The Father-Son Conflict in Death of a Salesman: Struggling with Success

The conflict between a father and son in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman defines the work's meaning and explains all adversities. Willy and Biff’s conflicts stem from Biff’s distorted view of the world influenced by his father, his uncovering of the affair, and his lack of success in business, leading to their ultimate rivalry. These conflicts emphasize how personal aspirations for success can disrupt relationships, causing individuals like Willy and Biff to lose sight of life's true priorities.

The play includes flashbacks to Biff’s successful past as an athlete and motivated individual. Willy takes pride in his son’s achievements, constantly praising him with words like “Good work Biff!” (1561). Despite reminders from Bernard about Biff’s poor grades, Willy refuses to acknowledge these issues, dismissing them by calling Bernard a pest and ignoring the negative comments about Biff. Bernard acts as a symbol of Biff’s conscience, warning him to study or face not graduating. However, Willy undermines Bernard's warnings by filling Biff's head with false promises of achieving the American Dream easily, advising him simply to "Be liked and you will never want" (1561).

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It is clear that Willy prioritizes being well-liked and socially accepted over hard work and success, which reflects negatively on his character. Willy believes that in the business world, personal connections are more important than actual work, stating that "the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead" (1561). Ironically, Willy himself is the one who creates personal relationships with influential men, but when they all pass away, he is left with just memories of his past glory.

Willy's false beliefs impact his relationship with Biff, as Biff fails due to being raised with these misguided values. Biff follows his father's teachings and when he enters the workforce, he expects success and happiness to come easily without putting in much effort.

Biff looks up to his father and takes his advice to heart, leading him to believe he can rely on his personality to succeed without working hard. However, this entitlement fades when Biff fails to keep a job and returns home. Willy never instilled a work ethic or good values in Biff because he himself lacks those qualities. As a result, Biff struggles to succeed in the real world, resorting to stealing and avoiding hard work. Willy's own lack of morals and family values prevent him from teaching Biff the skills necessary for success and happiness. The resentment Willy feels towards Biff's lack of success becomes a central conflict in the play, reflecting poorly on Willy's inability to achieve the American dream himself and highlighting his weak character.

Biff's realization of his father's infidelity marks a significant turning point in his character, leading him down a path of struggle and failure. This event triggers Biff to lose respect for his father and see through the facade of lies, causing a major source of conflict. Willy's refusal to acknowledge his role in Biff's setbacks is evident when he defensively responds to Bernard's inquiry about the incident in Boston. The burning of Biff's cherished University of Virginia shoes serves as a poignant symbol of Biff's shattered dreams, highlighting the profound impact of the affair's discovery. Willy's stubborn denial further strains his relationship with Biff, as he refuses to take ownership of his betrayal or admit the truth to his son.

When Biff found a woman in his father's hotel room, he accused Willy of being a "fake" repeatedly (1618), while Willy tried to assert his authority as a father, which proved unsuccessful. Throughout the play, Happy reminds Biff of his former self, questioning Biff's loss of humor and confidence (1552). Witnessing his father's affair in Boston was a pivotal moment for Biff, causing him to see Willy as a broken and defeated man rather than the successful businessman he once was. This realization led to Biff losing all respect for his father, while Willy came to despise Biff in return. Biff's perception of Willy shifted from a failed businessman to a failed man due to the betrayal of a woman who had given him everything. Money alone does not define a person's character, but being an adulterer who betrays someone who has given their all is unforgivable in the eyes of a son.

Throughout Willy's continuous failures and defeats, his wife remains supportive and loving, constantly reminding him of her affection for him. Despite this, Willy still desires what he does not have and pursues an extramarital relationship with "the other woman." It is evident that Willy seeks comfort and validation in this affair with a woman who makes him feel desired, while his wife does the same. This behavior can be attributed to greed, as Willy's sense of failure and belief that he does not deserve his wife drive his deceptions, as well as those of his sons after him (Bloom, Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations: Death of a Salesman).

This event symbolizes Willy's failure of the American Dream in various aspects - personal success, family relationships, and his family's overall success. Not only does he cheat on his wife, despise his son, and struggle to maintain a job, but he also appears to have lost his values and moral compass. This depicts his failures in both business and morality in his life.

Biff's continuous lack of success in the real world leads to a significant conflict between him and his father. Despite having numerous jobs over several years, Biff returns home with no hope of finding a stable job to sustain himself. Willy is disappointed by Biff's inability to succeed, and his strongest emotional connection is with Biff, the son who has returned. According to Hadomi's "Rhythm Between Father and Son," Willy sees himself mirrored in Biff and feels a deep connection with him, which ultimately gives rise to feelings of resentment.

Biff embodies his father’s unfulfilled dreams and hopes for himself, which are depicted in Willy’s delusions and memories of Biff’s triumphant and legendary youth, as well as the aspirations that Willy once held for himself. Willy perceives his thwarted existence and profession as a mature adult, and identifies comparable characteristics and attributes in Biff. While Willy never articulates these feelings, it is evident that he largely views his own reflection in his son and consequently directs his frustration over his own failings towards Biff, leading to ongoing discord and strife.

The complex relationship between Willy and Biff in "Death of a Salesman" illustrates the central theme that in the pursuit of success, individuals can easily lose sight of true priorities. Willy's fixation on material success leads to strained relationships with his family, particularly with his son Biff who mirrors his father's struggles. This conflict between father and son is pivotal in highlighting the play's overarching message: family is paramount. Arthur Miller uses this dynamic to convey the significance of familial connections and the consequences of prioritizing superficial achievements over meaningful relationships. (Word Count: 1517)