In the stories "Canoe" and "Death of a Traveling Salesman" we are given two different main characters that are strikingly similar. " It is the meeting of two worlds, the past and the present, the simple and the complex, the loved and the loveless- (Jones) They are both salesman and they both want desperately to connect with other people but are unable to do so. Hazlett and Bowman are completely consumed with themselves, so much so that they cannot see other people as individuals. Rather they see them as objects for their amusement or financial gain. This leads for extremely difficult lives for both of the characters as Albert Haley and Eudora Welty give a strong warning to the reader: connect with other people or else. In both of these stories we will see, " a contrast between the settled life of traditional values and the restless commercial world, a contrast between love and loneliness." (Jones).
Peter Hazlett's major problem in "Canoe" was his inability to treat people as humans. Throughout the story Hazlett acts as if other people are just beings that only exist in relevance to him. "After thirty-six years of life he felt that the trio still represented his main positive accomplishment: a Mrs. Hazlett, a Megan Hazlett, and a Carrie Hazlett." (S&L 299) Even when thinking about his family Hazlett sees them as only trophies in his life rather than people that are affected by his actions. After his divorce he concerns himself with him and not with his kids because in his mind his kids only matter in relation to him. In Hazlett's mind his life is his kingdom, and when he loses his family he loses part of that kingdom. Near the end of the story Hazlett realizes the folly in his life upon seeing the Canoe. Hazlett takes pity on the man that he encounters in the parking lot. Hazlett longs to help him realize his responsibilities and obligations. The other man is really Hazlett. " You hear me pal? We've gotta keep on living.