It seems that Willy wants the best for his son, but Biff does not understand this and remains an unsure person, a good quote for this is, “why does dad mock me…” (p9). The quote is good because it shows that his dad is not taking Biff seriously. This leaves him uncertain of his annoyance, such as not listening to his father. A good example of this is when Biff flunks maths and Willy responds to this very seriously, “You had to go and flunk math” (p82).
Biff lacks confidence, because he is always quiet but Happy is more confident because he is the one who seems the most motivated “your gonna live with me, kid”. This lack of confidence affects Biff because this prevents him from fulfilling his dreams “I don’t know what I’m supposed to want” (p10); he is not serious about his future and so chooses unrealistic careers such as he did want to be a footballer and a successful businessman,” Lotta dreams and plans” (p8). This leads to the American Dream.
The American Dream is about being in the business world and being rich, Willy Loman wants to follow these steps, as there are many influences in their family of successful businessmen such as Bernard and Howard. It is very clear that most of the characters in the play dream of being a successful businessman and ones who have been one, tell others of their successes, “I walked into the jungle”, “I walked out, …and by god I was rich” (p32). Happy realises that he has an advantage over Biff in confidence and so tries to comfort Biff when he is in sorrow, “Take it easy, huh” (p27).
Biff does not realise his potential and also does not have an aim in life to achieve. He has nothing to look forward to. Biff is very negative and so believes that he is a failure. He tends to wonder why he is less successful than others and compares himself to Happy a lot and becomes even more negative. Biff talks about his failure in grief and believes that he needs to improve himself, this is probable after he is given advise on becoming successful, “I ought to get married…I’m not in a business” (p11). Biff is completely opposite to Happy because Happy is very positive, “Its always what I always wanted” (p12), and is liked by Willy a lot. This is because Happy always remains positive and pleases his dad more than Biff does, “Take it easy” (p26). Biff is different to his father because Willy has aims for his son to be successful; he has something to look forward to. Biff, as he is not interested in his education, has nothing ahead to look for, “I don’t know what to do with myself”.
It is clear that Willy believes that Biff should have a good education because he was very concerned when he came to find out that Biff was flunking maths. This links with the American Dream because having a good education gives more chance of a person being successful, Willy wants Biff to become a businessman and this is portrayed when he responds very positively to Biffs interview, “Lick the world!” (p45), this shows that Willy is an ambitious person. This gives an image of a very responsible and caring man on behalf of Willy because he wants the best for his son. You can also tell that Willy is concerned for Biffs education because when Willy finds out that Biff has flunked math, he turns his conversation with Biff into a riot,” You had to go and flunk math!” (p82).
Willy may want the best for Biff but sometimes is not very successful in conveying his message to Biff, as Biff does not take the matter too seriously. Due to Willy’s consistent nagging, Biff doesn’t like it and repels more away form his dad. Also when he talks about his dad, considered that he repels him he talks about Willy in a negative way, “Jesus, maybe he smashed up the car again” (p8). Biff doesn’t realise it but he is destroying his relationship with his dad by not listening to him and Willy shows that Biff is repelling him and confronts Biff to find out his problem, “Why do you always insult me?” (p43). Biff realises that he needs to change himself and looks back on his unfortunate past,” I’ve spent six or seven years after high school trying to work myself up”.
Willy is upset because he owes a lot of money and in grief explains the success of Bernard as if Willy is a failure to Happy,” Walked into a jungle, comes out, …and he’s rich” (p27). There is a significance to the love story and the American Dream with Willy and Happy because Willy advises Happy as a loving father to achieve his goals,” The world is an oyster, but don’t crack it open on a mattress!” (p27). The oyster is metaphorical for achieving your goals and the mattress symbolises the easy, careless path in life. It is clear to say that Willy doesn’t want Happy not to be successful and lazy but to work hard. The easy way in life is lazy and doesn’t involve hard work, which is the opposite of what Willy wants. The mattress represents the easy and lazy path in life by not working hard and therefore not achieving goals, also therefore becoming a failure as will believes he is, “I’m fat…I’m very foolish” (p23). Willy just wants the best for his children and to not go through the hard way in life as Willy has experienced. This shows that Willy’s and Happy’s relationship is strengthening. Willy then gives more encouragement to become successful, “There was a man started with the clothes and ended up with diamond mines” (p27). The diamond mines represent wealth and probably Willy was trying to say was that you can still become something big starting from a scratch. It is obvious that Willy is concerned about his sons because he talks about leaving a business for his sons, “A business for the boys” (p24).
Biff on the other hand is always being mocked by his dad, which is obvious when he says, “why does dad always mock me all the time?” (p9). This shows that Biff feels that he is neglected and is not important. By not getting attention from Willy, Biff has to try to impress him but is not very successful at it, “Missed you every minute” (p17). The ‘love story’ refers to relationships and as they strengthen and weaken, this cross-section of the play shows the weakening of Biff’s and Willy’s relationship. With all the neglect Biff receives, he starts to look ahead and wants to become successful, “With a ranch I could do the work I like, and still be something” (p14)
Arthur Miller quoted, “between both of them and America”; the American Dream is referred to as ‘America’. This means that Willy and Biff are both linked to the American Dream via their varying relationship. This is true because for Biff to follow the American Dream, he has to understand and listen to Willy and this can only be done if their bond is strong. This is proven because when their relationship is very unstable, Biff does not want to listen to Willy and therefore he cannot follow the American Dream. All of a sudden Biff becomes the focus of the play as he has his job interview and Willy is proud of him. Happy is no longer the over confident child of Willy and is now the one who is being neglected. This is clear because when Happy wants to reveal to his family that he is to get married, he is ignored as if he is not important any more, “I’m gonna get married…go to sleep, dear” (P48) Linda replies ignorantly to Happy. In frustration Happy leaves the room. Biff has unexpectedly become very positive and confident in all ways for example his speech, “Lend me ten bucks, will ya! I want to buy some new ties” (p47). It is as if Happy has left the throne of confidence and rank and given it onto Biff.
The author, Arthur Miller, exposes the American Dream in a very positive way because all the people in the play who have followed the American Dream are mentioned in a very optimistic way and all of those people are successful,” This is your uncle Ben, a great man” (p32), Willy says to Happy. This sets a good image for followers of the Dream. The author makes us sympathise with Biff because he does not realise his potential by being so negative and so cannot follow the dream. We should be critical with Willy because he hasn’t set a very good example for his sons because he wasn’t a very successful businessman himself. Though he may be pushing his sons to be successful and to not make the same mistake as he did. Bernard represents an example for the Loman’s, “ When I was seventeen I walked into the jungle and when I was twenty-one I walked out. And by god I was rich” (p32). He is an example of a success and an influence for Happy and Biff.
Linda plays a part in the ‘love story’ between Biff and Willy because she plays a positive role. This is because she is the one who brings them closer when their bond weakens. A good example of this is when she tells Willy that the children left the house early which was good news for Willy, “They were out of here by eight o’ clock” (p50). This quote is good because Linda talks very positively, making Willy feel pleased about his sons. It is easy to say that Willy was glad because he responded positively, “Good work!” (p50).
I agree with the title of this essay because being a successful businessman affects the relationship of people as one person forces another to be work hard and be successful as was the case with Willy and Happy. Sometimes this message being conveyed is not done very effectively, and so the relationship between the two weakens. There are many influences around these people and others just try to help to bring the people closer. The love story and the American Dream are directly proportional, as the love gets stronger, so does the successfulness.