Analysis of Biff in Death of a Salesman

Camilla Tanzi Year 12 An analysis of the character of salt lick. garget Loman is visualised as the root of Willys mental illness and instability. He is too the only member of his family who ack presentlyledges his birth failures in life. On the whole, salt lick Loman stands protrude as the most intriguing and strong character in cobblers last of a Salesman. He is non a successful man and never pull up stakes be, he is however able to admit this, raze in a harsh society as the one of the 1960s America. lick knows he is a nonhing and tries to make his fuss chitchat that he is no good.I am a dime a dozen, Pop, and so argon you. He begs for Willy to communicate with him and sustain him for who he is. Although Willy is forced by garget to see some of his own failures, he never accepts that hit leave alone twist around off the same way. At the end of the play, jabbing seems to wrick developed a strength of his own he has faced and certain the truth astir(predicate ) himself and his stimulate. Now that he acknowledges his problems, there is a confide that he bequeath be able to reach his potential. If Death of a Salesman offers any hope, it is only through the character of Biff.Also read Expressionism in Death of a Salesmanmilling machine implies there is a chance that he will one day be able to sojourn a formula life, away from the shadow of Willy Loman. Biff stimulates reactions knocked out(p) of his fathers daftness and is portrayed as the main cause of Willys problems. We understand that Willy has been a bad baffle on his son and in spite of this he has big ambitions for Biff and does not want to admit that he will never reach the goals he wishes for him. Being Willys oldest son, Biff seems to be the perfect child to his father.However, as the play develops and especially when it shifts from Willys dreams to the reality, we see a interpolate in his attitude towards his son. When Biff was the star rugger player, the only thing tha t numbered to Willy was his success in the sport. As a matter of fact, when Bernard informs Willy and Biff intimately the possibility of him being flunked in math, Willys reply is stiff and arrogant Dont be a pest, Bernard (To his boys) What an anaemic The use of the word anaemic is a perfect exemplification to show what the mans morals are he considers Bernard a teenager who lacks vitality, boring.The author could possibly be implying that Willy is actually envious of Bernard and even though he doesnt want to admit it, his is just jealousy when he shows aversion towards him. Willy has different ambitions for his sons futures than most pot had for theirs at the meter he believes that sport will be enough to help Biff bring home the bacon in the business world, make him rich and notorious Thats just what I mean, Bernard mountain get the best marks in school, yunderstand, exclusively when he gets out in the business world, yunderstand, youre going to be five times ahead of hi m. Arthur Miller provides us with a lot of evidence that Willy has been a bad influence on Biff. While Biff is in some ways fearful to impress his father, he is also conscious about the fact that Willy has failed his travail to be successful in his career. He considers his dads dreams temporal and unreachable. As a matter of fact, in the Requiem, even after his fathers death, Biff says He had the wrong dreams. All, all wrong. Unlike knowing and Willy, Biff is self-aware and values facts Willy never was a successful salesman and he never wanted to face the truth.On the other hand, Biff is conscious about his failures and the weaknesses of his personality. During an argument with his father, Biff admits that his dad made him so arrogant as a boy that now he just cant handle taking orders from a boss. I think this is what truly differentiates Biff from the rest of his family he is honest and sincere about himself and would rather work on a ranch than attack to be successful in a work field that he knows will never accept him. Biff is also the only character that acts as a admonisher that the American Dream is not an e actually mans dream.Bernard has compose a successful lawyer as his father Charley, Willy and Happy try to pretend they take hold too, but Biff is the only one who surrenders to his destiny. rather than seeking success and money, he wants a basic life working on ranches. He does not try to push into the crowd of masses aiming for a good job and a wealthy life-style, but alternatively wants to be seen for who he truly is Happy The only thing is- what can you make out there? Biff But look at your friend. Builds an estate and then doesnt have the peace of mind to live in it. In a way, Miller is trying to tell us that Americans are made victims of the countrys success. Death of a Salesman seems to wall that America as a whole does not value people who look for simple pleasures such as working in the countryside, and the American Dream pushes people to only aim for jobs in the industry. It is ironic how Bernard turns out to survive as a successful and well-known lawyer. It is ironic because during noble school Willy used to mock him for studying hard and always praised Biff for not studying at all.Bernard is presented as a weak and shy character and Miller wants us to believe that Biff will turn out to be successful rather than him and not the contrary. However, things turned out differently to how both Willy and Biff expected them to. Bernards success irritates Willy because his own sons lives do not measure up to Bernards (after a pause) Im- Im overjoyed to see how you made the grade Bernard, overjoyed. Its an encouraging thing to see a young man really-really- Looks really good for Biff- very (He breaks off, then) Bernard- (He is so full of emotion, he breaks off again). formerly again, Biff is the cause of his fathers despair he does not want to pursue Willys dreams, he wants something other than material things from life, and this destroys the man. Biff has learnt from his father that to be well- want and attractive are the most important ingredients for success. Up to now, I have only analysed the differences between Biff and Willy, however, it is also very important to highlight the few similarities between the two characters. When he was a teenage boy, Willys authority on Biff was evident.We find that when the trio Loman men are talking about Bernard, Biff echoes small bits of his fathers view on life when he says that his friend is liked but not well-liked. This implies that Biff once used to have esteem towards Willy he admired his strong personality and approved his view on the business world. Biff Loman is aware that he will not succeed as a salesman or any other job without his mathematics degree. On the other hand, his father is convinced he will and does not what to face the reality of facts. However, towards the end of the play we see a change in both the mens attitudes.As a matter of fact, they have switched opinions Biff (horrified, gets protrude on one knee before Willy) Dad, Ill make good, Ill make good. (Willy tries to get to his feet. Biff holds him down. ) Sit down now. Willy No, youre no good, youre no good for anything. Biff is now desperate and is obviously worried for his fathers mental health and tries to encourage him to be positive in any way he can- even if this involves lying to himself about his potential. As I previously mentioned in my introduction, Biff seems to be the only character that offers any hope any(prenominal) in Death of a Salesman.At the beginning of the play, he tells the audience about his dreams of living in the south What the hell am I doing, contend around with horses, twenty-eight dollars a week Im thirty-four years old, I oughta be makin my future. Thats when I coming speed home. And now, I get here, and I dont know what to do with myself. This clearly shows that biff aspires to better things, but does not kn ow what to do in an industrial city as New York. He wants to succeed and build a future, but at the same time he enjoys the pleasures of living in the countryside and not having any stress.Here is where we understand that Biff is basically lazy. He would like to have a nice and wealthy life, but he just does not have the strength or the motivating to work for it. On the whole, through the illusions that Willy believes, he cannot see Biff as a nobody and cannot accept that he wont be successful as he hopes. Eventually, Biff finally sees the truth and realises that he is no great leader of men. He also comprehends the delusions that Willy lived on. Biff is destined to no greatness, but he no longer has to fence to understand what he wants to do with his life I know who I am, kid.