What Are The Similarities Between Ozymandias And Death Of A Salesman

Theme could be called the greatest literary element. Through its use, fiction has the ability to mean something outside of the narrative itself. Because of theme, fiction is meaningful, enlightening, and in many cases applicable to the lives of readers. The greatest literature is of the variety that keeps on giving even after it is returned to the shelf. “The Rocking Horse Winner,” “Ozymandias,” and Death of a Salesman are three such narratives. Though each represents a different fictional format, they are all united by a common theme, that is: the futility of materialistic pursuits. Despite the common theme however, these three works are far from identical even apart from their genre. Their subject matter, characters, and style serve …show more content…
The story begins with Willie Loman, an aging salesman, who suffers from anxiety over his job, his health, and his family. One can draw already a parallel between the Loman and the mother of “The Rocking Horse Winner,” in that both experience discontentment for lack of earthly security. It is, however, important to note that “earthly” does not conclusively denote “material” in Willie’s case, shown with the progression of his development as a character. The greatest contributor to Willie’s discontentment is his eldest son, Biff, whose inability to find steady employment into his early thirties troubles his father. Much of the inner conflict Willie experiences throughout the drama stems from Willie’s attempts to explain why Biff is unable to “succeed,” while at the same time Biff himself struggles to define what true success is. As with any drama, characters bear significance in Death of a Salesman, each representing how Willie’s presence has influenced and, in some ways, tainted his or her life. For his wife, Linda, Willie is figure to be honored; for his youngest son, Happy, a legacy to be preserved. Other characters, while not as attached to Willie, nevertheless subscribe to many of the same values and view that he does, making Biff the only character that faults Willie for his morality as well as his behavior. Miller’s drama carries with a plethora of potential for social commentary, for example how society shapes a person’s worldview. Through the character of Willie Loman, Miller shows how appearances, in relation to their importance to success in American capitalism, and the idea of being “well liked” can undermine integrity and moral fortitude. This concept, though not technically material, is the trap to which Willie Loman