Note – I did this essay on the book The Last Song
and that’s not a well-known piece of work so I rewrote it based on Death of a
Salesman
Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict
between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay
in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict
contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.
In the play
Death of a Salesman the relationship between Biff and his father is very
important because it sets up the theme of this play and it symbolizes the
struggle of trying to achieve the American Dream.
The
struggle between Biff and Willy is a deep - rooted conflict that goes back to
when Biff was a child. Biff could do no
wrong in Willy’s eyes, and Biff took advantage of this special treatment by
stealing and failing classes in school.
Willy worked as a salesman and had to travel a lot, and during one of
Willy’s out of town trips Biff decided to come up and visit his father, and
when he did he saw that his father had been cheating on his mother. This realization lead to Biff resenting his
father and losing all respect for him, as a result Biff went out on his own and
tried to work on farms, and ending up in jail for a little bit. When Biff finally comes home his father
pushes him into getting a job as a salesman and this conflict of Biff wanting
to do his own thing, and Willy pushing him to get a job as a salesman and make
a good living sets the scene for the whole play.
The themes
present in this play are respect/reputation and following your dreams. The theme of respect and reputation is present
throughout the whole play because Willy constantly says that all someone needs
to be successful in like is to be well liked, and that’s why Willy thinks Biff
can succeed. Willy doesn’t seen to
understand that Biff doesn’t have a good education, the only thing willy cares
about is his reputation so he wants to make sure his son is well liked and has
a successful job. Biff on the other hand
doesn’t believe that he needs to uphold a certain reputation; instead he wants
to go and try being a farmer or doing something where he can work outside and
work with his hands. Biff and Willy’s
conflict add to this theme and help emphasize it. The other theme present is following your
dreams, and that’s what Biff is trying to do.
He’s trying to find himself and find a job that makes him happy. On the other hand Willy is pushing Biff to be
a salesman because that’s a respected occupation. Throughout the play it’s apparent that Willy
made the mistake of not following his passion and made a wrong decision in
life, and Biff doesn’t want to do the same.
Last is the
idea of wanting to achieve the American Dream.
Willy took the job as a salesman just to achieve the American Dream, and
he plays up his a job a lot in his head and makes it sound like he holds a highly
respected position. He does this because
he wants to seem successful, and the reason he fights with Biff and pushes him
to take a job as a salesman is so Biff can also achieve the American
Dream. Another reason is that part of
Willy knows that he didn’t succeed so he wants to live through Biff. The conflict between Willy and Biff emphasizes
the idea of the American Dream, and makes readers think about the true meaning
of that phrase.
Biff and
Willy’s conflict isn’t just there as a plot twist, it’s present to emphasize
the themes in the play and also to make readers think about the true meaning of
the American Dream.
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