Willy initially presents Biff as being a “lazy bum” as he has rejected his father’s ideals of the American dream. However Willy instantly contradicts himself by stating “There’s one thing about Biff-he’s not lazy”. Perhaps Willy is grasping onto the little hope he has of Biff succeeding where he has failed. This is later reinforced by Willy stating “I’ll get him a job selling”. This is in a way tragic as it is apparent that Biff does not want to follow in his father’s footsteps; however Willy enforces his dreams onto Biff and expects them to be fulfilled, which the audience knows can never happen and that Willy is delusional over his views on the American dream. However it can be argued that Biff himself is deluded; as we progress through the
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Biff initially respected his father and strives to impress him; however his positive views on Willy transitions into hatred as he discovers Willy has had an affair on his mother; Linda. Biff initially visits Boston to seek aid from his respected father; he states “Because if he saw the kind of man you are, and you just talked to him in your way, I’m sure he’d come through for me”. Miller is implying that Biff valued his father as a very well respected man with a lot of influence. However this image Biff holds of his father soon transitions as he realizes the act Willy has committed. The transition is reinforced as Biff states “He wouldn't listen to you”. This quote clearly contradicts what Biff previously stated about his father which shows a clear change in views and the creation of a bitter hatred which evidently condemns both Willy and Biff throughout the act. Biff later states to Linda “Because I know he’s a fake and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows!”. Biff is lamenting the past when he discovered his father’s affair; he feels betrayed however he refuses to tell Linda about it as he states “It’s between me and him-that’s all I have to say”. Perhaps Biff himself is betraying Linda as he is not telling her the truth about his father’s infidelity. However you could argue that Biff refuses to tell Linda over the loyalty of his father; perhaps he reminds himself of the fragments of happiness he felt about his father before the
Biff initially respected his father and strives to impress him; however his positive views on Willy transitions into hatred as he discovers Willy has had an affair on his mother; Linda. Biff initially visits Boston to seek aid from his respected father; he states “Because if he saw the kind of man you are, and you just talked to him in your way, I’m sure he’d come through for me”. Miller is implying that Biff valued his father as a very well respected man with a lot of influence. However this image Biff holds of his father soon transitions as he realizes the act Willy has committed. The transition is reinforced as Biff states “He wouldn't listen to you”. This quote clearly contradicts what Biff previously stated about his father which shows a clear change in views and the creation of a bitter hatred which evidently condemns both Willy and Biff throughout the act. Biff later states to Linda “Because I know he’s a fake and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows!”. Biff is lamenting the past when he discovered his father’s affair; he feels betrayed however he refuses to tell Linda about it as he states “It’s between me and him-that’s all I have to say”. Perhaps Biff himself is betraying Linda as he is not telling her the truth about his father’s infidelity. However you could argue that Biff refuses to tell Linda over the loyalty of his father; perhaps he reminds himself of the fragments of happiness he felt about his father before the