When thinking about the literature we've covered, the order in which Holmes had us read makes a ton of sense. Death of a Salesman and The American Dream have essentially the same message: The American Dream is now dead, quit wasting your time, and find real satisfaction. However, the way this message was served was completely different. Two plays, two ways.
The American Dream was my first experience with theater of the absurd, and I have to say, I'm quite taken by it. I loved the biting satire, the surreal nature of Grandma's boxes, and that sometimes to see the truth, you need a trip down the rabbit hole. Through the childlike diction and bickering of Mommy and Daddy, Albee creates an image of an emotionally stunted America, too entranced by the shiny and new to care about the opinion and well being of the old and wisest, Grandma. In this caricature of America, adults are so quick to agree with what the authority thinks they discount the truth and common sense (The hat was BEIGE!). It's all good fun until Albee shocks you with the horrific vision of Mommy and Daddy dismembering the baby, and you see the truly dark side of The American Dream. We're destroying our future and ourselves. With the actions of Grandma we see that The American Dream has changed. It once stood for individuality, freedom, and honest labor back in Grandma's pioneer days. She exits once the hollow, polished dream takes up residence with Mommy and Daddy.
In contrast to the farcical style in The American Dream, Death of A Salesman is too real to be at all amusing. Willy Loman is the man who tried and failed. Despite his ambitions for himself and his sons, he was never a success and has to retreat into his own imagination in order to survive his disappointment. Willy lived under a delusion that what people think of you, a good smile, easy manner, can make all the difference. In the end though, what matters is to whom you were born. Despite his seniority, Willy is treated deferentially by Howard, who simply had to inherit the business. He is tormented by Biff's lack of success, yet cannot bear to think he is the cause of it. Ironically, by having Biff's impression of Willy completely torn down due to his infidelity, he saves Biff from his fate. Biff chooses to reject Willy's lessons and live "out west", where we can presume is still in the pioneer spirit of self industry and fulfillment.
It makes a lot of sense to group these two books together. The theme of both of the novels is essentially the same. It's good that you didn't just summarize the novels, but explained the themes, important details, and meanings of them. Those will be the most important things to remember when it comes to an AP open prompt. Although large paragraphs are sometimes intimidating to study from, you included a lot of good and helpful information.
ReplyDeleteGrouping this novel and play together makes a lot of sense to me. Both focus on the American Dream and how basically it is fake. The American Dream was also my first introduction to the theater of the absurd. However, I am not too fond of it. You do a great job of explaining the stories and more importantly their themes and ideas. Great work.
ReplyDeleteThis is a LOT of space for lit. What about close reading, annotation, critical theory, history of lit., allusions, Foster, terms, and so on?
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