At this stage Willy and Linda do not mention their younger son Happy, which indicates, even at this early stage in the play that Biff is perhaps the favoured son.
In terms of their relationship with their parents, Biff is the clear favourite son. In spite of Biff disappointing his father by being a farmhand and not a businessman, Willy saw big things in his future, in part due to the popularity in his youth (a quality Willy frequently juxtaposes with success); also Willy perhaps tries pushing Biff to achieve the success that he did not accomplish in his own life.
Happy is overlooked somewhat, although he tries to get his fathers attention, he cannot compete with Biff, the golden boy. Even though initially it seems that Happy is the Loman son with the lifestyle that would be favoured by Willy, “My own apartment, a car, and plenty of women.” However, womanising Happy claims that this is what he has always wanted, yet “still, goddammit, I’m lonely” he is lonely in life.
Both Loman sons define success as making money, perhaps this is as a result of the attitude they see in their father. Biff thinks Happy is a successful, “Hap? You’re a success aren’t you?... Why? You’re making money aren’t you?”.
Despite this, Happy and Biff both admire their father immensely and believe all of the tales he feeds them with, about his success and achievements, “Pop? Why, he’s got the finest eye in the business. You know that.” They idolise him.
Biff is unsure of what direction he is going in, “what the hell am I doing, playing around with horses… I oughta be makin’ my future… I don’t know what to do with myself”.
His interests lie in a rural existence away from the city, but he is too undisciplined to channel his energies into a positive career direction. He is all talk but no action, alike to his father, furthermore, his constant dreaming and lack of success totally mirrors Willy.
Biffs dreams are less acceptable, especially to Willy, who believes in the ‘American dream’ of rising from nothing to be successful and in turn, being rich. On the other hand, Biffs dream revolves around being at one with nature, rather than the superficial ideals of the ‘American dream’.
Although Happy is making some money, and has a more acceptable career, he is not happy with his life either. He is passive in terms of his career, “all I can do now is wait for the merchandise manager to die” he is sitting back as things go on around him and merely waiting for something to happen, so that in turn an opportunity could maybe open for him, rather than actively pursuing what he wants. This attitude is very similar to his fathers, who made a comment about waiting for someone to die earlier.
On the surface the boys seem to get on very well, they shave together and have bonding talks in the bedroom, a place of solace and of the past. It seems the past was a happy time for them both. However, there is slight rivalry under the exterior and Happy appears to be envious of his brothers carefree life, in comparison to his strict one.
