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Expectations And Pressure In Willy Loman's Death Of A Salesman

601 Words3 Pages

Thesis
The father and son relationship is a fundamental theme that resonates across literature, often serving as a source of conflict, growth, and emotional exploration. The protagonists of both plays deal with their own struggles from their relationships with their fathers as they explore themes of expectations and pressure, struggles for personal identity and the consequences of unresolved emotional bonds. The work below seeks to clarify the meaning of these interactions and how they impact the lives of the characters by exploring the similarities and differences between the two .

Expectations and Pressure
In both "Death of a Salesman" and "Hamlet," the fathers place significant expectations and pressures on their sons. Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman" constantly emphasizes the importance of success and the American Dream to his sons, Biff and Happy. Willy's relentless pursuit of material achievement leads to the imposition of his aspirations on his children, fostering a sense of disappointment and unfulfillment. Similarly, in "Hamlet," the ghost of King Hamlet compels his son to avenge his murder, burdening Hamlet with the weight of this duty. The pressure to meet societal expectations …show more content…

In "Death of a Salesman," Biff Loman wrestles with his own aspirations and dreams, conflicted between conforming to his father's expectations and pursuing a path that aligns with his true self. Willy's inability to accept Biff's individuality strains their relationship, leaving Biff disillusioned. Similarly, in "Hamlet," the titular character grapples with his own identity in relation to his father. Hamlet's contemplation and existential crisis stem from the clash between his own desires and the duty imposed upon him by his father's ghost. The struggle for personal identity emerges as a recurring motif, highlighting the impact of the father-son relationship on the sons' sense of

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