![]() Bernard asked Willy what happened to BifF when he “disappeared from the block for almost a month”, then asked another question “What happened in Boston, Willy?” and this leading question crumbles Willy’s illusion. Willy tries to make it seem like it’s not his fault and Biff is completely at fault himself when in reality Willy has everything to do with it. Bernard asked Willy, “Did you tell him not to go to summer school?” on what Willy answered that he “begged him to go” and even “ordered him to go!”. Willy’s beliefs and behavior have been transferred to his son’s, we can see it in the scene where Biff talks about Bernard, saying that Bernard is “liked, but he’s not well liked.” Willy tries to protect the illusion that he is a good father when he talks to Bernard about what happened to Biff when he visited Willy in Boston. Willy’s recipe for success is based entirely around a cult of personality, according to Willy, only great men are truly well-liked and that is what brings them success. ![]() Willy’s illusion about being vital to the company completely crumbled when Howard fired him, saying “I don’t want you to represent us.”Īnother part of Willy’s dignity is in his pride as a father, and that he made everything he could so his sons achieve success. This idea that he has about his success is an illusion and Howard confirmed that Willy “never averaged” the amounts that he claims he did. When Willy asks Howard to let him work in New York in office, he uses a point that “in 1928” he “had a big year.” and “averaged a hundred and seventy dollars a week in commissions”. I’m vital in New England.” and Willy lives believing that he is vital to the company. At least, that's what Death of a Salesman seems to argue.Part of Willy Loman’s dignity is inside his illusion about his success, it is shown at the beginning of the play when Willy says, “I’m the New England man. Just as Willy is unable to understand or even love his son, America as a whole is unable to understand those who value simple pleasures over the rat race. Sadly, Miller seems to say, Americans (Biff, in this case) are made the victims of the country's success. He wants his dad to stop being such a deluded twerp. He wants to be seen and loved for who he is. Rather than seeking money and success, Biff wants a more basic life. ![]() Willy is simply unable to accept the truth.īiff reminds us that the American Dream is not every man's dream. Yet, despite his insight and honesty, Biff is unable to communicate openly with his father. In one shouting match with Willy, he says that he can't hold a job because his dad made him so arrogant as a boy that he can't handle taking orders from a boss. Unlike his father and brother, Biff is self-aware and values the truth. While Biff is in some ways desperate to impress and please his dad, he also realizes that Willy has flawed, materialistic dreams that Biff is neither able nor desires to achieve. When we meet him in the play, he's 34 years old and has finally realized just how bad Willy messed him up. He started working on ranches in the West, but couldn't hold a job because he kept stealing from his bosses. Biff bailed on summer school and the math credit. Once again, Willy had a bad effect on his son's life. However, right about that time Biff caught his dad cheating on his mom, and it made him go kind of crazy. He could've taken a summer course and made everything all right. Things might have worked out for Biff even though he flunked math. Without the math credit, Biff couldn't graduate and therefore couldn't take his football scholarship to college. A lot of this was due to the fact that Willy let him get away with anything and never encouraged him to do well in school. However, he never put much energy into his schoolwork and failed math as a senior. Biff was a hotshot in high school as the star football player. The deal with Biff is that he's Willy's oldest son and the one whom Willy seems to be really crazy about. ![]() Why? Because he shows real initiative on the personal development front. Despite these shortcomings, however, we can't help but like Biff. He can't hold down a job, he steals from all of his employers, and he even went to jail. Sure, Biff is also flawed, just like everyone else. In fact, he's the only character in the book who shows any real personal growth. He's not just the big, dumb lump that his name might make you imagine. (Click the character infographic to download.)ĭon't let Biff's tough-guy name deceive you. ![]()
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