mini quiz: Cause of relationship change for Willy and his sons

Willy Loman is the main character in the play death of a salesman. He has two sons, Biff, the eldest, and Happy. There relationship is quite stable and the boys look up to their father as the ideal role model. They follow any and all advice he give them. Willy essentially spoils his sons, for example, when they were young and stole for a construction site, he laughs and commends them, he even encourages them to continue. His sons believe that their father is very successful as he is well liked and aspire to be just like him. They hold him in high regard and are obviously cherish any attention he gives to them. We see this when he says that one day he will take his boys on a trip with him and they become very excited and even offer to carry his bags.

The relationship between Biff and his father is especially close. Biff seems to be the favorite son as his father, throughout the play pays him more attention and encourages him more than he does with Happy. For example, when Biff flunks math, he immediately runs to his father to fix the problem he faces as he will need to take summer school to graduate. Willy, upon hearing this, decides he will go down and speak to the math teacher and get him to carry up Biff's grade. He believes he will succeed because he is well liked by many.

It is at this time that the relationship between Biff and his father changes. When Biff goes to seek out his father in Boston to fix the summer school problem, he finds out something about his father that will change his life. Upon walking in to Willy's room Biff begins explaining the problem, after his father promises to fix it, they begin laughing. It is at this time that "The Woman" makes her appearance. She walks out of the room stating that they were leaving her out of the fun. Willy tries to get her back into the room, it is too late however, as Biff already realizes what was taking place. Willy still tries to convince him that it is not what he thinks and that when he grows up he will understand. Biff storms out. after this, their relationship will never be the same.

Biff has come to realize that his father is a fraud. He is not the ideal family man he wants everyone to think he is. He cheats on his wife while away on business trips. Later in the play, we are able to see how strained the relationship has become. Biff no longer stays at home as much as Happy; and whenever he does visit, his father is constantly aggravated, wondering why his son is not successful. Biff eventually confronts him when Happy decides to take them out to dinner to celebrate the success of the business venture they are about to undertake. Biff was to take their business proposal to an old successful acquaintance. Willy comes to the dinner anticipating hearing how successful his eldest son was. When Biff tries to tell him that he was unsuccessful and their old "friend" did not even remember him, Willy keeps interrupting putting words in Biff's mouth. Biff becomes frustrated and in essence tell him to shut up and listen to the truth. He tells him that he is not successful and it is time he accepts it. Willy goes into a panic realizing that he really was not a success and thinking that Biff, his favorite son, hates him.

The events at the dinner along with everything else and the influence of Ben's voice in his head, eventually leads Willy to commit suicide so his family can get his insurance money. He believes he death would bring him back into the graces of his son. we are however able to realize that it does not because he only hurts his wife and children.

It is only the relationship between Biff and Willy that seems to change as Happy seems to be unaware that his father has been unfaithful as he still aspires to be just like him; well liked, especially with women. Therefore, it can be said that it is only the relationship between Biff and his father that really breaks down.