"The Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller.

Essay by DomxA-, May 2003

download word file, 4 pages 4.0

Downloaded 99 times

The first crusade took place in 1091. Its aim was to regain the Holy land from the hands of Muslims. However, it was not significant, due to the success in retaking Jerusalem, but because of the great number of knights, that came from all over Europe to join the war in the name of Christianity. This was an extraordinary thing, to gather so many people to follow one purpose. One purpose, that convinced troops of different nationalities to fight side by side, nevertheless of their earlier attitudes. This purpose was so important, that after the success of the first crusade, many more followed. Between 1091 and 1292 there were over 20 crusades - prepared by European kings and the Pope, as well as civilians, convinced to be prophets. While the first crusade managed to take over Jerusalem, further journeys gave Christian Europe nothing, but thousands of killed crusaders. Besides, every new crusade established, fought for the original purpose in a different way.

During the third crusade, instead of fighting with the Muslims for the glory of their God, Christians began struggles between themselves, arguing about the plunders and land division. The original aim of the crusades was changed - it was not war for the God anymore. It was war for the God and money.

If we take a longer glance at the Death of a Salesman, we will be able to find some similarities between Willy's blind attempts to fulfill his dreams and crusaders' endless ordeals of saving the Holy land. It may seem far - fetched, however, I find the crusade example, an excellent choice for a comparison with the Death of a Salesman.

I suppose that the best way to track all of the resemblances is to study Willy's fascination with the American dream, from...