Student Question
What quotes show Willy Loman's lack of support for Biff's ranching career in Death of a Salesman?
Quick answer:
Willy Loman's lack of support for Biff's ranching career is evident in "Death of a Salesman" through sarcastic and dismissive remarks. In Act 1, Willy sarcastically suggests Biff should "go back to the West" and be a cowboy, indicating rejection rather than acceptance. Later, Willy advises Biff to emphasize business experience over farm work when meeting Bill Oliver, showing his disdain for Biff's ranching aspirations and prioritizing business success over personal fulfillment.
One of the quotes that show Willy's disappointment at Biff's choice of moving West to work at a ranch come in Act 1, after Happy and Biff discover, through Linda, that Willy has been acting irrationally, and that he is suicidal. Willy joins the argument with an ironic statement about Biff going to the West that is meant to show rejection instead of acceptance.
As a dysfunctional family, rather than facing the problem head on, Linda and her sons talk about the topic by placing blame on one another. Happy makes an account of every single time Biff had failed at a job due to asinine reasons, such as whistling in an elevator, or taking off work just to go swimming.
Biff's response is defensive, arguing back and forth with Happy. Biff also says that Willy is a fake and that he does not belong in the business world; that...
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people think that he is crazy, anyways. In comes Willy, who also argues with Biff:
WILLY: I never in my life whistled in an elevator! And who in the business world thinks I’m crazy?
BIFF: I didn’t mean it like that, Pop. Now don’t make a whole thing out of it, will ya?
WILLY: Go back to the West! Be a carpenter, a cowboy, enjoy yourself!
Another quote comes later, when Happy and Biff are planning to see Bill Oliver in hopes that he would lend Biff money to start a business. Willy is excited to hear the news and prepares Biff to speak to Oliver about his previous work experience. He also gives him advice on how to act during the interview. Here, Willy says,
WILLY (unable to resist): ...if anything falls off the desk while you’re talking to [Oliver] — like a package or something — don’t you pick it up. They have office boys for that.
LINDA: I’ll make a big breakfast...
WILLY: Will you let me finish? (To Biff.) Tell him you were in the business in the West. Not farm work.
BIFF: All right, Dad.
These are two examples that show that Willy was not at all supportive of Biff's farm work. Even though love of nature is one common trait that all Loman's share, Willy prefers to suppress it, and make his children do the same, in order to chase after dreams of making money.