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Death of a Salesman Several very important things come to light regarding Biff and Willys relationship during the scene contained in the pages 129 - 133 of Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Biff finally comes out and confronts Willy about the pressure and expectations that he has placed on him throughout his life. One could say that the major conflict of the play unwinds during these few pages, as the two men completely let out their true feelings about each other, constantly using caustic insults to do so. Willy accuses his son of living his life out of spite for him while Biff affronts his father concerning his suicide attempts in the basement. Also, the lack of importance of Happy's job is also unveiled.
These few pages are truly a major turning point in Death of a Salesman as Biff and Willys contrasting philosophies regarding success are revealed. The importance of this scene lies not only in the fact that the true feelings of the characters are displayed to the reader but also to the characters themselves. Biff is the only character that has been completely truthful to himself. He knows where he stands in life and accepts it. He is also not afraid to confront both Willy and Happy about their phoniness: Biff, to Willy: We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house! Happy: We always told the truth!
Biff, turning on him: You big blow, are you the assistant buyer? Youre one of the two assistants to the assistant, arent you? Happy: Well Im practically- Biff: Youre practically full of it! We all are!
And Im through with it. At this is the point in the play, both Willy and Happy are forced to consider the relative unimportance and falsity of their own lives. Biff may have been unsuccessful in the eyes of his father, but at least he knew who he was and what was important in life. Biffs philosophy is what this play is all about. A person should have their own definition of success and not worry about how others view them or their definition. Willy makes the point that Biff has lived his entire life out of spite for Willy.
While this may be what started Biff down the path that he has taken, it is certainly not the driving force behind it now. Willy cant understand why Biff doesnt want to be a success and the only reason he can come up with is that Biff is rebelling. He isnt able to see that Biff has a different definition of success than he does. Biff tries, in vain, to explain this to his father: Biff: Pop, Im nothing! Im nothing, Pop. Cant you understand that?
Theres no spite in it anymore. Im just what I am, thats all Will you let me go, for Christs sake? Will you take that phony dream and burn it before something happens? Unfortunately, Willy is never able to comprehend what Biff was trying to tell him.
In the end, Willy commits suicide in order to get Biff the $ 20, 000 he thought his son would need to get started in the business world. Willy never realized that having his father around was much more important to Biff than any amount of money. Not only was Willys path in life the result of one big delusion, his death was too. During this scene, the philosophy of each main character is revealed.
All of the characters are forced to look at their lives and definitions of success. Willy and Biff finally confront each other, making for one of the most important and interesting scenes of the play. The importance of this scene springs from the fact that it develops and conveys the moral and overall theme of Death of a Salesman.
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Research essay sample on Death Of A Salesman Told The Truth