Post by keeganw02 on Apr 7, 2008 17:39:22 GMT -5
All art and literature mirrors the society from which it springs. The works of 20th Century writers including, Death of a Salesman, The Glass Menagerie, and Fences, focus on the 20th century American family. All of these works expose the evolution of the family's dream—in which the parents wish for their children to accomplish more than them.
In the play, Fences, Troy refuses to support his son's athletic dream, so that his child could grow into a successful, self-sufficient adult. Troy failed in his professional baseball career, and he attributed his failure to the color of his skin. In reality, Troy was too old to compete, but his own self-deception comforted him. Troy's occupation as garbage-collector allowed him to support his family, but it was not the life he had imagined for himself. He wanted his children to have more opportunities in the world and become successful people. After his son, Corey was offered a spot on a college football team; he quit his job at the local grocery store so that he could practice with his high school team. When Troy found out, he demanded Corey quit the football team, and return to the grocery store to reclaim his job. Troy thought that if Corey stayed at the grocery store, he could get a managerial position, and if he pursued a career in football, he would fail. Although Troy's demands made us look at him unfavorably, he was only looking out for his son; and he wanted Corey to have a better lifestyle as an adult.
Death of a Salesman, expressed the desire of Willy Loman, to watch his son, Biff become a successful businessman. All along, Biff wanted to live the agrarian lifestyle in the west; it was his father’s dream for him to pursue a career in sales. Willy thought that since Biff was, 'well liked,' he would succeed, however he neglected the fact that Biff was not dedicated, or even trustworthy. When Biff was sent to a meeting for a business proposal, the man he claimed to have negotiated a deal with did not remember his name, and in the end, Biff stole his expensive pen, and ran away. When Biff later spoke with his father, he told Willy that he had filled him with so much hot air, that he was living in self-deception. Since Willy noticed that his dream for his son was dying, he killed himself so that Biff would inherit his money. Willy wanted Biff to have more opportunities than he had to succeed, so he sacrificed himself for his boy.
The mother's dream in the play, The Glass Menagerie, was not a financial one, but rather it was her wish for her daughter to have a husband. The mother, Amanda was left by her husband, and she feared that her disabled daughter, Laura, would be left unmarried, and would need to fend for herself. Amanda made her son, Tom find a 'gentleman caller,' and bring him home for Laura. She prepared the home, and a dinner, so that Laura and Tom would have the opportunity to get acquainted. Although Laura may have wanted someone to love, it was really the dream of her mother for Laura to marry. When Tom and the gentleman caller, Jim, knocked on the door, Amanda told Laura to answer the door. In fear, Laura refused, which shows us that she did not want the attention. Eventually, Amanda caved in, and answered the door for her daughter. The rest of the night was spent awkwardly, with what seemed to be a date between Amanda and Jim instead of Laura and Jim. Amanda did not want her daughter to experience life the way she had, without a husband. It was the dream of Amanda for her daughter to find a love, that she herself did not have.
The Glass Menagerie, Death of a Salesman, and Fences, demonstrates the desire for the children of the 1920’s to have more than their parents. In the turbulent twenties, the typical American family dreamed that their children would accomplish more than them. Twenties literature mirrors this concept, as the parental figures fight for the future of their children.
In the play, Fences, Troy refuses to support his son's athletic dream, so that his child could grow into a successful, self-sufficient adult. Troy failed in his professional baseball career, and he attributed his failure to the color of his skin. In reality, Troy was too old to compete, but his own self-deception comforted him. Troy's occupation as garbage-collector allowed him to support his family, but it was not the life he had imagined for himself. He wanted his children to have more opportunities in the world and become successful people. After his son, Corey was offered a spot on a college football team; he quit his job at the local grocery store so that he could practice with his high school team. When Troy found out, he demanded Corey quit the football team, and return to the grocery store to reclaim his job. Troy thought that if Corey stayed at the grocery store, he could get a managerial position, and if he pursued a career in football, he would fail. Although Troy's demands made us look at him unfavorably, he was only looking out for his son; and he wanted Corey to have a better lifestyle as an adult.
Death of a Salesman, expressed the desire of Willy Loman, to watch his son, Biff become a successful businessman. All along, Biff wanted to live the agrarian lifestyle in the west; it was his father’s dream for him to pursue a career in sales. Willy thought that since Biff was, 'well liked,' he would succeed, however he neglected the fact that Biff was not dedicated, or even trustworthy. When Biff was sent to a meeting for a business proposal, the man he claimed to have negotiated a deal with did not remember his name, and in the end, Biff stole his expensive pen, and ran away. When Biff later spoke with his father, he told Willy that he had filled him with so much hot air, that he was living in self-deception. Since Willy noticed that his dream for his son was dying, he killed himself so that Biff would inherit his money. Willy wanted Biff to have more opportunities than he had to succeed, so he sacrificed himself for his boy.
The mother's dream in the play, The Glass Menagerie, was not a financial one, but rather it was her wish for her daughter to have a husband. The mother, Amanda was left by her husband, and she feared that her disabled daughter, Laura, would be left unmarried, and would need to fend for herself. Amanda made her son, Tom find a 'gentleman caller,' and bring him home for Laura. She prepared the home, and a dinner, so that Laura and Tom would have the opportunity to get acquainted. Although Laura may have wanted someone to love, it was really the dream of her mother for Laura to marry. When Tom and the gentleman caller, Jim, knocked on the door, Amanda told Laura to answer the door. In fear, Laura refused, which shows us that she did not want the attention. Eventually, Amanda caved in, and answered the door for her daughter. The rest of the night was spent awkwardly, with what seemed to be a date between Amanda and Jim instead of Laura and Jim. Amanda did not want her daughter to experience life the way she had, without a husband. It was the dream of Amanda for her daughter to find a love, that she herself did not have.
The Glass Menagerie, Death of a Salesman, and Fences, demonstrates the desire for the children of the 1920’s to have more than their parents. In the turbulent twenties, the typical American family dreamed that their children would accomplish more than them. Twenties literature mirrors this concept, as the parental figures fight for the future of their children.