Some people say that the dead makes them who they are today. Despite how people feel about this platitude, there is little doubt that dead ones have a great effect on the living. A common theme in literature, the power of the dead, best exemplifies this influence and it is a powerful theme in both Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman; the deceased greatly influences many characters in these plays. Both plays have much in common, with themes of dreams, ambitions, family, hardship, and especially death. In both, the expired has such an instrumental power in both creating the dreams and ideas of the main characters; and, if it is not for them, these dreams and ideas would probably not exist.

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?