Similarities Between Death Of A Salesman And The Crucible

Even though both of these stories are set in different centuries, Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman and John Proctor from The Crucible are very similar characters. They are both considered the tragic heros within the two texts. Arthur Miller is trying to make the point of the reality that even if your hard working, success is not guaranteed. Throughout these two tragedies, Miller is showing that anyone could face the obstacles people go through to attain success and fortune.

The two characters have close to the same social rank in each of their societies. Willy Loman is an average, middle-aged, American man who struggles to make enough money for himself and his family to live “happily”. He believes in his own “American Dream” that consists of owning a large, successful business. Time was a big factor for Willy to slowly begin to give up. Time has suddenly caught up with him and now he realizes that he is getting too old to achieve his “American Dream”. His boss was superior over him and had total control over his life and future. Willy then lost his job as a New York Salesman. When he was let go, he faced hopelessness and turned to his close neighbor for pity money. Willy starts to see flashbacks of what has happened in his past. He also has

visions of his successful brother who is dead. While watching the movie, I thought of these flashbacks of sort of haunting him and making him realize what could have been.
John Proctor is a poor, local farmer who lives just out of Salem.

He is decently respected and honored around town. He is married to a woman named Elizabeth. Proctor cares dearly about his reputation, although there is one fatal flaw. You could call this the tragic flaw of this tragic hero. He is caught cheating on his wife and the thought makes himself sick and dampens his pride. He also gets condemned into the Witchcraft drama that is concerning the town of Salem in 1692. First, his wife was accused of the witchery and was framed by Abigail. John then becomes furiated and tries to end the madness. That’s when he gets himself into the mess. He is accused and instead of running off with Abby, he chooses

death.
The author created these main characters the way that they are so the “common man” could relate and connect. These two men are powerless under a greater power. They both try to achieve their own goals with Willy wanting a higher-level ranking within his community, and John protecting his family and attempting to get ELizabeth out of jail. In the end, they are unable to do so.
In the end of both tragedies, Willy Loman and John Proctor both commit suicide. Both of their reasonings are along the same lines. Willy Loman simply just can’t take living life anymore. He realizes that he cannot live up to his own perception of the “American Dream. Willy thought that it would be a solution for his family’s money struggles. John Proctor had a choice between running away with Abby or admitting to an accusation that was false. He was accused of being associated with the Witchcraft and he chose to be hung for something that he didn't even do. He also had enough pride in his own name to not lie and just admit to the foolery because in the end, it wasn’t true. They have both gone through a lot to not live up to their desire.
Arthur Miller does connect his two passages by the relationship of these two men. The way the two of them experience life is very much the same. They are both considered to be a part of the “average working class” within both of their societies. The two tragic heroes do the most and their stories don't conclude with prosperperity. In the end, they both take their lives with solemnity.