Su-Jen’s father, Hing-Wun, sacrifices everything for his family, and he struggles at the same time; these struggles continue in his whole life. Hing-Wun works so hard in the Dragon café to make money for his family, and he does not spend a single penny on himself; but his great efforts do not acquire a better future for himself. Even though he keeps working like a horse in his seventies for his family, his wife still complains about him and does not appreciate his attitudes towards life. Hing-Wun is such a kind man who always considers about his wife and he tells Su-Jen to think of and understand her mother’s situation. Therefore, Hing-Wun’s struggle against his hard work for his family is in vain.
Holden feels depressed from the prior events in his family, and no longer has the desire to learn or strive to be successful. Holden feels distant from his family, and needs their loving care. After a rough childhood, Holden just needs someone, like Phoebe, there for him. He needs love and support from his family, and their sending him to boarding school to fend for himself is not a good idea. Holden can’t find a true friend in anyone, and he is trying to fill the hole that his brother’s death left in his life.
Willy’s reaction symbolizes his betrayal to his family, and his failure of the American dream. Willy never acknowledges his failures to others. Charley offers him a job, but he refuses because of personal pride. Accepting a job from Charley would establish personal failure. Even when asking for a raise, he lies to his boss and say’s his boys are doing well knowing they cannot provide for him.
This memory as well as the crash of reality force itself on Willy everytime he argues with Biff. Willy's lost aspirations for himself through his son also make Willy vulnerable. Willy constantly alludes to his hopes for Biff, "No, no, some people- some people accomplish something. Did Biff say anything after I went this morning? "(1871) and "Sure.
Biff no longer had his own dreams or desires in life, he merely wanted to keep his suicidal father pleased for the time being. Although Biff’s life was less complicated as a salesman for the time being, when his father passes away, Biff was going to have to continue the undesired life of a salesman. Biff “[didn’t] have a seed in the ground” (122). Biff had no foundation or dreams to live for. Biff cannot grow and develop into a successful adult because he has nothing to work from, just as a plant cannot grow when there is no seed
Willy Loman, a self-deluded salesman who lives in complete denial searching for his "American Dream," finds himself in a belated mid-life crisis. He never achieved the glorious existence as a salesman he had envisioned for himself, so he places all his hopes in his two sons, Biff and Happy. But because their father has infused them with the same fundamentally wrong sense of morality and of what is important in life that has delayed his own success and happiness, the sons find themselves equally trapped and suspended in time without the ability to succeed. Miller reveals Willy’s Struggle as the perfect father, his concerns in his image as a role model, and his controllable actions that misguides the downfall in his relationship with his
This is discovered when the patriarch, Julian Hayden, says to his son Wesley “Ever since the war…Ever since Frank came home in a uniform and you stayed home, you’ve been jealous” (118). This favoritism shows what little respect Julian holds for his younger son that stems from Franks dominance between the Hayden siblings. Wes is constantly put down because of his brother’s achievements; these situations can either make or break Wesley. In all families, there is a member who thrives on ‘power trips’, and in this specific situation, it was Julian, “He wanted, he needed, power…he was a dominating man who drew sustenance and strength from controlling others” (20). Julian acquires his power through putting others down, especially Wes; this causes Wesley to have a lot of animosity towards his father.
Pilgrim has a hard time adjusting after he gets home from the war. He marries for comfort and security, with no true feelings of love. He follows in his father-in-laws footsteps as an optometrist because the road to success in that field was paved with ease for him. His father-in-law put in most of the effort for him to be successful. Billy Pilgrim is traumatized, stressed and seems to be a very pathetic individual.
Although what does it mean when Forrest’s journey was abruptly cut short when Jenny died? He began a new one with the life of his son, teaching him to grow into a selfless young man. Skrzynecki, upon reaching his destination, found only bitterness and anguish when he had to pack up and leave his home at the orders of another. Until he becomes his own hero, Skrzynecki will not complete his journey fuelled with rage and despair that is emphasised in “Leaving Home”, as shown by his use of the words “Swore that Head Office, Would not see my face again, Unless I become my own Scipio
He has a son that helps him, daughters that help around the house and a very old-fashioned wife that disapproves of many things that make him happy. The father works to his fullest day after day, but throughout the story he does many things that shows that he wishes he lived a different life. He is chained down to the harbor and feels that there is no escape to live how he wants and that his life is set for him as well. Both, The Misfit and the father, struggle to live their lives the way they think they have to. Even though they have many chances to release the chains that hold them down they experience psychological pressures that trick them into say “yes” to their current lifestyle.