Death of a Salesman

1.

Willy try’s to teach his boys Happy and Biff that even though they may have everything that they  ever wished for it is good to reach for more. He basically tells them to reach above and beyond their dreams. I believe this is a worthwhile concept for a father to teach because it allow them to keep succeeding at life and not stop trying to succeed when they become content with what they have. For example Biff’s current dream is to go to Texas and own a ranch. This would essentially keep him content with life if all goes well, but Willy urges him not to go and become a salesman and become more successful than he wishes to become. Another example would be that Happy is currently content with life, he has fulfilled all his dreams, owning a car, an apartment and being employed. Willy just says that earning seventy dollars a week isn’t something to stop at. All in all, learning how not to stop trying is a good trait to have and it is a worthwhile lesson that should be taught.

2.

                Willy’s inconsistency could be either of two reasons. Willy has been confused about who he is, and what he wants to be. He is having trouble realizing that the he is not the man he wished to become. Or he is confused between him and biff, and he describes biff sometimes as himself and while he describes biff (as himself) he wants to give a good impression of biff (himself) so he tells us biffs (his) positive traits. Linda tends to ignore this, even though seeming to realize what is happening. everything willy says she agrees with, without mentioning this confusion that is going on in Willy’s head.  This is not a good thing because in a way she is allowing willy to continue thinking this way. If she didn’t encourage this, willy could have possibly realized that he is thinking too high of himself as a person and everything he says about himself and his sons are untrue. It will destroy him once he realizes that his life, both his son’s lives and the life he gives to his wife is nowhere near what he thought it was for the past years.