When Biff and Happy talk about what would be in the future, Biff tells Happy “I don't know what the future is. Unlike Willy, Biff’s dignity is linked to his sense of his place in life.

That’s why Biff flunked math and you can say that Willy is responsible for this. Biff realized it when he found out that Willy is cheating on Linda with some woman, trying to defend himself Willy said that “She’s nothing to me, Biff I was lonely, I was terribly lonely.” and all his words were not making him less guilty of his act, Biff was emotionally beaten down after seeing that his father is not somebody who he thought he is. Because Willy knows that Biff flunked math after visiting Boston because he finally saw who Willy really is, a “fake!” a “phony little fake!”. Bernard asked Willy what happened to BifF when he “disappeared from the block for almost a month”, then asked another question “What happened in Boston, Willy?” and this leading question crumbles Willy’s illusion. Willy tries to make it seem like it’s not his fault and Biff is completely at fault himself when in reality Willy has everything to do with it. Bernard asked Willy, “Did you tell him not to go to summer school?” on what Willy answered that he “begged him to go” and even “ordered him to go!”. Willy’s beliefs and behavior have been transferred to his son’s, we can see it in the scene where Biff talks about Bernard, saying that Bernard is “liked, but he’s not well liked.” Willy tries to protect the illusion that he is a good father when he talks to Bernard about what happened to Biff when he visited Willy in Boston. Willy’s recipe for success is based entirely around a cult of personality, according to Willy, only great men are truly well-liked and that is what brings them success. Willy’s illusion about being vital to the company completely crumbled when Howard fired him, saying “I don’t want you to represent us.”Īnother part of Willy’s dignity is in his pride as a father, and that he made everything he could so his sons achieve success.

This idea that he has about his success is an illusion and Howard confirmed that Willy “never averaged” the amounts that he claims he did. When Willy asks Howard to let him work in New York in office, he uses a point that “in 1928” he “had a big year.” and “averaged a hundred and seventy dollars a week in commissions”. I’m vital in New England.” and Willy lives believing that he is vital to the company. Part of Willy Loman’s dignity is inside his illusion about his success, it is shown at the beginning of the play when Willy says, “I’m the New England man.

Biff loman taking without