Death of a Salesman vs. The Great Gatsby: Comparing the American Dream

📚 Introduction to the American Dream in Literature

Arthur Miller's *Death of a Salesman* and F. Scott Fitzgerald's *The Great Gatsby* are seminal works that critique the American Dream. While both novels dissect the pursuit of success and happiness, they present contrasting perspectives on its attainability and consequences.

🎭 *Death of a Salesman*: Definition

*Death of a Salesman* portrays the tragic downfall of Willy Loman, a traveling salesman who desperately clings to a distorted vision of success. Willy believes that popularity and a charming personality are the keys to achieving the American Dream. His relentless pursuit of this illusion leads to his ultimate demise.

• 👨‍💼 Focus: The play centers on the working class and the struggles of maintaining dignity and relevance in a capitalist society.
• 💔 Theme: Disillusionment with the American Dream, the pressures of societal expectations, and the importance of self-awareness.
• 📉 Tragedy: Willy's inability to adapt to changing times and his distorted perception of reality result in his tragic end.

🥂 *The Great Gatsby*: Definition

*The Great Gatsby* tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who throws lavish parties in the hopes of attracting the attention of his former love, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby's pursuit of wealth and status is driven by his desire to recreate the past and win back Daisy's affection. However, his idealized vision of the past ultimately leads to his downfall.

• 🌟 Focus: The novel explores themes of wealth, class, and the illusion of the American Dream during the Roaring Twenties.
• 💖 Theme: The unattainable nature of the past, the corrupting influence of wealth, and the superficiality of the upper class.
• ✨ Illusion: Gatsby's romanticized vision of Daisy and the past blinds him to the reality of his situation, leading to his tragic fate.

Feature	*Death of a Salesman*	*The Great Gatsby*
Protagonist's Dream	Willy Loman seeks success through popularity and charm.	Jay Gatsby strives to recreate the past and win back Daisy.
Social Class	Working class; struggles of everyday life.	Upper class; extravagance and superficiality.
Critique of the American Dream	Exposes the illusion that hard work guarantees success.	Reveals the corruption and moral decay behind wealth.
Tragic Flaw	Willy's distorted perception of reality and inability to adapt.	Gatsby's idealized vision of the past and Daisy.
Setting	Post-World War II America; focuses on domestic life and career pressures.	The Roaring Twenties; lavish parties and social gatherings.
Outcome	Willy's suicide symbolizes the failure of his dreams and the crushing weight of societal expectations.	Gatsby's death represents the destruction of his illusions and the impossibility of recapturing the past.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• 🎭 Contrasting Visions: *Death of a Salesman* critiques the American Dream through the lens of the working class, while *The Great Gatsby* examines it through the eyes of the wealthy.
• 💔 Shared Disillusionment: Both novels reveal the dark side of pursuing the American Dream and the potential for disillusionment and tragedy.
• 💭 Enduring Relevance: Despite their different settings and characters, both stories continue to resonate with readers today because they explore universal themes of ambition, identity, and the pursuit of happiness.