With a title of Death of a Salesman, it is no surprise that death and the departed play such a paramount role in the play; one example of such a departed is Ben. Ben, Willy's rich brother, is, to Willy, the epitome of success and the paradigm of prosperity. Early on, it becomes clear that Willy not only aspires to be like Ben, but also wants his children to be like him. Ben plays such a monumental role in Willy's life that even after his demise, he constantly appears in Willy's fantasies: “Why, boys, when I was seventeen I walked into the jungle, and when I was twenty-one I walked out.And by God I was rich” (Miller 48). A powerful quote by Ben, this is what Willy wants to happen to him and his kids. He wants to be rich, successful, and loved by all, like his brother Ben.

It is so significant of a quote that Miller employs repetition and has Ben say it again. The second time around, Willy explicitly states that that is the sprit he wants to imbue into his children. Willy's infatuation with wealth and triumph can be attributed to Ben and Dave Singleman, a salesman that left a deep impression on Willy.

Possibly more influential than Ben, Dave Singleman is the salesman Willy hopes to be. While alive, he is prosperous and revered by all. Willy even recounts to Howard: “Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thrity different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?... When he died, hundreds of salesman and buyers were at his funeral” (81). It is obvious from Willy's speech that Singleman is the topmost seller and the single most important reason why Willy decides to become a salesman. When Willy gives his speech to Howard, he starts almost every sentence with “and”; this use of polysyndeton shows how excited Willy is in recounting the tale of Singleman and thus, how much respect Willy has for Singleman. It is from Singleman that Willy sees selling as a highly lucrative business.

It is from Singleman that Willy postulated that the only ingredient in success is amiability, for everyone adores Singleman. It is from Singleman that Willy wants a large funeral where everybody is present. In essence, it is from Singleman that Willy receives his dreams, his ideals, and his ambitions. Singleman has such a great importance in Willy's life that if Willy had never learned about him, then the story would be completely different. Most likely, Willy would not be been a salesman and would follow his sibling Ben to Alaska. Additionally, Willy's definition of success and the American dream would be completely different. When Singleman arrived into Willy's life, he imbued his traits into Willy's malleable mind.

Willy's own death has as much of an effect on his family as Ben's and Singleman's deaths have on Willy; his death has different effects on his two son's own personal dreams. To Happy, Willy's death reinforces the notion that the Lomans are meant to be great and successful. To Biff, who has an epiphany, Willy's death strengthens the fallacy of Willy's dream. Biff, the foil of Happy because of his pragmatic nature, realizes that Willy's personal dream would never come true. Willy's dream is too idealistic and would never work in the harsh business world, where everyone only seeks personal gain. Willy's death ultimately changes Biff's perception of the world, his views, and his own personal dreams. On the other hand, it reinforces Happy's ideas and dreams, which are already heavily instilled in him. Whether or not Willy's death has a positive or negative effect on the other characters is debatable. What is well established is its tremendous effect on the characters, and along with Ben and Singleman, Willy is a clear demonstration of death's compelling capabilities.

Similar to those in Death of a Salesman, the dead in A Raisin in the Sun also have a tremendous influence on those who are alive. Although there are fewer dead characters in Hansberry's play, the few that are dead are pivotal in the formation of the living's aspirations and ideas. The first pivotal deceased character is Big Walter, the perished husband of Lena Younger. Even though Big Walter never appears in the play, he still has an importance that drives the play's plot. What is perhaps most important about Walter Younger is the life insurance money that comes with his death. It is with this money that the characters' dreams are founded on, because they themselves have little money. To Beneatha, the money represents the prospect of becoming a doctor, because with this money, she can afford her way to medical. To Mama, the money represents a home for the family to finally settle in and leave the apartment. To Ruth, the money also represents a house; with a house, she can have the child she initially wishes to abort. Finally, to Walter Lee, the money represents the opportunity to invest in a liquor store that would make him rich enough to make a name for himself and provide for his child. All these dreams depend on a single check that would not come if Walter Younger is not dead.

