A Comparison Of Infidelity In Fences And Death Of A Salesman

Infidelity is a sickness that can ruin relationships and tear families apart since it is a betrayal of the love that a husband entrusts in his wife and vice versa. In both fictional plays, Fences by August Wilson and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, infidelity is a clearly evident theme as both of the protagonists, Willy and Troy, betray their wives and have relations with other woman. Both men have a sense that what they are doing is wrong, but both continue to do so anyway. The major difference between the two men is the manner in which they conduct themselves while being unfaithful. Willy Loman is discreet and tries to hide his affair from his wife, Linda. While Troy, on the other hand, is much more open about the idea, even telling his wife he was going to be bringing home a new baby from the other woman. In both plays, infidelity affects not only the two men, but their family, as well; as it breaks the already fragile bonds they have with their family and ultimately
Willy is careful to never let his two opposite lives cross and hopes that his family will never find out. When Biff finally does discover the infidelity at the hotel room in Boston, he is devastated. Biff’s long-standing image of his father as a hero and a morally sound man, is shattered. In his shock and anger Biff screams, “You fake! You phony little fake! You fake!” (Miller 121). This illustrates that Willy Loman was much more covert in his handling of the affair. Since it came as a surprise to Biff, no one ever suspected Willy was seeing another woman. Furthermore, Willy is devastated to the point that he kills himself. He realizes that he has nothing anymore without his family saying, “Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground” (Miller 122). His infidelity has destroyed his family and through this metaphor he realizes he is