Works Comparison

Self Identification or The lack of self identification

A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun

Lack of Self Identification: Beneatha

Struggles with finding her own identity - Murchison vs. Asagai - Dependence vs. Independence - Assimilation vs. Heritage

The Murchisons are honest-to-Godreal-live-rich colored people, and the only people in the world who are more snobbish than rich white people are rich colored people.

- Beneatha Younger

Self Identification: Lena Younger

No lack of identity - Strong independent black woman who ain't need no man - Stands for her morals - Matriarch of the family

You show where our five generations done come to! - Lena Younger

Self Identification: Walter Younger

For - Set Goals - Finds himself at the end of the book Against - Believes job does not fit him - Protagonist but antagonizes some - Unsatisfied

He finally come into his manhood today, didnt he? Kind of like a rainbow after the rain ... - Mama Younger

Death of a Salesman

Willy Loman
Firmly believes himself to be
someone he is not.

Has a mental image of himself

as a great salesman

Obviously not "all there" Forces himself to do salesman

work despite his better talent in carpentry

Never achieves self

realization

Do you know? when he died and by the way he died the death of a salesman... - Willy Loman

Biff Loman
Actually attempts to find his self identity Knows he is truly happy living
a simple life

Must expose the lies of his father

and brother in order to reclaim his identity - his identity crisis branches off from his family's
lies

Its a measly manner of existence. To get on that subway on the hot mornings in summer To suffer fifty weeks a year for the sake of a two-week vacation, when all you really desire is to be outdoors, with your shirt off. And always to have to get ahead of the next fella. And still thats how you build a future.

- Biff Loman

Happy Loman
Basically just like his father

I'm gonna show you and everybody else that Willy Loman did not die in vain. He had a good dream. It's the only dream you can have - to come out number-one man. He fought it out here, and this is where I'm gonna win it for him.

- Happy Loman

Linda Loman

Self identification is rather solid

Focused on satisfying Willy

Tries to keep family connected

I don't say he's a great man. Willie Loman never made a lot of money. His name was never in the paper. He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. He's not to be allowed to fall in his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must finally be paid to such a person.

- Linda Loman

Charley
Solid identification

Common sense

Reason

Hes a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine . . . A salesman is got to dream, boy.

- Charley

Jay Gatsby
Hates old life (poverty) Surrounded by "acquaintances" Lives lavish life to impress Daisy

He wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy. His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was.

- Nick

Nick Carraway

More of a reserved listener Understands he is meant to stay West Doesn't force himself to conform

Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.

- Nick Carraway

Tom Buchanan

Double standards
- Mad at Daisy's affair even though he has one as well

Little moral standards Basically a bad/corrupt person

He thinks she goes to see her sister in New York. He's so dumb he doesn't know he's alive.

- Tom Buchanan