Themes
After reading the different plays for this week, I perceive that they all had some similarities in their themes, nonetheless; the two plays that I believe had several themes in common, where “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller and “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams. Some themes discussed in the plays were parental control, denial of reality, and the abandonment of a parent. Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams provide readers with a reflective lens that embodies a different element of the American family structure. You do not have to look too far to relate to the themes presented in both plays.
In “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller, Willy was not only controlling of his boys Biff and Happy, but he also plans their future.
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Amanda, who is obsessed with trying to find a suitor for her daughter, encourages her son Tom to set his sister Laura up with a colleague from work. The get-together that took place at the house of Amanda and her children left Laura surprised after realizing her date was someone she had a crush on in high school who was now engaged to another woman. Amanda who also controls Tom, tells him to secure his job at the shoe warehouse, even though he hates the job. Williams writes, “What right have you got to jeopardize your job? Jeopardize the security of us all? How do you think we’d manage if you were-” (Qtd in Barnet, Burto and Cain p. …show more content…
Wingfield abandoned Amanda and her children. Something that left a lifelong consequence on the family since his son Tom had to mature at an early age and serve has the breadwinner for the family. Distraught by the abandonment of his father’s and unable to let go, Tom generates displeasing memories of his father behavior. He did not only blames him for the misfortunes in his life besides; he also blame his behavior as a contributing factor to why he walks out on his sister and mother. Tom, who went away from his mother and sister sees it as a way of getting away from his mother who did not only blame him for not telling them all about Jim (Laura’s suitor) moreover; did not appreciate him despite all he did for their family. Williams writes, “All right, I will! The more you shout about my selfishness to me the quicker I’ll go, and I won’t go to the movies!” (Qtd in Barnet, Burto, and Cain, p.