Aiden Searles
Blog #2

Throughout the play, Death of a Salesman, Biff stands out because he is trying to be realistic and to uncover the truth about himself and his family. This make him stand out because his father and brother fall into a disillusionment because of their serious desire to be well liked. In contrast to his father and his brother, Biff recognizes his failure and eventually manages to confront it. Willy and Happy alternatively, can’t seem to acknowledge the reality of their failures and shortcomings. When Biff discovers that Willy has a mistress, he loses the faith that he had in his father. Also, finding out about his father has committed adultery with this woman, Biff realizes that Willy and his ambitions are not as great as Willy claims. After this event, Biff is seen by Willy as an underachiever and seemingly a disappointment in Willy’s eyes, but Biff, being the realistic one of the three, sees himself as being trapped in Willy’s outrageous fantasy. Biff becomes determined to find out the lies surrounding the Loman family and becomes intent on revealing the simple and humble truth behind Willy’s fantasy. Another contrast between Biff and his father is shown with Biff’s desire to get territory in the west. That desire symbolizes his idea of the American Dream, while Willy is more concerned about a more materialistic version of the American Dream. This is shown when Willy throws out his wife stockings because he is too proud to let his wife wear an old pair. This disillusionment also is obvious when he denies the job offered to him by Charley.