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Biff complains about Willy as a father, saying, “He’s got no character - Charley wouldn’t do this. Not in his own house - spewing out that vomit from his mind.” (Miller 56). Biff does not understand how his father has gotten to such a state of existence. Biff is also clearly frustrated, as even though he loves his father, he resents him for his emotional absence from Biff’s life, and compares him to other people that seem more stable on the outside, like Charley.
However, Willy kept on denying the truth, while Happy and Linda were just trying to calm Willy down, and get him away from Biff. Despite Happy and Linda’s efforts, Biff continued to reveal his life experiences to Willy. Eventually, Willy came to realize Biff for who he really was, and the argument settled down. Now you may be wondering how the argument could possibly show any love for each other. The love was found in Biff’s persistent desire to be honest with Willy.
In order for Willy to be a successful father, he needs to feel that his kids are respected and accomplished. However this shows that Willy is such an outsider, because Biff is quite the opposite, as the Bill Oliver that is references has no idea who Biff is. Another example that shows how Willy’s goals and dreams turn him into a misfit is when he asks for a promotion “ Well, tell you the truth, Howard. I’ve come to the decision that I’d rather not travel anymore.” ( Miller 59).
As someone grows up, sometimes people grow up to act like their parents. A good example of this is found in the novel called Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller. In the book, there is a character named Willy and his son named Biff. They both hate each other because they see themselves in each other. There are three traits that they don’t like, the fact that they are both bums, they hate the city and they what a farm, but they can’t.
Both characters realized that hard work is necessary to get what they want and that success is not a result of popularity. Bernard recognizes this much earlier in his life and becomes successful from an early age. This highlights how fathers play a crucial role in character development. Ironically Biff is similar to Willy, even though he refuses to admit it. Through this, Miller implies that all humans have inherited traits from their parents that cannot be denied.
Prior to the acknowledgement of Willy’s suicide, Miller provides Biff with a defensive but harsh persona in which he degrades Willy’s morals, and by doing so, Biff feels that he provides Linda – his mother and also role-model – further protection and admiration. This is illustrated as to when Biff suggests that Willy ‘[spews]..vomit from his mind’ and also as to when he is presented to be ‘[evasive]’. Biff’s unreasonable and ambiguous manner is significant as Miller induces dramatic irony towards the audience, along with catharsis: an emotional release for the audience, as Biff is the only character that knows of Willy’s affair. On the other hand, after being exposed to the true nature of Willy’s mind set, Biff is presented to show sympathy
Although in a way one can understand him not taking the risk and going to Alaska. Finally, Willy is responsible for his own death. I see this as a tragedy because Willy felt that the only way for him to make up for the fact that his past actions contributed to Biff’s failure in life was to commit suicide. In order that Biff would get an inheritance that would allow him to achieve the “American
Willy and his son happy were the same exact person. Biff is the first born son in the family. In high school he was seen as a popular athlete who was well liked and great with the women. In their room they are discussing old times and Happy brings up how Biff was the one who taught him everything about getting girls, but as the time passed on he has become more depressed.
While Linda enabled him, Willy could not help himself too keep ruining the good opportunities he had and turning them into some factious reality. At Willy`s funeral Biff comes to the realization that his father had all the wrong dreams and visions of success. Willy`s only dream was the fake “American Dream” that people believe will happen overnight. Willy`s failed attempts and happiness bonded into one and played a part into him creating this false reality and persona that he was the best salesman and that he was well loved by everyone around him.
Biff wants to retake the class in the summer but when he catches his father having an affair his perception of his father, his biggest role model, is shattered causing him to give up on the things he used to want to do. Willy represses this memory entirely and tries to blame others for Biffs behavior instead of himself. Willy also fools himself into thinking he is well liked and successful. In small moments of clarity Willy admits that people have made fun of his physique and no one talks to him anymore when he goes
In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, characters’ inability to let go of the past causes them immense tragedy. Biff, in particular, is terribly transformed after he catches his father having an affair. Biff’s fall from a promising child to a meandering bum is underpinned by his inability to let go. As he fixates on this single memory, his negative beliefs continually reinforce themselves and he thus stops believing he is worthy of success. Key to Biff’s transformation is the moment he meets Willy’s mistress.
In Death of a Salesman, Linda is Willy’s loyal and loving wife, who always unconditionally supports Willy’s unrealistic American Dream and defends Willy against the criticisms of their sons. She criticizes that Biff should not wander from place to place any more because she and Willy are getting older and will leave this world one day. Biff replies to Linda’s statements, but he doesn’t mention Willy at all. Biff’s behavior makes Linda upset and angry; Linda tells Biff that he either respects his father or leaves home. When Linda tells Biff that Willy often mumbles to himself, Biff is ashamed of Willy’s irrational behavior.
Biff, a consequence of Willy, attempts to bring Willy out of his fantasies and his see the realities of his life, but in the end fails to. The two are different in their ideas, demeanors and personas, yet have some akin characteristics. Willy and Biff’s physical traits are different. At what point, Willy tells his wife Linda, “I’m fat. I’m very foolish to look at, Linda.”
Another way in which Willy causes suffering for Biff is through the affair he has with a women on business trips. Biff finds out on his own by walking in on his dad and the women, who is wearing his mom’s stockings. This traumatizes Biff. He ends up not retaking a failed high school math class, “not graduating”(110;2), as Bernard warned, which wipes out his scholarships to college. Lastly, Willy Loman creates suffering for Biff by teaching him bad morals.
This cancelled his plans to be a collegiate football player. Ever since then, things have kept going on a downhill path for Biff. Willy and Linda both notice this and it devastates them. But, instead of helping his son, Willy becomes agitated for the rest of his life. He expected his son to be better but, Biff did not want to be better.