Post by markf2 on Mar 19, 2008 21:28:13 GMT -5
MF
Period 2
627 words
Like Father Like Son: Analysis of Father-Son Relationship in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman"
Arthur Miller’s timeless play “Death of a Salesman” closely examines the relationship that exists between a father and son. In the play, the relationship that is prominent in the play is that between Willy and Biff Loman. Through Willy and Biff’s relationship, Miller attempts to address the connection that most fathers have with their sons, that is, the urging and pushing for their sons to be more successful than they had been. Just as any father wishes their son to fulfill the American Dream, Willy yearns for the same for Biff. He endlessly encourages him in most of his endeavors, both in the past, as represented in Willy’s memories, as well as in the present. As this aspect of father-son relationships still exists in America, it is clear that “Death of a Salesman” remains very relevant to our modern consensus.
For the duration of the play, Willy continuously “blew [Biff] so full of hot air” when supporting him in his attempts at success (Miller 131). This is most effectively portrayed in Willy’s memories, when a world filled with hopes and dreams remained in front of Biff. When Biff was the captain of the football team, he exhibited the first of his many encounters where he was caught stealing. In this particular memory, Biff had stolen a football from the locker room. However, because Willy wants to support Biff in order to aid his success, he does not believe that Biff had stolen the football, but had simply borrowed it because “he’s gotta practice with a regulation ball” (30). Willy constantly makes excuses for Biff in order to serve his purpose of helping him fulfill the American Dream, which he was unable to do.
In addition to morally justifying Biff’s stealing, Willy also wants him to cheat on his state test for which he does not study with any effort. To further the problem, when Bernard attempts to make Willy aware of the situation that Biff is in at school, Willy calls Bernard “an anemic” and brushes the problem away (33). Willy believes that Biff will succeed in life because he is “well liked.” Willy is putting all of his cards down on the fact that since Biff is the captain of the football team and he is “well liked,” that this alone will lead him to success. He feels that the teacher will not flunk him because he already has “scholarships to three universities” (33). Therefore, Willy suggests that Bernard simply give Biff the answers so he can pass the class in order to make it into college and continue his success. Willy’s willingness to have Biff cheat on a state test shows how important it is to him that Biff become successful as well as his belief that Biff is talented enough to thrive without fairly passing the test.
The scenes between Willy and Biff demonstrate a father-son relationship in which the father wishes his son to fulfill the American Dream and, in doing so, become more successful than he had been. Although at times Miller seems to exaggerate how much a father wants his son to succeed, as in the cheating scene, he is effective in getting the overall point of a father wanting the best for his son across. Miller’s synopsis of this aspect of the father-son relationship holds true in today’s modern consensus. Many fathers still encourage their sons down a particular path, as Willy did with Biff, in order to live vicariously through them. They seek refuge in knowing that although they themselves could not complete the dream, they were able to raise a son who could do it. Miller’s portrayal of the father-son relationship between Willy and Biff is a prime example of “Death of a Salesman” still being relevant today.
Period 2
627 words
Like Father Like Son: Analysis of Father-Son Relationship in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman"
Arthur Miller’s timeless play “Death of a Salesman” closely examines the relationship that exists between a father and son. In the play, the relationship that is prominent in the play is that between Willy and Biff Loman. Through Willy and Biff’s relationship, Miller attempts to address the connection that most fathers have with their sons, that is, the urging and pushing for their sons to be more successful than they had been. Just as any father wishes their son to fulfill the American Dream, Willy yearns for the same for Biff. He endlessly encourages him in most of his endeavors, both in the past, as represented in Willy’s memories, as well as in the present. As this aspect of father-son relationships still exists in America, it is clear that “Death of a Salesman” remains very relevant to our modern consensus.
For the duration of the play, Willy continuously “blew [Biff] so full of hot air” when supporting him in his attempts at success (Miller 131). This is most effectively portrayed in Willy’s memories, when a world filled with hopes and dreams remained in front of Biff. When Biff was the captain of the football team, he exhibited the first of his many encounters where he was caught stealing. In this particular memory, Biff had stolen a football from the locker room. However, because Willy wants to support Biff in order to aid his success, he does not believe that Biff had stolen the football, but had simply borrowed it because “he’s gotta practice with a regulation ball” (30). Willy constantly makes excuses for Biff in order to serve his purpose of helping him fulfill the American Dream, which he was unable to do.
In addition to morally justifying Biff’s stealing, Willy also wants him to cheat on his state test for which he does not study with any effort. To further the problem, when Bernard attempts to make Willy aware of the situation that Biff is in at school, Willy calls Bernard “an anemic” and brushes the problem away (33). Willy believes that Biff will succeed in life because he is “well liked.” Willy is putting all of his cards down on the fact that since Biff is the captain of the football team and he is “well liked,” that this alone will lead him to success. He feels that the teacher will not flunk him because he already has “scholarships to three universities” (33). Therefore, Willy suggests that Bernard simply give Biff the answers so he can pass the class in order to make it into college and continue his success. Willy’s willingness to have Biff cheat on a state test shows how important it is to him that Biff become successful as well as his belief that Biff is talented enough to thrive without fairly passing the test.
The scenes between Willy and Biff demonstrate a father-son relationship in which the father wishes his son to fulfill the American Dream and, in doing so, become more successful than he had been. Although at times Miller seems to exaggerate how much a father wants his son to succeed, as in the cheating scene, he is effective in getting the overall point of a father wanting the best for his son across. Miller’s synopsis of this aspect of the father-son relationship holds true in today’s modern consensus. Many fathers still encourage their sons down a particular path, as Willy did with Biff, in order to live vicariously through them. They seek refuge in knowing that although they themselves could not complete the dream, they were able to raise a son who could do it. Miller’s portrayal of the father-son relationship between Willy and Biff is a prime example of “Death of a Salesman” still being relevant today.