Comparisons in Death of a Salesman and Oedipus the King - Essay Example

COMPARISONS IN DEATH OF A SALESMAN, THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET, AND OEDIPUS THE KING Introduction The comparison of the three ics, viz. Death of aSalesman, Hamlet and Oedipus the King appear daunting because of the vast difference in the time zones they were written. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller having been written in 1949 is the latest followed by Hamlet written sometime between 1599 and 1601 A.D. with Oedipus the King going way back to the Greek era in 429 B.C. However, what appear to makes these classics comparable is the use of supernatural or strange elements in all of these books. Arthur Miller consistently makes use of Willy’s past to engross the reader in his Death of a Salesman. Willy keeps traversing into his past life in order to safeguard his present. This stance costs him his life in the end. William Shakespeare too uses the ghost of the past to haunt Hamlet which also ultimately costs the protagonist his life. Sophocles does not spare Oedipus the King either. Oedipus has a tryst with the past that also leads to his banishment. Family tragedies The comparison and contrasts in these stories are entwined with the internal family conflicts. In Hamlet and Oedipus, the family scenarios occur at the highest levels. The rulers were not so family-oriented when Death of a Salesman was written. In the times of Oedipus and Hamlet, rulers were accorded divine status. The struggles, intrigues, tragedies, and charades usually led to members within family circles. The dilemma of the queens, Jocasta in Oedipus and Gertrude in Hamlet, has connections with their spouses’ wrong doings.1 Hamlet Jr. wreaks vengeance upon his father, Hamlet Senior’s murder. In the case of Oedipus, the gouging of his own eyes and subsequent banishment are self-inflicted. Willy commits suicide in the Death of a Salesman. However, in the case of Willy, he tries to safeguard his family interests after this death through insurance. Ghosts There is no sign of ghosts in Death of a Salesman and Oedipus. Figuratively, it can be said that Willy lived with the ghost of his past. By the same argument, it can also be said that Oedipus finds something strange when he is told that his father was killed by someone at a place where three roads meet.2 However, Hamlet Senior’s ghost recurrently haunts the Elsinore castle and is visible to the guards, and Horatio and Marcellus (Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 1). Of the three stories, the ghost in Hamlet guides the actions of the chief players, directly or indirectly. The ghost is not visible to the present king, Claudius, or his wife, Gertrude. However they come within the ambit of his influence over Hamlet Jr. The faith The ultimate triumph of good over evil is present in all the three classics. Hamlet Jr. kills his uncle, the present ruler. Oedipus finds that he is the man responsible for his father’s death. Willy realizes that he cannot go on manipulating the present with his past (Death of a Salesman, Act 2, Scene 14). The element of faith is present although its effects do devastate the protagonists in all the three stories. The outcome of faith does not always ________________________________________________________________________ 1Sophocles and Hamlet (Regained). The previous husbands of Jocasta and Gertrude were killed by their present husbands (Sophocles, and Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2) 2Oedipus had killed Laius at a place where three roads met. Unknown to Oedipus at that time, Laius was Oedipus’ father. favor the protagonists although it may throw its light on the good deeds performed by the protagonists. The heroes in the three novels sacrifice their lives or kingdom in order to secure the ends of justice. Willy’s suicide can hardly measure up to the needs of faith in Death of a Salesman. Oedipus’ gouging out his own eyes hardly measures up to the requirements of faith either. In both cases, the reactions of the protagonists appear to be emotional overreactions. How the dead characters affect the living characters and the wives The dead characters play active roles for various purposes in the three classics. Deaths of lead players like Hamlet Senior and Laius have already taken place when these stories begin. The ghost of Hamlet Senior starts to appear from the beginning of the story. His appearance has profound effect on the guards and Horatio and Marcellus. The ghost appears to Hamlet Junior towards the end of the story when Hamlet Jr confronts his mother and kills Polonius. However, the ghost is not visible to Gertrude who appears to see her son talking to himself like a madman (Act 2, Scene 11). Polonius’ daughter, Ophelia, dies too towards the end. Hamlet Jr uses his attraction for Ophelia to the distraction of his mother and the king. King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Laertes, and Hamlet Jr too die in the end. But while they are alive they are affected by the ghost of Hamlet Senior. The ghost plots vengeance and his target is Claudius. However, the families of Hamlet and Polonius get wiped out. In the Death of a Salesman only Willy dies in the end. He dies a broken hearted man. Willy’s wife, Linda, plays the role of a moderator reconciling father and son at every stage in the story. She loses out in the end when Biff refuses any attempt at reconciliation. Willy’s solace is, however, in his knowledge that his wife and children are not bereft of funds. He has reached the end of the road quoting his past. This strategy does not work any longer because his son, Biff, has lost faith in his father and although Biff shows his love for his father even in the end, it does little to bring about any change in Willy’s resolve to commit suicide (Act 2, Scenes 13 and 14). In Oedipus the King the only one dead is Laius. Laius is dead and gone. He does not exert any influence on any character in the story. But Thebes is smitten with plague and the killer of Laius must be found to get rid of the plague. Oedipus is ready to banish the killer if he is found. Ultimately, it becomes known that the killer is Oedipus himself. The end is disastrous. In the circumstances, Oedipus goes into exile (Sophocles). Conclusion The comparisons in the Death of a Salesman, Hamlet and Oedipus the King significantly bring these classics closer to each other as a genre. Whether it is the question of Willy manipulating his past, Hamlet using Ophelia as smokescreen, or Oedipus finding himself cornered, the writers convincingly weave the basics to portray ethereal along with reality. Each writer reveals mastery in blending characters and situations. It is this unique feature that has made these stories a saga by their own right and form. Sources: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, http://education.yahoo.com/homework_help/cliffsnotes/death_of_a_salesman/5.html Hamlet (Regained), http://www.hamletregained.com/index.html Sophocles, Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King Study Guide, Grade Saver, http://www.gradesaver.com/oedipus-rex-or-oedipus-the-king/study-guide/short-summary/ Read More