Death of a Salesman compared to "On Firing a salesman"

The play "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller describes the tragic downfall of Willy Loman, a traveling salesman, and how his demise affects the people around him. The poem "On Firing a Salesman" by James A. Autry describes the life in the salesman business. These two pieces can relate because they have many similar themes and connections. They both describe the tragic life of salesmen. The opening line from the poem reads "It's like …

…even if the delusions hurt Willy or those around him. In both the poem and the play, it is clear that a salesman can not keep up those delusions forever. Eventually he will face the reality that the younger salesmen have more energy and are seen as more fit to do the job. Being replaced can be "like a little murder" or end up as a suicide. Either way, it's the death of a salesman.