This study delineates The Rule of Love in Crystallizing the Themes of the Death of a Sales Man and Great Gatsby. In both plays we see two marginalized families struggling to make it, to be accepted by the American mainstream, and to achieve the economic success that will, they believe, give them, the acceptance they long for. In both plays the families wish to be validated by the culture around them. In both plays, the dominant culture appears to stand in judgment of the two families who long to be regarded as worthy. These plays are rich for comparison as they examine the theme of what it means to succeed in America, in as much as the two plays treat similar figures, themes, and situations, set in approximately the same time in American history.
Keywords: Dream and Wealth, Love
