Conquering Morals In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
Tyler Mandelbaum March 7, 2016
Ms. Litwack Personal Comparison-Contrast Essay
Conquering Morals
In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Biff grows up to become one of the most misunderstood and mistreated characters in the play. Biff’s parents, Linda and Willy, adored him all of his childhood, and saw him as the well-liked kid that others also idolized. Later in life, Biff makes one mistake in his father’s eyes -- wanting to work on a farm in an open environment instead of becoming a salesman -- and his parents hold it over him for the rest of his life. They characterize him as a “lazy bum” and say they should get him a “job selling” in order for him to be successful. Due to Biff’s desire to stray from what his parents …show more content…
Biff, therefore, grew up with the idea that he did not have to follow rules or meet certain expectations, because Willy did not follow them, and Willy did not expect Biff to follow them either. Thus, Biff's proclivity for stealing continued during his entire life. Indeed, Willy seems to encourage Biff to steal, and does not reprimand Biff when he does something wrong. For example, when Biff steals a football from the locker room, Willy does not scold Biff or say Biff acted badly -- Willy praises Biff’s resourcefulness! Despite his journey for truth, Biff allows himself to disregard his values for certain close ties/friendships. I try never to break my values, even when it involves losing …show more content…
He strives to attain a more basic life rather than a life filled with money and commercial success. Biff wants his father to not be so deluded and to realize that the American Dream does not have to be everyone’s goal. However, Willy is not able to love or to comprehend his son’s wishes, and he does not understand that there is value in the simple pleasures of life. While Biff is ultimately able to free himself from his father’s wishes, he starts off by putting pressure on himself to please his family. Biff admits that even though he does not want to be so competitive to achieve goals that are not even his, he does it for Willy,
Ms. Litwack Personal Comparison-Contrast Essay
Conquering Morals
In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Biff grows up to become one of the most misunderstood and mistreated characters in the play. Biff’s parents, Linda and Willy, adored him all of his childhood, and saw him as the well-liked kid that others also idolized. Later in life, Biff makes one mistake in his father’s eyes -- wanting to work on a farm in an open environment instead of becoming a salesman -- and his parents hold it over him for the rest of his life. They characterize him as a “lazy bum” and say they should get him a “job selling” in order for him to be successful. Due to Biff’s desire to stray from what his parents …show more content…
Biff, therefore, grew up with the idea that he did not have to follow rules or meet certain expectations, because Willy did not follow them, and Willy did not expect Biff to follow them either. Thus, Biff's proclivity for stealing continued during his entire life. Indeed, Willy seems to encourage Biff to steal, and does not reprimand Biff when he does something wrong. For example, when Biff steals a football from the locker room, Willy does not scold Biff or say Biff acted badly -- Willy praises Biff’s resourcefulness! Despite his journey for truth, Biff allows himself to disregard his values for certain close ties/friendships. I try never to break my values, even when it involves losing …show more content…
He strives to attain a more basic life rather than a life filled with money and commercial success. Biff wants his father to not be so deluded and to realize that the American Dream does not have to be everyone’s goal. However, Willy is not able to love or to comprehend his son’s wishes, and he does not understand that there is value in the simple pleasures of life. While Biff is ultimately able to free himself from his father’s wishes, he starts off by putting pressure on himself to please his family. Biff admits that even though he does not want to be so competitive to achieve goals that are not even his, he does it for Willy,