Despite that many characters would still have these dreams if there is no check, they would certainly not cherish it as much. Without the insurance money, their dreams could not be realized and so, they would not give it much of a thought. With the check, they can finally realize their dreams. These competing dreams also create a drift within the family and enforce the ideas of certain characters. Beneatha, for example, is more disdainful towards Walter, who she believes to be absolutely profligate. Walter Lee, on the other hand, also holds on firmly to his own beliefs: he finds Beneatha to be selfish and women's education to be unnecessary. Again, although there is most likely a certain degree of discord within the family prior to the news of the insurance money, that discord would not be as great if not for Big Walter's money and death. This all comes to show Big Walter's enormous influence on the family, even from his grave.

Other than Walter Younger, the unnamed ancestors of the Younger family also have much control on the living characters. To Mama and later on to Walter Lee, their ancestors are their sense of pride. These two characters proudly allude to the fact that they can trace their ancestors to five generations. When Walter finally confronts Mr. Lindner and tells Lindner how he is not interested in the money, he says: “What I am telling you is that we called you over here to tell you that we are very proud and that this is - this is my son, who makes the sixth generation of our family in this country, that we have all thought about you offer and we have decided to move into our house because my father - my father - he earned it” (Hansberry 127-128). Although it is ironic that Walter gives the most noble and passionate speech in the play, the fact that he says it is not only testimony to the static nature of his character, but also how much he values his heritage. If not for the Younger family's many ancestors, Walter Lee and Mama would not have their familial pride. This pride, along with many other factors, tells Lindner to leave. Influential in the characters' thoughts and ideas, the ancestors help shape the characters.

It may be scary to some people how much power the dead has on their lives. After all, American author Margaret Landon once said, “Can that man be dead, whose spiritual influence is upon his kind?” (Landon). The reposing influences the actions and thoughts of some people so much that it is as if they are alive. These actions eventually shape their lives and personality. The deceased influences the characters in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun as normal people today. Miller clarifies that the lives of Singleman and Ben highly alter Willy's malleable ideas and dreams. After Willy's death, he affects his family just as much. In A Raisin in the Sun, Big Walter's death and the money that comes with his death is what the characters establish their hopes and aspirations on. Has it not been for the dead in both of these plays, the characters' dreams would not be as strong nor as established. All this makes people think, are their dreams a result of their deceased ancestors?

When she is in the process of receiving a check from the insurance company for the death of her husband, she has ideas to spend it not for her use, but for the use of the whole family. “Some of it got to be put away for Beneatha and her schooling' - and ain't nothing going to touch that part of it. Nothing. Been thinking that we maybe could meet the notes on a a little old two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime, if we use part of the insurance for a down payment and everybody kind of pitch in. I could maybe take on a little day work again, few days a week -“ (Hansberry, 44). In this quote, Mama talks to Ruth about her plans for her money. Furthermore, Mama only talks about the needs of others. This shows that Mama is a righteous, kind person.

Not only Mama is a respectful, understandable mother, but she is also burdened with the task of keeping the other members of her family in line. She believes that she is still the head of this house, even when her children are in their 20s and 30s. She rightfully forces them to follow the rules of her house, and punishes them if they do not do so accordingly. “Now - you say after me, in my mother's house there is still God. In my mother's house there is still God” (Hansberry, 51). Before saying this quote, Beaneatha was wrongly turning against God, one of the many things Mama attempted to infuse her children with when they were younger. Mama slaps her to make her stop arguing, then forces her to understand that God will always be believed in as long as they are living in Mama's house. In conclusion, Mama is probably one of the most hard-working people in her family; however, she does not show it physically, but mentally. The family needs Mama to survive, especially with their living situation. If she were to die, it would be an emotional blow to everyone around her.

When the author Lorraine Hansberry wrote this book, A Raisin in the Sun, she poured her own experiences into her story, good and bad. The rest of the character's lives in the story are some of the author's better experiences. All of their lives will change in some way. Some might change radically, while others might change only slightly. However, all of the changes will be for the good. Mama, Walter, and Travis are three of the story's most important characters in terms of their future.

Mama, the mother of the family, may only change a little bit. She is the oldest member of the family, and therefore might not be able to accept too many new changes to her personal life. She will continue to live her life with the same values and goals as before they moved, but with a new position in the household. Mama has finally given Walter full authority over the family. She has made him the true head of the house. In this quote, Mama totally shuts Mr. Lindner off by saying that Walter's word was final. “I'm afraid you don't understand. My son said we was going to move and there ain't nothing left for me to say” (Hansberry 148-149).

