Similarities Between Macbeth And Death Of A Salesman

Although the stories of Macbeth and Willie seem strikingly different after having first read them, they do have a major theme that is important to both stories. The question of both the main characters’ sanity seems to come up in the two plays. Both Willie and Macbeth started out as seemingly sane people. As the time went on though, their passions and dreams became stronger and they appeared to have changed for the worst. Throughout the story, “Death of a Salesman” the reader is told about Willie’s past. Willie started his adult life by working towards becoming a successful and respected salesman. He wanted to be known and remembered by everyone he had ever met in his life. He often said things such as “I’m very well liked in Hartford. You know, the trouble is, Linda, people don’t seem to take to me.” As time wore on his dream became the center of his life, which he thought he needed to achieve in order to be happy. He started doing anything and everything he could to get further ahead in his career and as well as in his family life.

To advance in his line of work he supplied secretaries with free stockings. At home he did everything he could to ensure that his talented son, Biff, could achieve an important status in sports. At one point in the story he told everybody, “Sure, he’s …show more content…
Although he seems perfectly rational at the start of the play it’s not long before he begins to change. The biggest trigger for Macbeth’s insanity is the prophecy of the three witches. When Macbeth learns of the prophecies he doesn’t believe them, but when one of them comes true he become more willing to believe that will become the King of Scotland. He starts to think that his dream being King will become a reality if he wants them hard enough. At first Macbeth doesn’t want to think of the horrible crime he might have to commit to become the King, but his wife persuades him to do it with her