"Death of a Salesman" and "Fences" Article Response

Arthur Miller and August Wilson are two very similar men. They have both won numerous awards for their writing, are both followers of baseball, and they both acknowledge the use of poetry in their works. Both authors write plays that could be considered autobiographical as well. In Miller's "Death of a Salesman" and Wilson's "fences" the protagonists of each play, Willy and Troy also portray similarities. Both Willy Loman and Troy Maxson are common men but both are apparently qualified to be tragic heroes. Both of these men are in pursuit of the American Dream with a special desire for material items. Likewise both of the men's wives can be seen as similar. They both enable their husbands to pursue their dreams while explaining their husbands actions to their children. Both Willy and Troy have sons that hold promising futures in the game of football where neither son makes it. Both men are unfaithful to their wives and end up dying before the plays end. But according to this article, the portrayal of these seemingly identical character's couldn't be farther from the truth.

Troy Maxson was an African American trying to make it during a time in America in which this was very difficult. He was abandoned by his mother at n early age and chased away by his father soon after. Troy had also spent a significant amount of time in prison as well. Willy on the other hand was a salesman that enjoyed his career. Because of troy's race, he is automatically put at a lower rank in the world than Willy. Willy is never faced with the obstacles that Troy was so it can be inferred that Willy was allowed to live an easier life than Troy, though both lives resulted in early death.

I agree with the author of this article. I see the similarities between Troy and Willy but I also see the significant differences. Troy had it a lot harder than Willy ever though of having it but ultimately chasing the American Dreams that both of these men had, resulted in their demises.