As a child develops, they look up to their parents for guidance, whether it be good support or bad support. In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, paternal guidance is present. In particular, Biff Loman in the play DOAS and Laertes in Hamlet both believe they are superior to women, believe success is inevitable, and have difficulty with impulse control. Ultimately, as a result of poor paternal influences, both characters have confused values. Superiority to the female race is unfortunately a common demeanour presented in males. Specifically, Willy Loman in DOAS belittles woman—a prime example being his wife—therefore his son Biff takes after him because he learnt how women should be treated from his father.
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For instance, he is very critical of his sister Ophelia as he doesn’t believe she can prosper in her life without his assistance. During a conversation between Laertes and Ophelia, Laertes discredits her relationship with Hamlet: “For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour,/ Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood,/ A violet in the youth of primary nature,/ Forward, not permanent, sweet not lasting.” (1.3.5-8). Laertes is telling Ophelia her entire relationship is nothing but a lie. He implies that it is simply a big flirtation based on her foolish youth. He thinks he knows what is best for Ophelia, when in reality Ophelia is capable of handling her own relationship. In addition, Laertes comments that since Ophelia is a women, she possesses no …show more content…
This is illustrated in In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet where paternal guidance is present throughout a child’s upbringing. In particular, as a result of poor paternal influences, one may acquire confused values. For instance, Biff Loman in the play DOAS and Laertes in Hamlet both believe they are superior to women, believe success is inevitable, and have difficulty with impulse control. Ultimately, as a child grows into a man, the good, or bad, parental guidance which accompanies one throughout childhood is reflected in their actions as an
For instance, he is very critical of his sister Ophelia as he doesn’t believe she can prosper in her life without his assistance. During a conversation between Laertes and Ophelia, Laertes discredits her relationship with Hamlet: “For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour,/ Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood,/ A violet in the youth of primary nature,/ Forward, not permanent, sweet not lasting.” (1.3.5-8). Laertes is telling Ophelia her entire relationship is nothing but a lie. He implies that it is simply a big flirtation based on her foolish youth. He thinks he knows what is best for Ophelia, when in reality Ophelia is capable of handling her own relationship. In addition, Laertes comments that since Ophelia is a women, she possesses no …show more content…
This is illustrated in In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet where paternal guidance is present throughout a child’s upbringing. In particular, as a result of poor paternal influences, one may acquire confused values. For instance, Biff Loman in the play DOAS and Laertes in Hamlet both believe they are superior to women, believe success is inevitable, and have difficulty with impulse control. Ultimately, as a child grows into a man, the good, or bad, parental guidance which accompanies one throughout childhood is reflected in their actions as an