Biff and Willy continue to be angry with one another and spend most of their conversations yelling not enjoying each other’s company as fathers and sons should. Biff continues to steal and even goes to jail for three months for stealing a suit. Biff then spends his life bouncing around from job to job. Biff ends up not going to college to play football. Because he is angry with his father, he does not attend summer school so that he can pass math. He calls his father a “phony little fake.” (Act 2). He keeps it to himself instead of telling the rest of the family. Biff also does not deal with his father’s affair. Willy does not acknowledge that he has betrayed his marriage vows and the trust of his wife and kids. Again, Willy refuses to deal with the seriousness of the situation and plays off the affair as if it is no big deal. About this same time, Biff discovers his father is having an affair while he is out of town on long business trips. (Act 1).Willy does not deal with these serious issues in Biff’s life because he believes that Biff will be successful because he is “very well liked” (Act 1) and has a promising football career ahead of him. However, Willy fails to deal with Biff’s issues of stealing, being rough with the neighborhood girls and failing Math.

Willy believes because his sons are physically attractive, and they are well liked that they are powerful so they will ultimately be successful in life. He says his sons have “personal attractiveness.”(Act 1). He compares his sons to Adonis and Hercules.(Act 1). He becomes so frustrated with his life that he commits suicide in hopes that the $20,000 of insurance money he leaves behind will solve the family’s problems and he will be a hero in their eyes.Īt one time, Willy was very proud of his sons, especially Biff. This is unfortunate because Willy needs help as he is losing his grip on reality as he toggles between fond memories of the past and the bleak reality of his present life.

The family is unable to truly communicate and support one another. The denial of some serious matters erodes the foundation of the family. Throughout the story the family live in denial. The “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller tells a sad story of Willy Loman and his family.

Biff death of a salesman