The Dying Dreams

A detailed Summary of The Dying Dreams

Arthur Miller profoundly explores the subject of morality and human values in his two famous plays, Death of a Salesman and All My Sons. Though dealing with a common topic , the works contain major differences that help to make them unique.

Death of a Salesman describes the tragedy behind shattered dreams and the effects that they bring on entire families. It focuses greatly on illusions created by individuals and the inability of those individuals to except reality. All My Sons, on the other hand, explores the frightening reality of people's insensitivity and their moral values and the illusions created to cover up the tragic reality. The reality versus illusion theme exhibits the parallelisms and the distinctions between the plays. The subject of human values may be compared through the points of view, the imagery, and the life lessons of the two works.

All My Sons denounces immorality more directly then Death of a Salesman. Joe Keller's refusal to stop the shipment of cracked cylinder heads causes the deaths of innocent American soldiers. The grim reality is that he allowed the people who were defending him and fighting next to his sons to die, thus committing the ultimate sin of murder. In All My Sons Joe

Many distinctions can be seen in Miller's use of imagery throughout both plays. Surprisingly, despite the heavy moral content of All My Sons, in Death of a Salesman Miller uses imagery more vividly and more abundantly. Death of a Salesman incorporates the clever use of time, foreshadowing, and also music all throughout the play. Willy's constant flashbacks, though at times perplexing to the reader, create a nostalgic and sorrowful atmosphere. They accurately present Willy's longing for the past, for the lost time, and irreparable mistakes. Through perpetual referral to the past Miller allows the reader to journey inside the mind and the spirit of a troubled man. The play is constructed on this time travel into the past which brings about the dreams of the future. Willy's flashbacks into the past also generate an air of anticipation. During one of the early flashbacks when Willi remembers a day with his boys Miller foreshadows Biff's future when Willi asks Bernard to give Biff the answers to a Regents exam. "...There's nothing the matter with him!...He's got spirit, personality..," insists Willy, refusing to accept the truth once again. Miller's use of music also provokes foresight since whenever the music appears so does Ben. Ben's entrances are always accompanied by music because Willy regards him and all he stands for as a vision from heaven, the highest form of personal success and happiness. The music is also the alluring attraction that slowly draws Willy in, encouraging and inviting him softly. On the other hand, All My Sons incorporates the use of the past only at the end of the play, creating a totally different effect. When Larry's letter is brought up, the past is stirred. This brings about intensity and apprehension, but also a resolution because all the secrets are revealed and soon after Joe kills himself.

The time travel exist only through Larry's disappearance and Kate's persistent reference to it. Joe attempts to forget the past that is awakened only by

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Approximate Word count = 1349
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English