dream come true. When Walter objects to this idea, she says, "We was going backward 'stead of forwards -- talking about killing babies and wishing each other was dead . . . When it gets like that in life -- you just got to do something different, push on out and do something bigger" (Hansberry 2238). This statement reveals Lena's life experience. She understands the difficulties in life and wants to take advantage of a good situation. Walter does not have the insight Lena does and cannot see how a nice home would benefit their family. Beneatha also dreams an American Dream. She wants to attend medical school and tells Asagai that she has always believed that helping people was the "most marvelous thing in the world" (2253). These dreams are a stark contrast to Walter's dream, which is to make money super fast in the liquor business, of which he knows nothing. Walter simply hears that Charley makes $100,000 and year and he wants to do the same thing.

In Death of a Salesman, the American Dream is seen through Willy's perspective. Willy has a notion of what the dream is but he cannot seem to get there. He takes the wrong path and refuses to go another way. Willy fails to realize his dream because of his inability to change. Willy is similar to Walter in that he will never grasp his particular dream. Walter is silly and Willy is stubborn. Willy wastes a great portion of life doing something he is only mediocre at doing. He is too old to change and expresses no desire to do so. Willy is different from Walter in that he never opens his eyes to truth; he never learns anything about his life or his mistakes. He would rather believe the lies he tells himself and his family. He tells his wife, he can "knock Howard for a loop" (Miller 1070-1) and he will get a "New York job" (1071) one of these days. He believes he will be successful and will not have to "get behind another wheel" (1071).

Both plays demonstrate the difficulties associated with attempting to achieve the American Dream. In A Raisin in the Sun, the difficulty of achieving the American Dream revealed through Walter's bad business decision. While the family does move anyway, they are changed. Walter learns that he cannot trust everyone and every fly-by-night idea is probably just a fraud. Curing the sick was the most important thing to Beneatha before Walter lost the money. After the incident, she does not seem to care as much and she tells him, curing the sick is "not close enough to what ails mankind" (Hansberry 2254). Losing the money opened her eyes to how cruel people can be and forces her to rethink her priorities. Walter has matured because of his mistake and has not allowed it to ruin the rest of his life. His deal with Willy opens his eyes to the fact that while people are dreaming, there are "takers out there operating, just taking and taking" (2258). He realizes that he must not only work to achieve his dream, he must also work not to "get taken." While he seems embittered about his bad deal with Willy, he comes through for the family at the end of the play. So much so that Beneatha tells Lindner, "That's what the man said" (2261) at the end of the play.

Walter and Willy share the characteristic of following silly dreams. Walter fails to see the benefit of working hard for a living and while Willy works hard, he is not working smart. Walter wants to believe in the liquor store idea because it means quick money to him. Willy shares this tendency. He has the idea of starting a "Loman Line" (Miller 1064) of athletic gear. He brags to Happy about a "million dollar idea" (1065). They both fail to see the difficulties involved with some dreams. Most people achieve their dreams through hard work. They are blind in this way. Walter is selfish because he wants the money to go toward his idea of a dream, not his mother's. He tells her, "So that's the peace and comfort you went out and bought for us" (2237). He cannot understand and accuses her o killing his dreams. Willy's blindness keeps him from seeing the hopelessness of the path his life has taken. After years of not excelling at his work, he still believes he will become a great success.