Comparing The Great Gatsby And Death Of A Salesman

In both, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the main characters Jay Gatsby and Willy Loman manifest themselves in their illusions of success and popularity and are unable to face their bitter realities. Within both texts, this idea of false perceived success is portrayed. First, the character Gatsby creates an illusion of success by lying about his source of wealth. He does not want anyone to realize that he is not actually successful and has relied on illegal business in order to achieve the idea of wealth in the American Dream. This is evident when Tom Buchanan investigates Gatsby’s mysterious wealth and says: I found out what [Gatsby’s] â€Å"drug-stores† were †¦ He and this Wolfshiem bought up†¦show more content†¦Loman has spent so much time living a lie that he is unable to comprehend what is actually happening in his life. When Wagner, knowing the truth, tells Loman that he never made a hundred and seventy dollars, Loman is unable to comprehend his reality. Both Gatsby and Loman attempt to evade their realities by maintaining the illusion of their wealth. Despite this, they are both unsuccessful as they seem to be the only ones which actually believe the illusion they create. In an attempt to be liked and appreciated by their peers they go out of their way to fabricate a lie to mask their wealth-related insecurities. Loman and Gatsby both believe that with a large enough wealth, they can attract more people and have popularity. Furthermore, because Gatsby and Loman have an illusion of wealth, they are unable to make legitimate connections with others and al low the illusion of popularity. First, Gatsby lives in the illusion of popularity throughout his adult life. Every evening, hundreds of people collect at Gatsby’s home to drink and party, but do not come for Gatsby. This reality is portrayed at Gatsby’s funeral when Carraway says: â€Å"As the time passed and the servants came in and stood waiting in the hall †¦ It wasn’t any use. Nobody came† (Fitzgerald 165). When Carraway states this, it is evident that people only come for his magnificent partiesShow MoreRelated Comparing the Perversion of Values in The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman1642 Words   |  7 PagesPerversion of Values in The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman      Ã‚   Throughout History there are many examples of perversions, from sexual, social to the very morals themselves. One of the greatest examples is the continuous corruption of the American Dream. As the Dream evolves, it tends to conform to the illicit dealings of the time and immortals of society. No longer is an individual interested in working hard to achieve goals, it is desirous of the quick fix. Society wants its wishesRead MoreComparing The Death Of A Salesman And The Great Gatsby By F. 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