Willy's Destruction
Willy Loman, protagonist of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, is the embodiment of the tragic hero Northrop Frye is discussing when he said “Tragic heroes are so much the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them,... Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divine lightning.” Willy’s lofty and unattainable goal of the American Dream that he set for himself and his family causes him to suffer, as well as all those around him. His attitude and actions most negatively affect his son Biff, who was never the same after he caught his father in the affair. In addition to Biff, Willy is the cause of the suffering of his second son Happy and wife Linda. The destruction …show more content…
Throughout his whole life, Biff has had to deal with the lofty expectations projected onto him by his father. In the early stages of his life, Biff believes in his father and believes what he is telling him. There is no reason in Biff’s mind to doubt him, as he is a loving father and honest man. Early on, Biff wants to grow up to be just like how he saw his father, as a successful, well liked salesman. Everything changed for Biff when he caught Willy in his affair. Imagine the feeling of disappointment Biff felt when he realized that the man who had been building him up and up all these years, the man whose words you use to judge your self worth, is nothing but a disloyal liar. Suddenly, he did not want to be anything like his father. He does not want to resemble his father in any light, including being a salesman. The decision to be a farm hand on the west coast rather than following his father’s dreams of him becoming a salesman only widens the rift and deepens the resentment between Biff and Willy. All of Biff’s negative traits, including his anger and kleptomania, can be traced back to Willy. There is not a doubt in the world that Biff drew the short end of the stick when he ended up with Willy as a father. Without Willy, Biff would have led a much happier, more successful
Comparing Death Of A Salesman And The Crucible By Arthur Miller
1285 Words | 6 PagesHe sees one of his failures as not being able to raise his sons to be “perfect”, like when biff didn't becoming successful in business. He feels that biff is betraying him by not following out what he wanted, and it really takes a toll on Willy when Biff walks out on him after discovering Willy with another women. When this scene comes up in the movie, Willy feels like Biff betrayed him all based on that, while Biff feels betrayed because of the multiple times Willy lied to him and his
Willy's Immaturities
519 Words | 3 PagesDeath of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller, is about the dysfunctional Lowman family. The family consists of salesman father Willy, homemaker mother Linda, son and sports star Biff, and youngest son and daddy’s boy Happy. It became apparent through the course of the story, that the “Men” of the story were actually boys. By analyzing the males of this story the reasons for their immaturities become clear.
Comparing Oedipus The King And Fences
1235 Words | 5 PagesBiff is extremely affected by his father’s myopia; in high school, he was a star athlete who was recruited by various universities and colleges. However, like Troy, Willy ignores Bernard and his worries about Biff:“What’re you talking about? With scholarships to three universities they’re gonna flunk him?” (Miller 19). Due to the excessive pride that his father forced onto him, he flunked math, which nullified his chance into getting into a good school: “And I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody!”
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167 Words | 1 PagesBiff 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
Willy's Lies
655 Words | 3 PagesBut, unlike his father, he faces, and learns from, his shame. Consequently, the play suggests that he can rebuild his sense of self-worth and re-establish his relation to others on healthier grounds. He makes sense of his guilt by confronting the shame buried deep in his sense of identity. Ultimately, the ability to do so enables him to empathize with his father” (10). This is telling us that in the end Biff does come to terms with everything and can gain a new perspective into life.
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1478 Words | 6 PagesHe states how Biff is such a disgrace for not finding a better paying job at his current age, thirty-four. In addition to earlier in the conversation he states how he was okay with Biff working on the farm at an earlier age because it was a good for Biff to try different kinds of jobs, however for Biff to have grown in that particular job and not make enough money in it, definitely made Willy
Essay On Foil Characters In Death Of A Salesman
1210 Words | 5 Pages“The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead” (33). In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller uses foil characters to elucidate Willy’s flaws that ultimately prevent him and his family from succeeding. The contrast between Charley and Willy and Bernard and Biff serves to highlight how Willy’s obsession with achieving his version of the American Dream impacts both his life and his children’s. His poor values are passed on to his children producing even more failures. ¬¬¬¬Both Charley and Willy work as salesmen, however Charley represents what Willy desired to become – successful.
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1800 Words | 8 PagesBiff 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
Death Of A Salesman American Dream Essay
404 Words | 2 PagesHe comprehended his failure and managed it. After he went in Bill Oliver’s office, Biff deduced that he had to break the lies that were surrounding the Loman family, in order to come to realistic terms with his own life. Biff belongs to the outdoors ( the free west ) but his dream is obscured by Willy Loman’s blind faith and materialist vision of the American
Compare And Contrast Willy And Biff
741 Words | 3 PagesBiff, 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.”
Similarities Between Raisin In The Sun And Death Of A Salesman
683 Words | 3 PagesBiff and Willy both struggle with being successful but they handle it in different ways. Biff was the star football player and was destined to attend a top-notch university. However, he failed a subject, which would have forced him to attend summer school, which he was
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1409 Words | 6 PagesOver dinner Biff tries to tell Willy what happened and he does not want to be a salesman but Willy keeps interrupting and neglects to hear what Biff is trying to say. As the play starts to come to an end, Willy and Biff have one last confrontation. Here Biff tells Willy they should not meet again or ever come in contact with each other. Biff expresses to Willy that he is “no leader of men” but just a common man. Willy refuses to believe this and tells Biff he could have been such a great person.
Essay Comparing Death Of A Salesman And Streetcar Named Desire
683 Words | 3 PagesWilly wanted to reach the “American Dream” through his financial success and business outward his perfect family. He had earned his respect from everyone including his peers. In this story the character Willy is suffering from a mental issue, which was related to his brother Ben, during the conversation he was reliving the moment in his mind since he was passed away. Biff had realized that his father was having extra material affair as well, so he iodized his father knowing because it was hard for him to believe what his father had done with his mother. Biff could not finish his school and considered a spit on them.
Willy Loman Symbolism
1456 Words | 6 PagesOn the other hand, Willy in his flashbacks is a loving father and husband, the difference is ultimately obvious because he cannot live with the realization that he has failed, therefore in his last chance he decide to commit a suicide to leave his life insurance money to Biff to begin a new life. Many critics have asserted that Willy is a modern tragic hero and his tragedy lies in his belief in the American dream, Willy Loman is represented everyone, most people see themselves in Willy, the situation in which he stood and to which he was reacting, Willy Loman is represented the modern psycho character who carry contradicting feelings and emotions together, but the most effective one is his anger which turn his life to hell (Murphy 86). Biff
Willy Loman A Tragic Hero Essay
978 Words | 4 PagesThis 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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