The Midlife Crises in Death of a Salesman, Alfred J. Prufrock, and Amer

The Midlife Crises in Death of a Salesman, Alfred J. Prufrock, and American mantrap Disillusioned and disenchanted, both(prenominal) Arthur Millers Willy Loman and American Beautys Lester Burnham share sexual frustrations and a displease longing for their respective pasts, but Willy, like T.S. Eliots equivocating Prufrock, is unable to move beyond the failures inherent in his mediocrity and instead retreats into his delusions. On the surface, Willy and Lester have each(prenominal) the elements of settled, prosaic lives shaped from the pattern of the American Dream large homes in middle- or upper-class neighborhoods, successful children, loving wives. But under this facade, both share a need that has devastated men and engendered distrust in their families for generations the extra-marital passage of arms. Willys affair with The Woman is a crucial turning point in his alliance with Biff, his oldest son. When Biff catches Willy and his mistress, Willy first attempts to distra ct his son and so be dislodge of him. However, his attempted cover-up fails and forever shatters the idolatrous relationship between return and son. Willy Shes nothing to me Biff. I was lonely, I was terribly lonely. Biff You... you gave her Mamas stockings Willy I gave you an range... Biff You fake You phony little fake You fake (Miller 1850) Biffs husking of his fathers indiscretions shatter the Loman familys fragile facade of middle-class happiness. Although Willy is genuinely remorseful for his conduct, incomplete his repeated refrains of stop crying, I gave you an order (1850) nor his apologies can mend the geological fault between him and Biff. Yet even as Biff loses his football intuition and wanders, not unlike hi... ...the passive salesman and the aggressive quitter. Where Willy Loman quickly makes societys ideals his own and then falls victim to his own dissatisfaction, Lester achieves happiness because he rejects the standards that society sets for a middle-aged man. Works Cited American Beauty. Dir. Sam Mendes. Writ. Alan Ball. With Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening. Dreamworks SKG, 1999. Eliot, T.S.. The Love vocal of J. Alfred Prufrock. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York Norton, 1996. 2459-2463. Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. New York Viking, 1965. Millar, Jeff. The Rise and coin of Everyman American Beauty Proves Potent Family Portrayal. Houston Chronicle 24 Sept. 1999, Star ed. 1. Academic Universe. LEXISNEXIS. madden Lib., Fresno, CA. 13 Apr. 2000 <http//web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/>.