The American Dream in Death of a Salesman
Biff Loman
And whenever spring comes to where I am, I suddenly get the feeling, my God, I’m not getting anywhere! What the hell am I doing, playing around with horses, twenty-eight dollars a week! I’m thirty-four years old, I oughta be making my future. That’s when I come running home. And now, I get here, and I don’t know what to do with myself.
Biff Loman confides in his younger brother Happy, explaining why he has come home for a visit. Biff’s explanation shows that he has absorbed at least some of his father’s values: measuring success by money and working toward a better future. Biff associates those values with home. Even after years away, Biff still thinks of this house and his family as his secure base.
All right, pal, all right. It’s all settled now. I’ve been remiss. I know that, Mom. But now I’ll stay, and I swear to you, I’ll apply myself. Kneeling in front of her, in a fever of self-reproach: It’s just—you see, Mom, I don’t fit in business. Not that I won’t try. I’ll try, and I’ll make good.
Biff is speaking to his mother, after she berated him and Happy for not helping her with their father. Biff responds as his mother intended, by promising to reform. His reaction shows that he is anxious to please his mother as well as his father. Biff is telling his mother what she wants to hear, but as revealed in his words “I don’t fit in business,” he does not really believe he can follow through on his promises.
Pop, listen! Listen to me! I’m telling you something good! Oliver talked to his partner about the Florida idea. You listening? He—he talked to his partner, and he came to me . . . I’m going to be all right, you hear? Dad, listen to me, he said it was just a question of the amount.
Biff and Happy are treating their father Willy to a fancy dinner when Willy announces he’s been fired. In an attempt to create hope and avert Willy’s anger, Biff deliberately makes up a story about his own future. The difference between Willy and Biff is that, despite the lie, Biff is not really deceiving himself. Biff rewrites his own narrative to fit the needs of the moment, a trait he learned from Willy.
[BIFF:] Miss Forsythe, you’ve just seen a prince walk by. A fine, troubled prince. A hardworking, unappreciated prince. A pal, you understand? A good companion. Always for his boys. LETTA: That’s so sweet.
Biff is talking to one of the women who joined him and Happy at the restaurant where they are treating their father Willy to dinner. Willy has just staggered off to the washroom. Biff, in the sentimental stage of being drunk, praises his father at least partly to make himself look good. A few minutes later, Biff and Happy abandon Willy and go off with the women.
[BIFF:] You fake! You phony little fake! You fake! Overcome, he turns quickly and weeping fully goes out with his suitcase. Willy is left on the floor on his knees. WILLY: I gave you an order! Biff, come back here or I’ll beat you! Come back here! I’ll whip you!
Biff, as a teenager, is yelling at his father Willy, after discovering him in a hotel room with The Woman. The stage directions call for Biff to storm away in tears and for Willy to be on his knees. We note, however, that although Willy’s body language is begging, his words are threatening, hinting at the domestic violence Biff has probably suffered.
Happy Loman
I gotta show some of those pompous, self-important executives over there that Hap Loman can make the grade. I want to walk into the store the way he walks in. Then I’ll go with you, Biff. We’ll be together yet, I swear. But take those two we had tonight. Now weren’t they gorgeous creatures?
Happy and Biff have been fantasizing about buying a ranch out West. Now, however, Happy explains to Biff why he wants to stay at his job. Happy’s ambitions echo those of his father—they both need to prove themselves to other people. But Happy is more shallow than Willy. Happy is after women and good times, not home and family, a perhaps twisted version of Willy’s American Dream.
[HAPPY:] Wait a minute! I got an idea. I got a feasible idea. Come here, Biff, let’s talk this over now, let’s talk some sense here. When I was down in Florida last time, I thought of a great idea to sell sporting goods. It just came back to me. You and, Biff—we have a line, the Loman Line. We train a couple of weeks, and put on a couple of exhibitions, see? WILLY: That’s an idea!
Happy describes to Biff a fantasy scenario about their future. Their parents, Willy and Linda, are also part of the conversation. Happy’s enthusiasm is intended to motivate Biff and cheer up Willy, and Happy’s false optimism is so convincing that Willy eagerly gets caught up in the hype. Like Willy, Happy deceives himself with his own wishful thinking.
You leave the house tomorrow and come back at night and say Oliver is thinking it over. And he thinks it over for a couple of weeks, and gradually it fades away and nobody’s the worse.
Biff’s job interview has gone nowhere, and Happy is advising Biff about the best way to break this bad news to their father. Happy, who has lived with Willy far longer than Biff has, knows how to predict and handle Willy’s reactions. Like Willy, Happy accepts lying as normal, even virtuous behavior, as long as it meets a need.
No, that’s not my father. He’s just a guy. Come on, we’ll catch Biff and, honey, we’re going to paint this town! Stanley, where’s the check? Hey, Stanley!
Happy is speaking to one of the girls he and Biff have picked up in the restaurant. Willy, still suffering from being fired, has collapsed in the restroom. Biff has already rushed out, unable even to look at his father. Now Happy walks away from the problem of Willy in favor of a good time. Happy’s denial of his father is an extreme act of betrayal, given biblical proportions by echoing Peter’s denial of Jesus.
Indignantly, but laughing: Like I’m not supposed to take bribes. Manufacturers offer me a hundred-dollar bill now and then to throw an order their way. You know how honest I am, but it’s like this girl, see. I hate myself for it. Because I don’t want the girl, and still I take it and—I love it!,
Happy and Biff Loman are in their old bedroom, sharing confidences as they did when they were boys. Happy is explaining that he is rather proud of his own selfishness. He lives for instant gratification, apparently oblivious to the consequences of his actions, which could actually end his career. Happy’s actions are a corruption of his father Willy’s values, but his self-aggrandizing outlook is a clear echo of them as well.