Biff Loman Quotes - ACT TWO + REQUIEM Flashcards
A quote from Biff in the restaurant scene of Act Two when Biff has come back from seeing Bill Oliver. He realises that his father’s delusions have been causing the family to live a lie for years
“How the hell did I ever get the idea I was a salesman there? I even believed myself that I’d been a salesman for him! And then he gave me one look and - I realised what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been. We’ve been talking in a dream for fifteen years”
A quote from BIFF in the restaurant scene in which he describes stealing the fountain pen from Oliver. This perhaps reflects the idea that Biff has been brought up by Willy to believe that to be successful, one has to take. Biff therefore perhaps took the pen from Oliver in order to feel like he has been somewhat successful, and not in fact the disappointment that he feels himself to be
“[agonised] I don’t know, I just - wanted to take something, I don’t know”
A quote from the restaurant scene in Act Two in which Biff ultimately succumbs to his father’s request for him to lie to him about the conversation with Bill Oliver
“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!”
A quote from young BIFF in Willy’s memory of the Woman in Act Two, reflecting Willy’s betrayal of the family and the effect it had on Biff’s outlook on his father, becoming disillusioned with him and his view of the American Dream
“Never mind […] He wouldn’t listen to you […] You - you gave her Mama’s stockings! […] You fake! You phony little fake! You fake!”
A quote from BIFF at the end of Act Two reflecting his disillusionment from the American Dream, his recognition that the life his father chose for wealth and prosperity has only led to suffering, and that this does not make him happy
“And I looked at the pen and said to myself, what the hell am I grabbing this for? Why am I trying to become what I don’t want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am!”
A quote from BIFF at the end of Act Two in recognition of his and his father’s anonymity - they are like every other American family, trapped by the omnipotence of the Dream
“Pop! I’m a dime a dozen, and so are you!
A quote from BIFF in the Requiem, suggesting that, while everyone dreams, Willy’s dream, the American Dream, caused only suffering, and that if he had followed his initial dreams of craftsmanship (Linda says, “He was so wonderful with his hands”) then his life may have been less tragic
“He had all the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong”
