Death Of A Salesman Act II

The final showdown of the second act is like the end of the first act in structure and emotion. Linda once again acts as the voice of reason in the household, making fun of Biff and happy for their lack of care for their father. Biff and Happy result in improving themselves, Happy decides to settle down, while Biff breaks down emotionally and cries for his father. Biff admits that he was unavailable for months not because he did not care to contact his parents, but rather because he was in jail. This contradicts earlier indications that he did not care for his parents. The final confrontation between Biff and Willy is different for each. While Biff focuses on Willy's false dreams for himself and for his sons, Willy seems concerned only with what his sons think of him. Willy still retains a belief that Biff and Happy are important people capable of great success, while Biff takes the more realistic view that they are common people incapable of achieving their dreams. This returns to the theme of Willy's untouchable goal, which guarantee that he will never be satisfied in his real life. It is this impossibility to fully achieve success that drives Willy Loman to suicide. His suicide can be thought of as almost a sacrifice, because the belief that Biff may go into business with the insurance money he gained from his death. Willy's suicide may be related to his problems that were fixed with his elder son having realized how much Biff cares for him and convinced that Biff does not behave out of spite, Willy can now sacrifice himself for his son.