Compare and Contrast Arthur Miller

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Compare and contrast the ways in which Miller in Death of a Salesman, Page 104 from ‘And I never got anywhere’ until the end, and Tony Harrison in Bookends, explore what is meant by alienation and ‘success’.

In this essay I am going to explore the ways in which the two different writers use theme, character and language to comment on contextual issues. Also I am going to apply analytical skills in comparing authors’ uses of language and form in different genres.
Death of a Salesman is a tragedy about people’s family dreams and values in contrast to their own real lives. This play was published in 1949 by a famous and well known author named Arthur Miller. The play was written after the Wall Street crash had struck in America when the country allowed immigrants to come into the country to work, stressing to them that anyone could live the American Dream if they worked hard enough regardless of social class and upbringing. The storyline features Willy Loman, an average individual who attempts to hide his failures behind a delusion and a dream as he strives to be a “Success” for himself and his sons.
Bookends which is a poem written by Tony Harrison is about segregation from his mother who has sadly passed away but also separation from his father as his father never accepted to what Tony Harrison was doing with his life which was studying and studying. “Books, books, books” is a famous quote used by Tony Harrison to describe why the “Alienation” took place between him and his father.
Both Death of a Salesman and Bookends have many themes that run throughout. The most obvious theme which stands out in Death of a Salesman is the idea of reality versus illusion. Also another big theme in the play is the American Dream. Loman believes that he will be successful and fulfil the American Dream as he has a good business mind also with clever children, he wants to live to
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