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One of the most popular essays that you will be tasked with writing especially in literature is a comparison essay. A comparison essay shows your ability to understand two different texts, analyze them, and notice their similarities and differences. To do a fences and death of a salesman comparison essay, you need to go through both plays keenly, noting the central themes, the characters, the plot, and how they are similar or different. If you have trouble doing this, or you do not have enough time, do not let it bring you down. Paper per Hour can help you with it.
Fences and Death of
a Salesman comparison essay
Fences and Death of a Salesman tell a story of two complex men struggling to achieve the American dream. Troy and Willy are not perfect men, they have encountered failure that has changed their lives. They also encounter immense struggles trying to make a better life for themselves. Both of them embark on a journey to a better future through different means. These two plays revolve around themes of the American dream, family, race, social class, and denial.
Fences is a play by August Wilson. It tells the story of one Troy Maxson, an African American whose dream of playing baseball for a major league was squashed since by the time major leagues started accepting black players, he was deemed too old to play. Troy settles for a job as a garbage collector and raising his family. Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is a story about a white salesman who loses his identity as a well-loved father, husband, and friend but has a hard time accepting the truth. His refusal to accept that he is not as successful as he’d like everyone to believe and that neither is he as good as he thinks and this leads to his suicide.
The American dream
The American dream seems to be such a fleeting dream for the two main characters. In Fences, Troy struggles as a garbage collector. As the play begins, he is seen asking why black garbage collectors are not allowed to drive the garbage trucks. This provides the readers with a sneak peek of what Troy has had to put up with all his life. He is discriminated against just because he is black. Troy plays baseball for the better part of his life. Unfortunately, his efforts are never appreciated since they deny him a chance to play professionally because of his color. He cannot let go of this failure and it becomes a recurring theme throughout the play.
Willy is not doing any better in his pursuit of the American Dream. As a salesperson, his strength to travel and convince clients is waning, leaving him a bitter man. He refuses to see the change happening around him, choosing instead to live under the illusion that to be successful, he has to be liked. He is so bent on becoming successful that he loses sight of what he already has. His unrealistic opinions do not end with his job. Willy is convinced that his son is meant for greatness. Unfortunately, the son disappoints him and he cannot seem to wrap that around his head.
The two men are so bent on making it that they give their all to the American dream. Unfortunately, their hard work does not seem to bear any fruits, and the mistakes they make along the way make the dream get further away from them.
Denial
In the face of reality, both Troy and Willy choose to live in denial of it. Troy starts an affair with Alberta because he feels like such a failure. Instead of facing the reality and finding another way of making it, he decides to cheat on his wife. He also tries to run away from his family because he feels worthless with nothing to show to his family. Willy does not want to accept the fact that he cheated on his wife, forcing his son to lie for him. When he does not get as successful as he thought he would be, he ends up killing himself instead of accepting that reality.
The differences between Fences and Death of a Salesman
While the two plays have so many similarities, they are also different in some ways. Troy is an African American whose main hindrance to achieving the American dream is racial discrimination. He has to contend with the fact that he will never be a recognized baseball player because he is black. As if that is not enough, he also faces discrimination in his workplace for the same reason. Willy is a white salesman whose main hindrance to becoming a success is his illusion and financial difficulties. Willy decides to live in the past instead of doing something to change his current financial woes.
Troy and Willy also have different personalities. Troy is a hardworking man who seeks to rise above discrimination and make a name for himself. Troy loves being in control. While he cannot forget his failure in the past, Troy tries to make things work in the present. Willy is a sensitive man who thrives on the need to be liked and appreciated. He refuses to accept his inadequacy and failure and chooses to live in the past. While Troy decides to stick with his family despite feeling like a failure, Willy chooses to commit suicide and escape his failure.
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