Compare and contrast Jay Gatsby and Willy Loman
The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman Comparison EssayIn The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is the main character that believes in American Dream. This characteristic is also identical to the characteristic of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman because he carries the same belief; however, they hold the same belief tightly for different purposes: Gatsby strives to gain his first love back where as Willy just wants his family to live happier from success. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby repeatedly looks upon the "green light"(p.90), at the end of the dock across the water, as his hope towards his love, Daisy. The "green light" is always there, representing the "unreachable" Daisy. Later, when Gatsby finally meets Daisy who is not the same person anymore.He knew Daisy is now married and could not give up her family, he is disappointed and the "green light" becomes unreal like their relationship and evokes to an "enchanted object" he cannot attain because it is a false hope. Gatsby believes in the American Dream so greatly because he believes he can get everything (including Daisy) if he suceeds. In Death of a Salesman, Willy also looks upon Dave Singleman (p.81), who is a salesman he met before, as his hope of American Dream an
Yet, he does not realize that there is nothing successful about Singleman. 78) despite the fact that he is short on money. This would be the same for himself to success eventually. Yet, he misjudges his ability to change the time and there is nothing he can do anymore because it is too late for him to turn everything back to the past. When Howard, Willy's boss, shows him the recording machine, Willy is amazed by the change of technology and tries to keep up the change by saying, "I think I'll get one myself. Although his friend, Nick tries to warn Gatsby, Gatsby insists on his American Dream that he can do everything if he succeeds; he wants to repeat the past. For example, Willy says, "I don't want a change! I want Swiss cheese. In Death of a Salesman, Willy does everything for his family, especially his beloved son, Biff. They both are tragic heroes who truly believe in the American Dream and sacrificed many things (including their lives) for their love ones, yet all they have done have come to naught like "boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (p. He believes that being well liked is the key to success and Singleman seems to achieve that.
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