In Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman", Willy Loman is an individual who strives to achieve the "American dream" in the 1940s. This era was characterized by America's emergence from the Great Depression as well as its recognition as a global superpower after World War II. Now a prosperous nation full of opportunity, the “American Dream” of this decade was commonly defined by economic success, a healthy family, and land ownership. However, Willy Loman struggles to acquire this national philosophy due to his misconception of himself as someone greater than he actually is. His success as a salesman is limited and his relationship with his family is strained, particularly with Biff in particular. Biff realizes that the aimless direction his life is taking is partly due to the inflation of his pride caused by Willy's false beliefs, which emphasized the importance of being "well-liked." However, while in the depths of losing himself, Biff finally realizes and accepts who he is. In contrast to Willy, who remains in denial until his tragic demise, Biff's honest and raw introspection about his personal purpose evolves as the play progresses, until Biff finally completes his journey of self-discovery. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Initially, Biff projects an aura of uncertainty surrounding him. At thirty-four, his life has not yet taken a clear path and he is unable to secure a stable career. In his conversation with Happy in his room, he expresses his concern by stating, “I'm like a boy. I'm not married, I'm not in business, I'm just like a boy (23 years old). Biff is also described as having a "worn look" and appearing "less confident" (19). When Happy and Biff are talking about girls, Happy even asks Biff, "Where's the old humor, the old confidence?" » Additionally, American ideals of success contribute to Biff's ambiguity. Biff prefers to live a basic life on a ranch raising cattle, rather than devoting "his whole life to keeping stock, making phone calls, or selling or buying." Contentment is a success for Biff, and it's obvious that he associates the two when he asks Happy, "Are you happy, Hap?" You made it, didn't you? Are you happy? However, in a society where success is measured in dollars and materials, Biff isn't sure what he's "supposed to want." Even though he loves being outdoors on a farm, it doesn't generate enough capital, and he's left with the realization, "What the hell am I doing, playing with horses, twenty-eight dollars per week! » (22). As a result, Biff is unwittingly drawn into the world of economic success, even if it means risking his contentment. Therefore, as Willy claims, "Biff Loman is lost." In his essay “Focus on Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman: Bad Dreams,” literary critic Chester Eisinger states that the play “is about competing dreams and an identity crisis,” with the project being the “dream "urban dream of commercial success" and the other being the "rural agrarian dream of open space". Willy suffers from his identity and Eisinger suggests that he "doesn't know who he is". In terms of “business success,” Willy relies on the approval of others, and being “liked” is used as a tool for measuring career success. When explaining to Howard how much personality there was in being a salesman, Willy brought up his memory ofDave Singleman, a successful and popular salesman. Willy states that he “died the death of a salesman… – when he died, hundreds of sellers and buyers were present at his funeral” (81). As a result, Singleman represents what Willy wants to become and his idea of ​​success. Willy also constantly exaggerates about his accomplishments and identity. In a flashback to their childhood, Willy tells Biff and Happy that "decent, honest people... know me up and down. New England... when I bring you guys, it'll be an open sesame for all of us ...I can park my car on any street in New England, and the cops protect it like their own. This indicates that Willy lives in a fragile world of self-deception, where instead of focusing on reality, he convinces himself that he is well-liked and successful by lying. This fills Biff with arrogance and blows "so much hot air" out of him that he "could never stand to take orders from anyone." Additionally, Willy's mentality that approval is more important than good ethics negatively affects Biff. For example, Willy condones Biff's theft of the regulation ball, praising that "the coach will probably congratulate you on your initiative!" (30). When Bernard logically points out that just because Biff "printed the University of Virginia on his sneakers doesn't mean they have to graduate him," Willy considers Bernard a "pest" and "anemic" to his sons . Willy even tells Biff to "look for sand" in a nearby building and praises Biff's "nerves of iron" when he steals it. As Eisinger explains, Willy “disparages the need to learn in the name of a higher good, personhood.” He places more importance on being "well-liked" than on teaching Happy and Biff practical morals that would have benefited them in the long run. As a result, Biff ends up stealing work, which, along with his refusal to accept orders from authority, ultimately contributes to his lack of success. However, the most damaging for Biff's character is when he stumbles upon Willy's infidelity with The Woman. As Biff leaves the hotel room in tears, “Willy remains kneeling on the floor” (121). This ultimately symbolizes Willy's "fall" into a downward decline. Willy's demeaned position in front of Biff also represents Biff's loss of respect for him, as he no longer idolizes him as he did when he was a boy. Biff becomes so distraught that he gives up on his once promising and bright future, giving rise to Willy's empty dream that he wished Biff would one day achieve. Therefore, this puts even more pressure and causes tension between Willy and Biff's relationship. The discovery of his father's adultery is a major turning point in Biff's life. Devastated, he spends his life as an underachiever suffering from an identity crisis. However, the start of Biff's discovery comes when he steals a pen from Bill Oliver's office. He has an epiphany in which he remembers that he “stopped in the middle of this building and saw the sky. I saw the things I love in this world. Work, food and time to sit and smoke (132). Biff accepts that he has no place in the business world and even asks himself, "Why am I trying to become something I don't want to be?" Fittingly, literary critic Fred Ribkoff suggests that "Biff goes to Oliver in a vain attempt to insert his self-circular self into an 'angular world'—a world crushing both son and father, men much more adept in this field. use their hands rather than a pen. His impulsive theft of Oliver's pen shows that Biff will never reach the standard of the "American dream" and in..”