Success Of A Salesman

2 Pages 612 Words

In the world of business it is everyone’s dream to become rich, powerful, important, and well liked. Although it is their ultimate goal to attain these characteristics most businessmen have their priorities in order; family and kids come before success, work, and all of the previously mentioned. Yet Willy Loman’s priorities in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman are completely the opposite of what they should be. By having his priorities mixed up Willy drives Biff away from him, turns Happy in to an attention seeking fool, and creates misery for his wife. Sadly, Willy Loman thinks success and fame are more important than his relationships with the members of his family.
It is obvious in reading Death of a Salesman that Biff was very important to Willy. That doesn’t mean they weren’t destined to have problems. The main problem was that Willy feels if Biff enjoys his life working on ranches instead of trying to become a business player he is wasting his life. Instead of accepting Biff’s decision to enjoy himself rather than work to become successful Willy takes the childish route and insults Biff every chance he gets. “Willy: No, you’re no good, you’re no good for anything.” (Death of a Salesman, 1260.) Every time Willy pushes Biff to make something of himself the two grow farther apart. As you know this is generally not good for a family relationship.
Sometimes Willy is so focused on Biff’s and his own success both Willy and the readers forget that he has another son. Somewhere along the line Willy became so wrapped up in the potential success of Biff he forgot about poor Happy. Since Happy doesn’t get any attention from anyone he constantly says annoying, outrageous statements all the time just to become noticed by his father. “Happy: I’m gonna get married. Willy: Keep up the good work. (Changes the subject back to Biff) God…remember that Ebbets Field game? The championship of the city?” (Death of a S...