Biff Flashcards
“I don’t know- ____ ___ _________ __ ______” Act 1
what I’m supposed to want
“I suddenly get the _______, my god, I’m ___ _______ ________” Act 1
feeling
not getting anywhere
What is significant of the fact that Biff
“suddenly get the feeling, my God, I’m not getting anywhere” Act 1
Biff cannot pursue his dream as he the conditioning of his childhood from the indoctrination of his father on his own perception of success alters Biff’s view of his American Dream and causes the cyclical tragedy of the “common man”. This directly contrasts to the end of Act 2 whereby Biff has the self insight of a 19th century pioneer mentality to recognise the importance of the individual and escape westward from the delusions of his father and the commercial world
“Why is he taking everything?” -Willy about Biff Act 1
Willy even from when Biff was younger could never recognise the inherent need he indoctrinated his sons with to have materialistic items in order to measure success, hence why Biff is “taking everything”. It could perhaps also be interpreted that the fact Willy is absent due to his struggles at work that cause him to be away for prolonged periods of time creates a sense of longing in Biff who fills this abandonment with items that remind him of his father in order to please him on arrival.
“_________ out that _____ from his mind” Act 1
spewing
vomit
What is the significance of the fact that Biff remarks WIlly shouldn’t be
“spewing out that vomit from his mind” Act 1 ?
Miller incorporates the suggestion that as a society in the 1940’s, mental illness, implied by the “vomit”, was not addressed in particular for men who had the stereotypical role as the strong breadwinner for the family. Societies neglect to adhere to the cruciality of Willy’s deterioration and suffering could therefore be the catalyst for his tragic downfall as he is isolated from those around him who do not understand and are thus unable to help him
“i want to buy some new ____” Act 1
ties
What is the significance of Biff wanting to
“buy some new ties”? Act 1
At once this suggests that Willys presence in Biff’s life constraints him to the artificial superiority of capitalist America which the “tie” metaphorically could symbolise. In turn, it is implied that Willy’s lack of own self awareness translates on his sons who have the inherent dream of their father who had no guidance himself.
“like a young ___” - Willy to Biff Act 1
god
“We’ve been _______ __ _ _____ for fifteen years” Act 2
talking in a dream
“I wanna see the ____” Act 2
boss
Explore the quote
“I wanna see the boss”
Willy can’t appreciate what he has as a husband and father, in this way the point he is described as a “boss” is in a way in accordance to classical tragedy in the respect to the fact that Willy falls from being the high position as “boss” of the home, as a loved father figure and husband to death from his inability to understand his familial fortune. Miller uses this to suggest that Willy is therefore an “embodiment of the common man”’s modern tragedy as even the “common man” can suffer a fall from high authority.
“you ____ ___ so full of hot air I _____ _____ ______ ______ _____ from anybody!” Biff Act 2
blew me
could never stand taking orders
“I’m a ____ _ _____, and so are you!” Biff to Willy
dime a dozen
“I am not a ______ __ ____” Act 2
leader of men