Similarities Between Death Of A Salesman And The Man He Killed By Thomas Hardy

The comment made by John Lennon that "life is what happens while you're busy making other plans" strikes a chord with the unpredictability and inherent conflict that permeates every aspect of human existence. Both "Death of a Salesman" (1949) by Arthur Miller and "The Man He Killed" (1902) by Thomas Hardy are works of literature, yet they couldn't be more different from one another. Both focus on the complexities of life as their primary focal point. Both the moving play by Miller and the stirring poem by Hardy, which were written over fifty years apart, intersect in their examination of the common human experience, including the inherent conflict that exists between duties, ambitions, and the harsh facts of reality.

The protagonist of Arthur

Willy is a victim of the seductive but misleading attraction of the American Dream, which drives him to pursue success and adulation at any cost. However, the fact that his job is going nowhere and that his goals aren't being met leads to feelings of hopelessness and disappointment. On the other hand, Hardy's soldier in "The Man He Killed" goes through an analogous struggle within himself. In spite of the fact that he is obligated to the military and has been conditioned by the experience of war, the humanistic side of him emerges when he thinks back on the life of the guy he killed and imagines him as a friend in a different setting. This internal conflict that both characters go through helps to humanize them, making them more approachable to the reader while also highlighting the personal strain that arises from societal and occupational

The irony that stands out the most in "Death of a Salesman" is found in the story's title: it describes the passing of a salesperson who was never able to fully realize his ambition. The American Dream has become a metaphor for the irony of cultural frameworks that promise achievement but frequently lead to sadness, and this disillusionment of the American Dream is one such construct. The irony is utilized in "The Man He Killed" through the cruel turn of events that leads to the destruction of a prospective friendship due to the capriciousness of war. The ironic and sad twist that war imposes on mankind is symbolized by the soldier who is ordered to kill rather than make friends with the