The American Dream is a vision of economic opportunity available to all who work for it, regardless of race or class. However, as seen in Arthur Miller's “Death of a Salesman” and Lorraine Hansberry's “A Raisin in the Sun,” perverse conceptions of the American Dream convince some characters that they are entitled to the fruits of miracles. Despite their best intentions to support their families, Walter Younger and Willy Loman encounter insurmountable obstacles and fail to realize their dreams. When all hope is lost, family is the only thing these characters have left. “Death of a Salesman” and “A Raisin in the Sun” depict family as a refuge amid the desperate ambitions of tragic heroes. Both Lena Younger and Linda Loman serve as arbiters of peace within their families; however, Lena's matriarchal figure provides moral direction to the tragic hero while Linda's optimism and simple encouragement fail to unite the family. Lena Younger of "A Raisin in the Sun" preserves core family values ​​by virtue of a strong personality that guides Walter, the tragic hero, towards redemption. The Youngers are a dysfunctional family of African Americans constantly plagued by financial needs and issues of racial identity. Among the characters locked in the Young Man's small apartment are Lena's two children, Walter and Beneatha, who compete with each other to realize their ambitions. The fact that Walter and Beneatha even fight over the shared bathroom is symbolic as conflicting dreams have destroyed the family. Lena constantly tries to heal this deep sibling rivalry, even in the darkest moment when she discovers that Walter has betrayed her trust... middle of paper... ambitious dreams. Lena tries to bridge sibling rivalries and convinces Walter that family is ultimately more important than his reckless pursuit of his American dream. Linda is also attentive to the tensions that pervade the family and tries to mend the relationship between Willy and Biff while her optimism preserves Willy's ambition until the end. As a result, Lena actively guides the tragic hero towards redemption while Linda merely mellows and is therefore unable to address the fundamental flaw that ultimately destroys Miller's tragic hero. It is not the heady dream that brings home the fruits of miracles, but rather the unwavering strength of family that endures and provides the true basis of fulfillment. Works Cited Hansberry, Lorraine. A raisin in the sun. New York: Vintage, 1994. Print.Miller, Arthur. Death of a salesman. UK: Penguin, 2013.