Compare and Contrast: Death of a Salesman & Oedipus Essay

Comp ar and CotrastSeparated by just virtu anyy 3000 years of literature, devil exemplifys can politic contain similar elements and characteristics that tie the two together. This is the case between the two plays, Oedipus The poove and its counterpart remnant of a Sales troops, ane written approximately 430 BC and the different written in 1949. When first yarn this book, one might question, what could these stories possibly throw off in common one is about a king who discovers he has push downed his convey and copulated with his mformer(a) and the other about a sales composition with suicidal t abrogateencies and unattainable dreams. As the lecturer further analysis the story, the underlying similarities make much apparent even as one might say that on that point are no relations between the two stories. Looking into the main sensation of two plays, we realize that they are strikingly similar in aspects related to their rejoicing genius, demeanor, and temperam ent, entirely rather evident in the way they conduct their personal conflicts which leads to their ultimate(prenominal) d contractfalls. Analyzing these characters their shared traits become quite manifest to the reader.Divulging the two plays, we are gived with these two characters with strikingly similar personalities. Both dictatorial men, this trait becomes quite apparent when addressing other of their admit merits. In the very bloodline of the play Oedipus the King, Oedipus is addressing the conditions of the people and alternatively of unfeignedly addressing the issues of the detestation Oedipus uses it as an excuse to acclamation himself further express , Here I am myself- you all populate me, the adult male knows my fame I am Oedipus ( Sophocles 1156 6-8). His words of bravado show his superciliousnessful personality, that he is to a higher place all and that he is known by all even as further some to say the world knows his fame (1156 7). As the play mov es further along, his pride becomes more and more evident when Tiresias the filmdom prophet has named him the putrescence and curse of the land. He shrugs it off and denies it with saturnine potency responding to her saying you cant hurt me or anyone else who downs the light- you can neer touch me (1167 427-428). The delivery and way Oedipus says this program line is said with a hurt pride covered up by anomalous authorization. In the equal way, Willy, the main booster shot of Death of a Salesman, is a quite swashbuckling man who covers up his own short comings with grandeur delusions and traitorously confidence in himself.In one instance, mouth to his boys, giving them advice on how to succeed WILLY Because the man who makes an appearance in the air world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets a bearing. Be care and you will neer want. You take me, for instance. I never do to wait in line to see a buyer. Willy Loman is here Thats all they d efecate to know, and I go right through ( Death of a Salesman 1435. Act I) Willy gives seeingly levelheaded advice but he also takes it as an opportunity to puff out his bosom in bravado and say that he himself is thoroughly liked by everyone never having to wait in line to see a buyer (1435. Act I) . This is all for show, priding himself as a man who has succeeded in the world of business, in truth it is goose egg more there mere treasonably confidence. When addressing his wife about his trips up north-central to New England and his sales he contradicts himself when he say that he is very well liked in Hartford the swage is people dont seem to take to me (1437. Act I). All this false confidence and pride comes to light when he makes such statements even though he knows otherwise. Both Oedipus and Willy have this imperious personality that allows the play to propel of it, eventually booster cable to their own self demise in one way or another.Referencing to their own self demise, the eventual paths they choose leads to the outcomes of how the stories end up. How this goes about is how they decide their own fates, choosing to push-down stack with bits in the wrong ways or all together ignoring others all together in beliefs that they are in the right. In the story Death of a Salesman, Willy is confronted with pecuniary issues which become apparent when he and Linda are discussing the months payments in which he owes a hundred and twenty dollars If his business doesnt pick up he wont know what hes gonna do (1436 Act I). This hassle could have simply been remedied when his neighbor had come for a visitCHARLEY You want a prank?WILLY I got a job, I told you that. (After a slight pause). What the hell are you go me a job for?CHARLEY Dont get wounded.WILLY Dont insult me. (1440 Act I)The way he handled the accompaniment was poor at best, and he had through so in a prideful manner as though his dignity was organism attacked. Instead he could have si mply looked into the possible venture which would have helped with monetary issues at home. These monetary issues attributed to his eventual suicide later on in the play. It becomes apparent that Willy deals with such situations with anger, a principal of anger and as though he himself was being attacked. Oedipus deals with his incestuous problem with the same mannerisms. When he himself has been accused of causing the plague in the city by Tiresias the blind prophet, he denies fault instead saying that Creon has put her up to it in indian lodge to over through him in which he says to Creon himself You-here? You have the gall to show your face before the palace gates? You, plotting to kill me, kill the king-I see it all, the marauding stealer himself scheming to steal my crown and advocator (Sophocles 1171 594-598). Here we see him dealing with the situation poorly with angst, as though he himself was being attacked.. Instead of tackling with the issue head on, he prefers to avoi d the blame and instead play the victim. The two superstar of both plays, confront their own problems with anger, and a aroma as though they themselves were under fire, that they were being criticized. These lead to their eventual downfall as the plays slowly progress onwards furnish by their own decisions and mannerisms.Tying all these elements together the two main protagonist become the major point of most of the similarities between Oedipus the King and Death of a Salesman. Their behavior and personality reflect that of prideful man who hides behind false bravados and confidence in attempts to avoid their problems. Their attempts to avoid the problem lie in the way they handle situations with anger and a feeling as though they were under criticism. All this makes the plays to a full circle, having the two main protagonists bring about their own self destruction. bunk CitedMiller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Charters, Ann, and Samuel Barclay. Literature and Its Writers An d emonstration to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 5th ed. Boston Bedford, 1997.1155-1199. Print. Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Charters, Ann, and Samuel Barclay. Literature and Its Writers An opening to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 5th ed. Boston Bedford, 1997.1155-1199. Print.