Bernard reveals to Willy that Biff is going to fail his class if he doesn't "Buckle down" and begin to study, to Bernard's astonishment and dismay, Willy responds by saying to Linda: "There’s nothing the matter with him! You want him to be a worm like Bernard? He’s got spirit, personality." This mind state is the reason why Biff fails his class, and does not get into College. Willy's delusion don't end there, he conceives this illusion of a long lost brother who becomes rich and famous, Ben.
Happy has lived in the shadow of Biff his whole life, he feels that to get the attention he deserves he must strive to be more successful than his brother. When Willy was talking about Biff, Happy kept hinting that he was losing weight, but Willy seems to ignore him. “He is a marked-down version of his father, with not even a grand dream to cover his grossness. His only redeeming aspect is an easy-going fondness for his family” (Koon pg.37). Happy shows
Perry’s friends attempt to comfort him shortly after the brief argument between himself and his father, but being “future bankers and lawyers”, Neil believes that they’re in the same boat, unable to tell him any different. Neil has failed to reveal his true feelings towards his father. Making the choice to audition for a play and sticking with it, regardless of what his father says, voices reams about Neil. He is a very defiant man, even though he went to Mr. Keating for personal advice. Having high respect for his father, Neil is terrified trying to maintain an existence with Dickinson's concept of "doing what you're afraid to do”, never being the type of child to lie over a situation such as this one.
He tells his sons if you look good and get along with others, that’s all you need to be successful in the world. Willy’s wife Linda sees her husband’s struggles in his quest for success when she suggests he ask for a transfer off the road and into to the New York office. Willy replies, "I'm the New England man. I'm vital in New England.” (1203). Unfortunately, Willy’s ego is blinding him from the reality that he isn’t at all vital in New England, he is a failure.
Willy realizes that he has no solid proof of his life’s work. While planting the seeds and speaking with Ben Willy says “A man can't go out the way he came in, Ben, a man has got to add up to something. "(99)His obsession with visible material evidence of success contradicts Willy’s own line of work which obligates one to sell his own image. Willy feels that he will turn out just like his own father and will leave his
The only time David can play with a person on his own age is by playing with his sister, and her dolls. David has a mother, father and a sister. David’s father is a stereotypical man; with treating his son that feminine behavior is unacceptable and insulting against him and the family. If behaving in a wrong way, it hurts the family honor. Mr. Murray wants his son to be a strong, manly man, with the ability to provide and look after his family.
Fueled by his delusions of grandeur, John constantly reassures everybody that his big break is always right around the corner. John won't accept the fact that he isn't going anywhere in life. This truth, accompanied by other tragedy, pushed him further and further from his dreams until he becomes the same person that he used to point at and laugh. You're given the sense that happily ever after doesn't exist. Fight Club
After Biff “borrows” a ball from school, Willy excuses, and more or less encourages this behaviour, telling Biff that “Coach’ll probably congratulate [him] on [his] initiative!” (Miller, 30) Additionally, he lies to his wife regarding his job, feebly trying to preserve his dignity. In covering up his inability to get a job in New York City he does not admit his defeat, instead, he states that “they don’t need me in New York. I’m the New England Man. I’m vital in New England” (Miller, 14). Willy’s failed
Walter Younger described how much he longed to be a part of the “American Dream”. His tone throughout the book suggested that he was disgusted with his lifestyle but very passionate about doing whatever it took to be well off and accepted by society so that his family wouldn’t have to struggle and be an example to his son of what a man should do for his family. Money probably meant the most to Walter because that’s all he talked about from the time he woke up at the start of the play until the end after he refuses Mr. Linder’s money. Walter works as a chauffeur for a rich white man making very little money leaving him feeling less
Victor discovered ‘the elixir of life’ and that he was capable of ‘bestowing animation upon lifeless matter’ as his knowledge increased. After finally creating the monster and noticing what he had led himself into he decides to abandon the monster causing death upon many. The evil lays in Victors heartless acts of disowning his creation due to appearance. On the other hand, Clerval’s father wanted Clerval to learn only what would be necessary for his career, he is implying to him that languages in this case, knowledge, isn’t needed, ‘I make one thousand florins a year without Greek. I eat heartily without Greek’.