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Example research essay topic: Father Son Relationship Son Biff - 1,389 words

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In Death of a Salesman, Miller presents the Loman's a family hindered by their dysfunctional nature. Even though Miller portrays Willy Loan as the main character of the story, Willys lack of praiseworthy traits make him unworthy to be the protagonist. Biff is heroic in that as an adolescent, his father impresses faulty ideals on him, which he later discards in a search for his true identity. Ultimately, Willys son Biff is the character who does not succeed in regards to his fathers dreams, but does recognize his true identity and definitely deserves the honor of the protagonist of the play, Willy Loan is the overbearing but idolized father, who sets the foundation for Biffs beliefs. There are many aspects of this father / son relationship that lead to Biffs ultimate realization at the end of the play. In Biffs youth, he accepts and adores Willy because that is the nature of a small child.

Even though we later realize the error in Willys credo, his initial instincts to teach his son success are pure. Willy provides Biff with an ego because of excessive praise, and that makes Biff conceited. Such great praise allows Biff to have pride in himself and his family, which eventually leads Biff to feel content and fulfilled in his younger years. Biff believed, due to his fathers pride, that he was too good for mediocre tasks, and should not settle for them.

Biff stated, I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air I could never stand taking orders from anybody! (105). Like any son, Biff praised, respected, and loved his father. Biffs problem was taking his fathers love and transferring it into his own ideals. By holding his father in such high regard, Biff placed himself above his maximum achievements. Biffs perception of his father as an almost flawless figure left him exposed to discover the painful truth.

In this discovery of failure, a crestfallen and emotionally vulnerable Biff sought his father for comfort, only to see Willy in a relationship with another woman. This presented itself as both positive and negative in regards to Biff. It caused Biff more anguish than he has ever felt before because for the first time he does not have a father to turn towards. However, it also acted as a turning point in Biffs life and sets him on the course of self-discovery. This action also shows Biffs lack of direction in life.

Biffs relationship to Happy is also an important factor of Biffs quest. From simple insight, much can be drawn about the nature of Happy and how he relates to Biff. Happy personifies the philosophy belonging to Willy, and his lack of success proves to Biff the error in that philosophy. Happy's dispirited nature doesnt allow him to succeed in life, and his life turns into series of lies and exaggerations, a characteristic of Willys philosophy. These lies become so excessive that it shows the pitiful nature of his life. Happy once stated about Willy, No, thats not my father.

Hes just a guy (91). By seeing the pathetic and unsuccessful nature of Happy's life, Biff comes closer to realizing his own identity and dropping his fathers destructive persuasions. Lindas role in Biffs life is not as important as Willys role; however, she does represent an indirect influence on the father-son conflict and on Biffs quest to break the bonds of his fathers beliefs. Linda is the epitome of loyalty and compassion towards Willy. She cares immensely for Willy, and it tears her apart to see Willy undergo such a demoralizing process.

Linda has a strong family bond with both her sons and guides them to respect Willy through his difficult experiences. However, there is a problem that derives from her nature of allowing and accepting everything that Willy presents, whether it is true or false. This problem impedes the father-son relationship between Biff and Willy, which ultimately leads to Biff needing to break free and grow into a different person. Many themes or motifs throughout the play influenced Biff and his final change of attitude at the end of the story.

The beliefs that Willy tried to instill into his sons are the most apparent. First of all, Willys main focus in life consisted of becoming successful in material gain, and that proved one to be worthy of being a man. In Willys mind only people who looked good and were well liked by others could succeed. He always emphasized the need for Biff to maintain his popularity among his peers and to live life to its fullest. To a young kid like Biff, these beliefs seemed to work perfectly.

Willys view was that of a high school popularity contest and did not take into account the need to actually work in the real world. Willys entire belief system is based on the idea of getting something for nothing. Willy believed that if one looked good and had popularity, he would have an easy life, and everything would be provided for him. Biff followed these beliefs when he stole the footballs from school. Instead of punishing him, Willy praises Biff for his actions. Biff then learns to lead a life in which he must always rule over others and not be subject to their morality.

He lives by the concept of the ends justify the means. This saying represents his belief that he can do anything and everything as long as he justifies it with results. Stealing, cheating, and lying come naturally with this belief system. These previous themes represent the ideals of young Biff, before his dreams come tumbling down in a hotel room in Boston. After such a traumatic experience, Biff decides to take a new perspective on life without his fathers doctrines. This task is not easy for Biff, and even after sixteen years of rejecting his father, he still does not obtain his own belief system.

The final trip home was extremely significant because Biff found out that Willy had tried to kill himself, therefore lacking mental sanity. The motif of time becomes very powerful because Biff realizes that if he wants to confront his father, he must act immediately. With this in mind, Biff forces himself to break the barriers of his fathers concepts and to evaluate his own life. Biffs understanding of Willys inability to realize his [Willys] identity, proved vital to Biffs own search for self identification.

Willy further proved his inability by finally committing suicide, thinking that it would make Biff happy. Biffs dynamic nature rises to the surface now that he has rejected his fathers false ideals and has searched for a true identity. One last proof of his change shows up in a strong symbolic element of the play. When Biff stole footballs in his youth, he felt no shame, but that does not hold true in the case of the fountain pen he stole from Oliver. I took those balls years ago, now I walk in with his fountain pen? That clinches it, dont you see?

I cant face him like that! (88). By regretting his actions, Biff proves that he is more mature. Up until the end of the book, Biff was practically a thirty-four year old child because he had neither direction nor individualistic beliefs. He tried to abandon his fathers ideals, but they were implanted so deeply into him that he could not just forget them. However, after Willys death, Biff finally realizes He [Willy] had the wrong dreams.

All, all wrong (111). With this realization of Willys fault in character and goals, Biff no longer abides by Willys beliefs. When Willy dies so does his faulty hopes and dreams. Biff has finally grown up to view the world in a more realistic manner and has achieved a self-identity.

Biff declares with joy from the newly made self-discovery: I am not the leader of men I am just what I am, thats all The search for ones self-identity is one of the most classic struggles throughout history. This difficult boundary must be overcome in every mans life, and it takes extreme will power and self-realization in ones being. Because of such development, Biff, having completed his search for self-identity against strong odds, which drove his father insane, emerges as the true protagonist of the play.


Free research essays on topics related to: son biff, father son relationship, willy loan, belief system, true identity

Research essay sample on Father Son Relationship Son Biff

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