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How Does Biff Loman Change Willy's Relationship

1334 Words6 Pages

In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, only one character truly comes to the realization of who he is. Throughout his younger years, Biff Loman is constantly buffed up by his father Willy, whom he adores. Biff admires his father until he catches him cheating on his wife, Linda. This changes Biff’s relationship with his father, ultimately changing his actions, attitude, and values. Biff Loman and his father used to have a beautiful relationship. Willy adored his eldest son, the popular and well-liked football star, and in return, Biff looked up to him and wanted to please him. There were plans for Biff to use one of his scholarships to go off and play college football. However, all of this changes when Biff walks in on his dad and The Woman. …show more content…

He was confident until he realized that his father's praise had been based on a false perception of the world. Willy thought that “if a man was impressive and well-liked”(1602) that nothing could stop him. It took his dad having an affair for Biff to realize his dad had a skewed view of the world. This made Biff’s confidence drop since he came to the understanding that his father couldn't even live up to his own standards. Biff realizes that he is not any more special than anyone else. His view of himself shatters with the view of his dad since the ideals he was taught his whole life no longer have any merit behind them. He once thought that as long as his peers accepted him with open arms, he would have a life full of everything he wanted. After his dad’s betrayal, he realized that his father didn’t have any idea how to survive in the real world. Biff’s eyes opened to the fact that his family was barely surviving. Between his dad’s horrible work ethic and constant denial about how to get through life, he was setting Biff up for a life of bitter disappointment. Biff fell back into his old habits when he goes to Oliver with the intent of making his father proud. He ponders why he's “trying to become what [he] doesn't want to be”(1625) He would much rather work in the west with his hands as a farmer. Instead, his values of reaching the top by being socially appeasing have a stronger impact on him than actually working for what he desires. These standards that are instilled during Biff’s childhood keep emerging, keeping him from following his ultimate dream of working outside of the business world and away from building a well-known empire as did dad wishes.According to Eisinger, “man chooses the wrong dream because he does not know himself”. Throughout the story, Biff changes his dream based on his relationship with his father. When he is getting along with Willy, he wants to please him by going

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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.

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