Biff's self-discovery in Death of A Salesman
In your opinion, as clearly and concisely as you can, what does Biff learn in Death of a Salesman.
In Death of a Salesman, Biff learns who he really is. In Death of a Salesman Biff realizes that his whole life he has been pursuing his father 's ambitions. Biff naturally adopted Willy 's ideals as a child, when Biff loved and respected Willy. It never occurred to Biff that his values and morals should reflect his own character. Biff did not know what he wanted to achieve in his future, and he didn 't know who he really was in the past. Biff had to clear the deceptive fog, cast by his father, to find himself.
Early in the play, you discover Biff struggling with the future. Biff confides in his brother and admits "[He doesn 't] know -- what [he 's] supposed to want."(22) Biff thinks he is "...mixed up very bad... [he 's] not married, [he 's] not in business." (23) Biff has learned from his father Willy, that a man, in order to be successful, must flourish in business. It is Willy 's belief that a labourer is a failure. To have to work with your hands for a living is a disgrace. Biff "... spent six or seven years after high school trying to work [himself] up. Shipping clerk, salesman, business of one kind or another."(22) Biff thinks this sort of life is ".. a measly manner of existence... when all [he] really [desires] is to be outdoors, with [his] shirt off." (22) Biff knows he is content spending his time working in the country, using his hands, playing with horses. He knows he wants to be working on the ranches, but he 's "... thirty-four years old, [he] oughta be makin ' his future."(22) If Biff does not find a place for him to belong in the business world, he will be an embarrassment to his father. Happiness is not valued by Willy if it is unaccompanied by popularity, success, and wealth. Willy has instilled these beliefs in Biff and it 's the reason Biff is so confused about his future.
Willy always aimed to raise his boys to be "... rugged, well-liked,
In Death of a Salesman, Biff learns who he really is. In Death of a Salesman Biff realizes that his whole life he has been pursuing his father 's ambitions. Biff naturally adopted Willy 's ideals as a child, when Biff loved and respected Willy. It never occurred to Biff that his values and morals should reflect his own character. Biff did not know what he wanted to achieve in his future, and he didn 't know who he really was in the past. Biff had to clear the deceptive fog, cast by his father, to find himself.
Early in the play, you discover Biff struggling with the future. Biff confides in his brother and admits "[He doesn 't] know -- what [he 's] supposed to want."(22) Biff thinks he is "...mixed up very bad... [he 's] not married, [he 's] not in business." (23) Biff has learned from his father Willy, that a man, in order to be successful, must flourish in business. It is Willy 's belief that a labourer is a failure. To have to work with your hands for a living is a disgrace. Biff "... spent six or seven years after high school trying to work [himself] up. Shipping clerk, salesman, business of one kind or another."(22) Biff thinks this sort of life is ".. a measly manner of existence... when all [he] really [desires] is to be outdoors, with [his] shirt off." (22) Biff knows he is content spending his time working in the country, using his hands, playing with horses. He knows he wants to be working on the ranches, but he 's "... thirty-four years old, [he] oughta be makin ' his future."(22) If Biff does not find a place for him to belong in the business world, he will be an embarrassment to his father. Happiness is not valued by Willy if it is unaccompanied by popularity, success, and wealth. Willy has instilled these beliefs in Biff and it 's the reason Biff is so confused about his future.
Willy always aimed to raise his boys to be "... rugged, well-liked,
Bibliography: eath of A Salesman, Aurther Miller, Penguin Books 1976