Reality vs. Dreams: In Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire, both Willy and Blanche trap themselves in their dreams, when in reality, both of their situations are the antithesis of their fantasies. Both of these plays take place in the late 1940’s, after World War II. The time after World War II signifies the start of a new period of American culture comprised of new found wealth and hope. This is called the American Dream. Both Willy and Blanche trap themselves inside this desire to live the American Dream. For his entire career, Willy wanted to be a successful, well-liked salesman, but he never could get to the level of success that others, like Bernard and Ben, easily achieved. The dream seduces and corrupts Willy to the point
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Meanwhile in Streetcar, Blanche had the desire marry a millionaire from Dallas and become a woman of class, but in reality, her dark past revealed that she is nothing more than town trash. After Blanche loses the family home and arrives in New Orleans to stay with her sister, she tries to act like a woman of high class and elegance. Stanley, Blanche’s brother-in-law, sees through her act, and reveals that she is the opposite of how she is acting, which shows the readers that Blanche is trying to escape her reality and become the elegant woman she dreams to be.
Success versus Failure in Both Plays: In Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire, the concepts of success and failure create driving forces for all of the major characters in both plays. In both plays, the concept of success is driven by one word: money. In Death of a Salesman, Willy’s idea of success is monetary. He wants to be that successful salesman that men, like Dave Singleman, were able to be in the past. He tries to emulate aspects of Dave’s salesmanship, especially the drive to be well-liked. All he really wants is to have money to support Linda and his sons, but the reality of his situation is that his income is not very high and he still has debts to pay. His
Meanwhile in Streetcar, Blanche had the desire marry a millionaire from Dallas and become a woman of class, but in reality, her dark past revealed that she is nothing more than town trash. After Blanche loses the family home and arrives in New Orleans to stay with her sister, she tries to act like a woman of high class and elegance. Stanley, Blanche’s brother-in-law, sees through her act, and reveals that she is the opposite of how she is acting, which shows the readers that Blanche is trying to escape her reality and become the elegant woman she dreams to be.
Success versus Failure in Both Plays: In Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire, the concepts of success and failure create driving forces for all of the major characters in both plays. In both plays, the concept of success is driven by one word: money. In Death of a Salesman, Willy’s idea of success is monetary. He wants to be that successful salesman that men, like Dave Singleman, were able to be in the past. He tries to emulate aspects of Dave’s salesmanship, especially the drive to be well-liked. All he really wants is to have money to support Linda and his sons, but the reality of his situation is that his income is not very high and he still has debts to pay. His