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Death of a salesman symbolism essay
Symbolism for death of a salesman
Death of a salesman symbolism essay
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Death of a salesman symbolism essay
Symbolism for death of a salesman
Death of a salesman symbolism essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
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.
I always heard yelling and screaming from their house, and it was often an argument between all four members of their family. The constant arguing always led me to believe that Willy yelled at his family because of his experiences as a child, and it worried me about how it would affect Linda and the children. Furthermore, my preconceived notions especially intensified when Biff would disappear for months at a time. However, there was one loud argument that, oddly enough, made me realize that all the yelling and arguing were done out of love. During the altercation, Biff was trying to tell Willy the truth about the nature of situations he (Biff) found himself in over the last decade of his life.
Biff thought and believed this to a point that he followed everything his dad said and is now struggling to find himself in life without the popularity. Bernard on the other hand thinks the complete opposite, he thinks that you need good grades to be successful. Bernard 's beliefs are cemented when Willy says, "Bernard can get the best marks, y 'understand, but…" This
Some would say that Willy and Biff do not see them self in each other In the novel Death of a Salesman. This may be the case, however, it overlooks the fact that the Death of a Salesman they do see them self in each other and they hate themselves for it. In the novel, Willy and Biff think that that they are both bums. As Willy talking to his
Biff failing math and not going to summer school may have been instigated by Willy encouraging him to blow off his studies and Biff discovering that Willy was having an affair. One cannot lay the blame totally on Willy because while he may have been the catalyst Biff made that decision not to study or go to summer school. Willy is kind of responsible for his family not being wealthy. He turned down an opportunity to go to Alaska with his brother a decision that would eventually cost him. Had he gone with Ben he could have been rich from finding a diamond mine in Africa.
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.
HAPPY: What the hell! WILLY: Tell me what happened! Biff [to Happy]: I can’t talk to him! Willy is only able to cope with the reality the Biff lays before him by escaping entirely into his delusions.
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 line with his disillusionment of Willy, Biff rejects the confidence Willy tried to instill in him. He decides that Willy just “blew [him] full of hot air” (131), and that in reality, he is nothing special, just “a dime in a dozen” (132). This lack of confidence then leads to poor decisions that trap Biff in a cycle of self-deprecation. After stealing Oliver’s pen, Biff asks himself: “what the hell am I grabbing this for? Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be?
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: I don’t like you yelling at her all the time, and I’m tellin’ you, that’s all. WILLY: What’re you, takin’ over this house?
In one scene, Biff admits to his father that “he is a dime a dozen”. This proves that Biff is aware of the fact that he has wasted his life chasing something that will never be. In his final conversation with his father, he attempts to make him see that he is a failure as well by saying “You were never anything put hard-working drummer who landed in the ash van lieke all the rest of thgem! I’m one dollar an hour, Willy!”. Willy, however, never admits the fact that his son and him are both losers.
Willy encourages Biff to steal, cheat, and lie. For example, Willy says to Biff and Happy, “Boys! Go right over to where they’re building the apartment house and get some sand. We’re going to rebuild the entire front stoop right now!”(50;1). Mr. Loman wants to build his front porch by stealing the material.
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.
During a monologue, a long speech by a character that is directed towards another character. Biff confesses to Happy that he is conflicted and confused about what he wants. He cannot hold a job until he finds some happiness working as farm laborer. This arises tension and conflict between Biff and Willy. So much that Linda convinces Biff to please Willy once again.