Arthur Miller s Death Of A Salesman And John Steinbeck

Arthur Miller in his play Death of a Salesman and John Steinbeck in his novella Of Mice and Men portray characters in light of hopelessness and not achieving the American dream. Although the play and the novel are different, they share clear similarities. Characters in both texts want to pursue the American dream. Steinbeck set the novel in 1937 because the Great Depression had started nine years before. Steinbeck may have set the novel at the time to show the impact the Depression had on migrant workers and people who were living in America. This shows hopelessness and the failed American Dream because many businesses failed at the time and there was a lot of poverty. This suggests that people were poorly paid even though they worked for a living. On the other hand, Death of a Salesman was written in 1949 after World War II. However, the economic boom started in America 1920 and was after World War I. Even though, the war did not directly affect American society, the demand for Amer ican good was rising rapidly and this caused rapid growth for the farming and industries. These circumstances inspired the authors to portray real life characters in their struggle. Of Mice and Men shows the loss of hope and the broken American Dream because George and Lennie were migrant workers travelling to find work. Also, migrant workers who worked on the ranch struggled with the low wages that they earned. This meant that when George and Lennie did find work, they were unable to save andShow MoreRelatedOf Mice And Men By John Steinbeck1452 Words   |  6 PagesThe novella â€Å"Of Mice and Men† by John Steinbeck (published in 1937) and the play â€Å"Death of a Salesman† by Arthur Miller (published in 1949) both focus on the idea of the American dream creating a better life for oneself in a land of opportunity. However, both texts question whether this dream is achievable or just an illusion which is unattainable. Steinbecks novella â€Å"Of Mice and Men† tells the tale of two migrant ranch workers, George and Lennie, with a dream of getting their own farm. The genuineRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1051 Words   |  5 PagesBesides the American Dream, the theme of death plays a major role and is recurring in both texts. From the novel ‘Of mice and men’, both Lennie and Curley’s Wife die. From this we can deduce that they both got killed due to their differences and society looking at them in a different way. Both texts also foreshadow the future deaths from the beginning to the end of the texts, there is hints everywhere. The moment that Curley’s Wife was introduced, an ill feeling overcame the atmosphere indicatingRead MoreAnalysis Of Of Mice And Men And Death Of A Salesman1810 Words   |  8 PagesAmerican Dream is the idea that opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. I will be examinin g how John Steinbeck and Arthur Miller elucidates the theme of hopelessness ingrained in the American Dream, through the analysis of the many characters in their texts(Of Mice And Men Death Of A Salesman).Of Mice And Men was set in 1937,it had been set in the event of the great depression , at this time unemployment rate had boosted up, thus leavingRead MoreAnalysis Of Death Of A Salesman And Of Mice And Men 1943 Words   |  8 PagesArthur Miller and John Steinbeck portray the failure and hopelessness of the American dream in the play â€Å"Death of a Salesman† and in the novella â€Å"Of Mice and Men†. The American Dream is the idea that any man or woman can make his or her own fortune, despite his or her past. The principles of the American dream are hard work and determination it is believed that this will ensures success. Through the creation of the main characters of the play and novella Arthur Miller and John Steinbeck show thatRead MoreGatsby As A Utopian Society Essay1236 Words   |  5 PagesHowever, the same concept also proves true beyond America. As it symbolizes the death of an equal, Utopian American society, Gatsby’s death parallels the immediate setting descriptions in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne notes that, despite their original goals of a virtuous Utopia, the founders of the colony â€Å"invariably recognized it† as necessary to, first and foremost, â€Å"allot a portion of the virgin soil† for both a prison and a cemetery (Hawthorne, 39). This colony cannot beRead MoreEssay about Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck3008 Words   |  13 PagesOf Mice and Men By John Steinbeck 1. How significant is the theme of loneliness in Of Mice and Men? 2. To what extent is it correct that The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman and Of Mice and Men explore important, but different aspects of ‘The American Dream’? 3. What is the importance of dreams and dreaming to the success of Of Mice and Men? A. Background Information Describe the historical background to the novel i.e. the USA in the mid/late 1930’s The USA of the midRead MoreBrief Survey of American Literature3339 Words   |  14 PagesAmerican / American Indian oral literature / oral tradition creation storiesï ¼Ë†Ã¨ µ ·Ã¦ º Ã§ ¥Å¾Ã¨ ¯ Ã¯ ¼â€° trickster talesï ¼Ë†Ã¦  ¶Ã¤ ½Å"å‰ §Ã¨â‚¬â€¦Ã¤ ¼  Ã¥ ¥â€¡Ã¯ ¼â€° rituals / ceremoniesï ¼Ë†Ã¥â€¦ ¸Ã¤ » ªÃ¯ ¼â€° songs / chantsï ¼Ë†Ã¦â€º ²Ã¨ ¯ Ã¯ ¼â€° Anglo Settlers’ Writings Highly religious and pragmatic - John Smith, founder of Jamestown, Virginia; Pocahontas - John Winthrop, â€Å"A Model of Christian Charity†: â€Å"†¦ We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  - William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation (1630-50, pub. 1856) - Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)