In many pieces of written work, one demonstrates the sentimental pity and distress towards a character’s misfortune. Throughout the course of ENG3U8, numerous pieces of written works are perused, and a few of the characters from these pieces of literature gain sympathy from the readers. For example, in Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, sympathy is most felt towards Macduff, because his innocent wife and son are executed for unknown reasons. Moreover, in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, readers show sympathy for Gatsby as his fantasy of Daisy gradually goes into despair. He spends his whole life attempting to get the girl he loves, but is unsuccessful at the end. However, the most sympathetic character is in The Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller. This character is known by the …show more content…
Arthur Miller demonstrates this in his play The Death of a Salesman, through the actions of Willy Loman. Since Willy has perpetually dreamed of his oldest son Biff being successful, he takes matters into his own hands after discovering that his son has not yet accomplished anything in life. Willy tries to “get him a job selling and make him big in no time” (16). Things for Biff turn out to become more complicated when Willy interferes with his life, along with his fantasy of fulfilling the American dream. Willy trusts that the most effective job a man could wish for is selling; however, Biff believes that “there’s nothing more inspiring or-beautiful than the sight of a mare and a new colt.” (22). Willy’s dream is broken after he discovers that his son does not wish to attempt what his father desires him to do. Willy has always considered Biff the star of the family and trusted that he would bring incredible fortune into his family after e received scholarships for football; however, is left alone with his dreams not
Sympathy, the feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune, can push an unwanted burden onto the shoulders of a reader. When reading different stories, antagonists might provoke sympathetic thoughts. A character that has the ability to spring the feeling of pity upon a reader can force a mixed perception of the activities during a story. Antagonists have had the unnoticeable trait of creating a lenity for themselves. Polyphemus, the antagonist Cyclops from the epic poem
In our world it is hard to indicate whether it is genuine when an individual is treated in a kind matter or being deceived in order to get exploited for something in one’s possession. It is quite unfortunate that in this world, homo sapiens use a gift such as kindness in order to deceive and get whatever they desire, instead of being genuinely kind to one another. A person should not have to doubt the truthfulness behind someone’s kindness towards them. The readers of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby experience this false goodness and deception, through the false belief that Jay Gatsby is a kind hearted soul, with a pure and white soul; Contrary to that false belief, Gatsby is in truth, foolish, pathetic and a man who repeatedly sin and prove he is not
In his seminal work, Death of A Salesman, Arthur Miller portrays wretched conditions inflicting the lives of lower class people amid class-struggle in 1940s America. Miller sets the story during the great financial depression in the US , in between times after World War I and around World War II, though his characters hardly speak about the trauma of two World Wars. Miller earns an enormous success by putting an ordinary salesman as the protagonist in his play instead of putting a man of social nobility. In the play, Miller depicts his central character, Willy Loman as a destitute salesman struggling to rise up the social ladder in a capitalist society, who remains deluded by a 'dream of success ' and takes on a relentless pursuit of happiness that eventually brings his tragic demise. Though some critics speak in favor of the popular account of the cause of his death being his excessive obsession with so called the American dream and the 'capitalist oppression ' ; however, many still refuse to ascribe the cause of his death to capitalist oppression, which I will use synonymously with American dream here.
“The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead” (33). In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses foil characters to elucidate Willy’s flaws that ultimately prevent him and his family from succeeding. The contrast between Charley and Willy and Bernard and Biff serves to highlight how Willy’s obsession with achieving his version of the American Dream impacts both his life and his children’s. His poor values are passed on to his children producing even more failures. ¬¬¬¬Both Charley and Willy work as salesmen, however Charley represents what Willy desired to become – successful.
In a book about a tragic love story, one would not expect to find a deeper meaning behind the dangers of jealousy or peril of lust. However, in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there is a deeper meaning beyond jealousy and love. In The Great Gatsby, the author uses an empathetic storyline as a symbol to unwittingly give a complex depiction of the nuisance that people create that not only destroy our world but our society and gives warning to what will occur if we continue the path of destruction. With this intention, the brilliant opinionated writer, expressed his opinion through symbols such as the characters he uses, the setting the story takes place in, and the objects he uses in the book.
HAPPY: What the hell! WILLY: Tell me what happened! Biff [to Happy]: I can’t talk to him! Willy is only able to cope with the reality the Biff lays before him by escaping entirely into his delusions.
While Linda enabled him, Willy could not help himself too keep ruining the good opportunities he had and turning them into some factious reality. At Willy`s funeral Biff comes to the realization that his father had all the wrong dreams and visions of success. Willy`s only dream was the fake “American Dream” that people believe will happen overnight. Willy`s failed attempts and happiness bonded into one and played a part into him creating this false reality and persona that he was the best salesman and that he was well loved by everyone around him.
In addition to Willy, Biff also has a friend who grew up and was more successful than him. While Biff was still living at home well into his thirties, Bernard was a lawyer getting ready to present a case in the Supreme Court. For example, during his conversation with Willy, Charley talks about Bernard's accomplishment by saying, ¨How do you like this kid? Gonna argue a case in front of the Supreme Court.¨ (Miller 95) Willy was ¨genuinely shocked, pained, and happy¨ (Miller 95) and wondered why his son never grew up and made their family proud like Bernard did with his family. Similarly to the absence of a father figure, both Willy and Biff had best friends who had well paying and rewarding jobs, while they were
Willy's relentless pursuit of the American Dream for himself and his sons leads to a strained relationship with Biff. However, Biff's resistance to conform to Willy's expectations creates
Willy believes that it is vital to have a job in business, a wife and financial stability. Biff then reveals his point of view, mentioning how he doesn’t want to live his father’s life, or follow his version of the American dream. Miller’s play portrays the idea of how there is no true definition of the American dream, which is demonstrated
Perhaps one of the foremost pieces of American literature, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald conveys the shortcomings of the American dream in the roaring 20s. Various uses of mood, symbolism, and color reflect Gatsby's dynamic emotional dilemmas concerning his idealistic love for Daisy, his business and personal morals and eventually his death. The largely dark, pessimistic mood of The Great Gatsby is characterized by the purposelessness and carelessness of the wealthy, the ongoing string of meaningless parties, the ugliness of the Valley of Ashes, and the tragic deaths of Gatsby and Myrtle. Regarding Gatsby’s emotional dilemma, a similar mood is conveyed in two separate events of when Gatsby and Daisy reunite and during Gatsby’s funeral
In one scene, Biff admits to his father that “he is a dime a dozen”. This proves that Biff is aware of the fact that he has wasted his life chasing something that will never be. In his final conversation with his father, he attempts to make him see that he is a failure as well by saying “You were never anything put hard-working drummer who landed in the ash van lieke all the rest of thgem! I’m one dollar an hour, Willy!”. Willy, however, never admits the fact that his son and him are both losers.
Love is the most powerful and mysterious force in the universe and a vital part of love is one’s sexuality, because it decides who you love. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a tragic novel set in the roaring twenties. The central theme in the story is love, and what it means in this time period of extravagance and lavish lifestyles. Questions arise about power and wealth, and what this signifies in a romantic relationship. The reality is that this is a loveless tale, because there is no love between the characters.
When he is unable to get a new job where he doesn’t have to drive, his views of success crumble. Willy wants to able to achieve the success he desires only through Biff, but this changes when Biff learns of the affair. Ultimately, Willy’s view of success led him to a life in the complete opposite
This cancelled his plans to be a collegiate football player. Ever since then, things have kept going on a downhill path for Biff. Willy and Linda both notice this and it devastates them. But, instead of helping his son, Willy becomes agitated for the rest of his life. He expected his son to be better but, Biff did not want to be better.