Similarities Between Death Of A Salesman And Hamlet

Death of a Salesman and Hamlet contain similar moral dilemmas that challenge the characters to make tough decisions and handle difficult knowledge about loved ones. Both of the characters struggled with the difficult reality of the truth. The complex characters Hamlet and Biff both experience the same grim reality of one of their parents committing an affair, and this leads to the characters losing trust in people and pulling away from the people around them.

Firstly, both of the characters lost their ability to trust people. On one hand, Biff from the death of a salesman realized this reality from surprising his dad on a business trip, just to realize that his father was having an affair. One example of this damaging personality trait is when

Biff immediately realized and comprehended how his father could lie to him which, caused Biff to lose trust and respect for all of his father's accomplishments. This is shown when Biff says to his father, “Pop, I'm a dime a dozen, and so are you" (“lines in death of a salesman that show Biff losing trust”). He realized how all of the hard work his father has done and all of the professional relationships his father has built meant nothing. Biff knows his father cannot be trusted and his father has worked extremely hard for the “American dream.” Although this dream has not allowed his father to live a fulfilling life. Biff immediately loses the trust of his parent, but on the other hand, Hamlet had a different experience with comprehending his parent's immoral decision. Hamlet was never fortunate enough to be able to experience first hand that his mother had an affair. This hinting and questioning is displayed when Hamlet confronted his mother about her actions saying, "Nay, but to live/ In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed/ Stew'd in corruption, honeying and making love” (“lines showing hamlet losing trust”). It is clear that Hamlet suspects that the vows of

While Biff is arguing with his father he becomes very emotional and confronting he exclaims, "We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house" (“lines from death of a salesman that shows biffs respect for the family”). It is clear that Biff has created distance from his family and this loss of trusting relationships affects him in his professional life. He never can get over what his father has done which causes him to reject his father's aspirations for him of chasing and achieving the “American dream.” Contrary to Hamlet, Biff does not have a companion he can trust wholeheartedly. This is why he ran far away to live a simple life that does not involve having to deal with lies and deception. The realization of his father having an affair made him create distance between himself and the world and it became a trait that he was never able to overcome. similarly, Hamlet starts to feel distant from people and he can not understand why the people he loves would do this to him. He shows this thought and frustration by saying, “What a piece of work is the man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form, in moving, how express and admirable! In action how like an angel!” (“lines in Hamlet of Hamlet growing distant from freinds/family”). This line represents how much faith and respect he has for humans. His thought process is how such a well-developed and brilliant mind of any human