Реферат: Caharacter Analysis Jay Gatsby And Willy Loman

Essay, Research Paper

Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, and Arthur Miller, author of Death of a

Salesman, both tell the stories of men in the costly pursuit of the American dream. As a result of

several conflicts, both external and internal, both characters experience an extinction of the one

thing that they have set their sights on…. The American Dream.

Jay Gatsby, a mysterious, young and very wealthy man, fatally chases an impossible

dream. Gatsby attempts to rekindle an old relationship and has confidence in repeating the past.

Gatsby claims that he is going to “fix everything just the way it was before” (Fitzgerald 117). In a

a conversation with Nick, Gatsby discusses how the past can be repeated and how he wants the

relationship that he once had with Daisy (Fitzgerald 116). Secondly, Gatsby attempts to

exemplify his wealth through fancy cars and stylish clothing. Gatsby shows his clothing to Daisy

and informs her that he has a “man in England” who buys his clothes every season (Fitzgerald

97). Illustrating his wealth, Gatsby drives a Rolls Royce that “was a rich cream color, bright with

nickel” (Fitzgerald 68). Although Gatsby’s foolish quest of the American dream exemplifies a

respectable aspiration, it ends in a tragic death that goes virtually unnoticed. A sharp contrast to

the parties , the funeral was sparingly attended and “nobody came” (Fitzgerald 182). Following

the death of Gatsby Daisy leaves town with Tom and “hadn’t sent a message or a flower”

(Fitzgerald 183).

An elderly salesman lost in false hopes and illusions, Willy Loman works for strict

commission and cannot bring home enough money to pay his bills. Willy foolishly pursues the

wrong dream and constantly lives in an unreal world blinded from reality. Despite his dream

Willy constantly attempts to live in an artificial world and claims “If old Wagner was alive I’d be

in charge of New York by now” (Miller 14). As a result, Willy often ignores his troubles and

denies any financial trouble when he says “business is bad, it’s murderous. But not for me of

course” (Miller 51). Another false segment of Willy’s dream includes the success of his two sons

Happy and Biff. Biff was a high school football star who never cared about academics and now

that he needs a job says “screw the business world” (Miller 61). Ironically, Willy suggests that

Biff go west an “be a carpenter, or a cowboy, enjoy yourself!”, an idea that perhaps Willy should

have pursued. Constantly advising his boys of the importance of being well liked, Willy fails to

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