Antigone and Death of a Salesman

Antigone and Death of a Salesman

Living is love entails sacrifice, selflessness and unconditional consideration of the other. The play Antigone, the play Death of a Salesman and real life examples affirm that love is unconditional and selfless. In love, a person does not see the flaws and weaknesses of the other, and even when she or he does, seeks to cover them; hide them from ridicule, rebuke or the world. Love defies the normal, and tends to go beyond that which is fathomable by the normal eyes. Rationally, human beings should pursue benefits and avoid risks and costs, but in love, human begins do the exact opposite. People bear each others burdens, too heavy that the society does not understand them. They even risk their lives to remain loyal to their loved ones. The Antigone tragedy clearly shows the power of love, which defies the fear of death and dares it in the loyalty of love. In the death of a salesman, Linda depicts the undying love of a wife, towards her husband against all the odds. In real life, the power of love goes against the threatening paralysis, knitting a couple together when it appears impossible to remain together. Antigone lived in love, being loyal to her father and brother to death and drawing others in her lover and royalty, Linda loved Willy unconditionally, supporting him regardless of his many flaws, and I saw love from my parents by how my father treated my mother.

Antigones love and loyalty were infectious. Antigone loved her father Oedipus and her brother Polynices regardless of the weaknesses that others saw in them. According to Creon, Polynices was dishonorable and did not deserve the sacrifice Antigone was making. Creon claimed that the two brothers Polynices and Eteocles were gangsters and deserved no compassion or sacrifice (Sophocles 15). Creon also called Oedipus a coward, implying he also did not deserve the life that Antigone was sacrificing. Regardless of all that, Antigones remained loyal to her family even after they were dead. Considering her respect and love for her father, she could not allow her brother to remain unburied. Also, she loved her brother to imagine that some Thebes rules and laws could make him destitute. By defying the laws o Thebes, Antigone was destined to die young, and she carried others in her loyalty. Her fiance Haemon, could not accept a life without Antigone, and he too in loves loyalty chose death (Sophocles 19). Similarly, Eurydice could not find value in life without Haemon and Antigone, thus; committed suicide in her loyalty to the two (Sophocles 22). Love is contagious, and it infects others. Although Antigone is a tragedy, it portrays the power of living in love. When people fear death and hold life in high regard, love holds loyalty in high regard that even life cannot come between them.

Another depiction of selfless love is in Lindas support of Willy in Death of a Salesman, despite his numerous flaws. From their early days, Willy was obsessed with is career in business and wanted their two sons, Biff and Happy, to follow in his footsteps. Willy failed to appreciate the different nature of Biff as an athlete and wanted him to join in the business world, something that did not work out (Miller 78). Linda shows her undivided support for and trust in her husbands ability to support the family and in decision-making. When Willy start showing symptoms of brain degeneration, Linda is there to reassure him and offer comfort to go forward in life. When Willy comes home tired and disappointed, from a trip that did not materialize, Linda, consoles him by asking him to ask his employer to transfer him to his hometown to avoid extensive traveling. Linda is very supportive of Willy even when she understands that he is not as capable as she makes him believe (Miller 94). In discussion with her sons, Linda tells them that Willy does not make enough to give the family a decent lifestyle. However, she rebukes them critically when they appear to disrespect him or consider him in low regard. When Linda is sincerely concerned about Willys state of mind, she persists in her support unlike how conventionally people desert others during difficulties or loses their compassion and patience with them. Linda unchanging and unwavering support even when Willy deteriorates in mental stability and his ability to support his family financially portrays the power of love. Linda lives as the emotional pillar of Willy, regardless of all the odds and uncertainties in their path. Even at the end of Willys life, Linda was ready to support him (Miller 136). Lindas dedication supporting Willy is a true depiction of living in love.

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Conclusively, love is the power that bides people together and steers them against all the odds to thrive and remain loyal to each other. Antigone gave up her life to remain true to her father and brother. Antigone had to honor her brother, by burying him against the Kings decree that he should rot in the open. By being true to her loved ones, Antigone infected Haemon and Eurydice with living in love that they devalued their lives without their loved ones. Linda lives her life selflessly, supporting Willy unconditionally. Even when their sons lose patient with their mentally degenerating father, Linda is there to rebuke them and coerce them to support Willy. Lindas support of her husband influences her young son Happy to fulfill their fathers wish after his death. Living in love shows the inevitability of challenging expectations and normalcy, as people for the sake of the loved one. Love is influential; it trickles down from one individual to another.