Released of the responsibility of making the rules for the family, she is given the opportunity to rest, relax, and enjoy her remaining life until the end of her days. Still, she will keep the task of mediating a fight between two family members when the need arises. In this quote, she explains to Beneatha how Walter is feeling and how Beneatha should understand what he is going through. “Have you cried for that boy today? I don't mean for yourself and for the family "cause we lost the money. I mean for him, what he been through and what it done to him. Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain"t through learning -because that ain't the time at all. It's when he's at his lowest and can't believe in hisself "cause the world done whipped him so” (Hansberry 145)! Mama is one of the characters who keeps passing on her information to others, regardless of where they live. Incidentally, Mama will always help out those asking for it. Moreover, this trait is one of many that Mama will keep the same as before they moved. Mama will live a fruitful new life in her new home, while still assuming the position of mother to the family. Walter, on the other hand, will go through some more changes than Mama.

Walter, the newly christened “Head of the House,” will change in many ways. He will stop his drinking problem and concentrate on paying off the house. Walter will strive to get a better job than what he had, and work hard at that job so that he can support his family the way he was meant to support them. His relationship with Ruth will be as strong as ever, consequentially bringing the whole family closer than it has ever been. Walter will try to become as great as his father was; working hard for the good of the family. He will try to make it easier for his son, Travis, to lead his own life when he grows up. In this quote, Walter speaks to Mr. Lindner about how Walter"s father earned them the house in which they are about to move. “And we have decided to move into our house because my father -my father -he earned it for us brick by brick. We don't want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors. And that's all we got to say about that. We don't want your money” (Hansberry 148). Walter has at last taken on the role that his father once was. Not only is Walter heading the house, he is also going to become a better father. In this quote, Walter talks about his son being the sixth generation of his family in the United States. “What I am telling you is that we called you over here to tell you that we are very proud and that this -Travis, come here. This is my son, and he makes the sixth generation our family in this country” (Hansberry 148). Walter will provide the family with enough supplies so that Travis does not have to work as hard as he or his father did when he grows up. Walter wants Travis to lead a better life than what he did. All in all, Walter will definitely become just like his father. He will try to be as successful his father was for what he could do. His son, Travis will be happy with the life Walter left out for him.

Travis will change the most in the future, only because of his age. As he grows up, he will understand how hard his father works to support the family. Travis will help out as much as he can and learn new things everyday. He will grow into a successful adult, more than his father or grandfather ever was. In this quote, Mama tells Travis to stay and hear what Walter has to say to Mr. Lindner about how they were going to take a chance and move into their new home. “No Travis, you stay right here. And you make him understand what you doing, Walter Lee. You teach him good. Like Willy Harris taught you. You show where our five generations done come to” (Hansberry 147).

Travis stays and witnesses Walter standing up for the family to Mr. Lindner. Travis feels proud of his father and understands how important he is to the continuation of their family. Travis is the one person that is going to get the most out of moving to a new neighborhood and starting fresh. He is going to have many new opportunities now that the family is one step closer for successful lives. Walter feels so excited about his second chance, he promises Travis that he will provide him with the best of his ability so that Travis can mature and survive like a normal human being. In this quote, Walter tells Travis of what will happen to him when he becomes older. “Just tell me where you want to go to school and you'll go. Just tell me, what it is you want to be -Yessir! You just name it son…and I hand you the world” (Hansberry 109)! Travis feels like he can do anything now that his father believes in himself. He will become a smart, intelligent man who will make good decisions. His role model will be his father, Walter, who has laid out a road for a perfect life for Travis. All Travis has to do is walk on it.

In conclusion, the Younger family will become the happiest ever. Each of them will grow into what they can truly become. Mama will be able to sit back and watch the family she helped create live together joyously, successfully, and lovingly. That will be her ultimate pleasure, and when she dies, she will die peacefully. The entire family will have been changed from a group of people leading meaningless lives in a shabby old home, to a family that lead wondrous lives in a clean and tidy new home. Each of them will not be able to wait for the next day of their lives from now on.