Compare and Contrast: Death of a Salesman & Oedipus Essay

Comp are and CotrastSeparated by almost 3000 old age of literature, ii plays give the axe still contain similar elements and characteristics that tie the ii together. This is the case mingled with the cardinal plays, Oedipus The King and its counterpart termination of a Salesman, one written approximately 430 BC and the other written in 1949. When first reading this book, one might question, what could these stories possibly turn in in common one is about a king who discovers he has eradicateed his come and copulated with his mother and the other about a salesman with suicidal tendencies and unattainable dreams. As the reader further analysis the story, the underlying similarities become more ostensible even as one might say that there are no relations between the two stories. Looking into the main hotshot of both plays, we realize that they are strikingly similar in aspects associate to their victorious personality, demeanor, and temperament, tout ensemble quite see ming(a) in the way they parcel out their personal conflicts which leads to their eventual downfalls. Analyzing these characters their shared traits become quite obvious to the reader.Divulging the two plays, we are faced with these two characters with strikingly similar personalities. Both disdainful men, this trait becomes quite apparent when addressing other of their own merits. In the precise beginning of the play Oedipus the King, Oedipus is addressing the conditions of the people and instead of really addressing the issues of the plague Oedipus uses it as an excuse to praise him egotism further saying , Here I am my self- you all know me, the public knows my fame I am Oedipus ( Sophocles 1156 6-8). His words of rhodomontade show his joyful personality, that he is above all and that he is know by all even as far to say the mankind knows his fame (1156 7). As the play moves further along, his pride becomes more and more evident when Tiresias the screen prophet has named h im the corruption and curse of the land. He shrugs it off and denies it with out of true confidence responding to her saying you cant hurt me or anyone else who sees the light- you can never touch me (1167 427-428). The delivery andway Oedipus says this statement is said with a hurt pride covered up by specious confidence. In the same way, Willy, the main protagonist of Death of a Salesman, is a quite prideful man who covers up his own short comings with grandeur delusions and absurd confidence in himself.In one instance, speaking to his boys, giving them advice on how to succeed WILLY Because the man who makes an appearance in the assembly line world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never inadequacy. You undertake me, for instance. I never have to wait in line to see a emptor. Willy Loman is here Thats all they have to know, and I go responsibility through ( Death of a Salesman 1435. Act I) Willy gives seemingly sound advice alone he also takes it as an opportunity to puff out his chest in bravado and say that he himself is well liked by everyone never having to wait in line to see a buyer (1435. Act I) . This is all for show, priding himself as a man who has succeeded in the world of business, in truth it is nothing more there mere false confidence. When addressing his wife about his trips up north to New England and his sales he contradicts himself when he say that he is very well liked in Hartford the trouble is people dont seem to take to me (1437. Act I). All this false confidence and pride comes to light when he makes such statements even though he knows otherwise. Both Oedipus and Willy have this prideful personality that allows the play to propel of it, eventually leading to their own self demise in one way or another.Referencing to their own self demise, the eventual paths they choose leads to the outcomes of how the stories end up. How this goes about is how they decide their own fates , choosing to pass around with situations in the wrong ways or all together ignoring others all together in beliefs that they are in the right. In the story Death of a Salesman, Willy is tolerateed with financial issues which become apparent when he and Linda are discussing the calendar months payments in which he owes a hundred and twenty dollars If his business doesnt pick up he wont know what hes gonna do (1436 Act I). This caper could have simply been remedied when his neighbor had come for a visitCHARLEY You want a job?WILLY I got a job, I told you that. (After a sparse pause). What the hell are you offering me a job for?CHARLEY Dont get insulted.WILLY Dont insult me. (1440 Act I)The way he handled the situation was poor at best, and he had done so in a prideful manner as though his dignity was be attacked. Instead he could have simply looked into the possible venture which would have helped with monetary issues at home. These monetary issues attributed to his eventual sui cide later on in the play. It becomes apparent that Willy deals with such situations with anger, a hint of anger and as though he himself was organism attacked. Oedipus deals with his incestuous problem with the same mannerisms. When he himself has been accused of causing the plague in the city by Tiresias the blind prophet, he denies fault instead saying that Creon has put her up to it in order to over through him in which he says to Creon himself You-here? You have the rancor to show your face before the palace gates? You, plotting to kill me, kill the king-I see it all, the marauding thief himself scheming to steal my crown and powerfulness (Sophocles 1171 594-598). Here we see him dealing with the situation poorly with angst, as though he himself was being attacked.. Instead of tackling with the issue head on, he prefers to repress the blame and instead play the victim. The two protagonist of both plays, confront their own problems with anger, and a feeling as though they th emselves were under fire, that they were being criticized. These lead to their eventual downfall as the plays slowly progress forrader fueled by their own decisions and mannerisms.Tying all these elements together the two main protagonist become the major point of most of the similarities between Oedipus the King and Death of a Salesman. Their behavior and personality reflect that of prideful man who hides behind false bravados and confidence in attempts to avoid their problems. Their attempts to avoid the problem lie in the way they handle situations with anger and a feeling as though they were under criticism. All this brings the plays to a in effect(p) circle, having the two main protagonists bring about their own self destruction. unravel CitedMiller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Charters, Ann, and Samuel Barclay. lit and Its Writers An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 5th ed. Boston Bedford, 1997.1155-1199. Print. Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Charters, Ann, and Sam uel Barclay. Literature and Its Writers An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 5th ed. Boston Bedford, 1997.1155-1199. Print.