Open Prompt (Edited)-March 17

1990. 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 Arthur Miller's play Death of Salesman, the main characters, Willy Loman and his son Biff, are constantly at conflict. Throughout the play, Willy believes that the capitalist business system allows anyone to be successful with enough hard work, whereas Biff denies this, and tries to escape the business world. In Death of a Salesman, Miller uses the conflicting ideals of Biff and Willy to comment on conventional views of business and human nature.

     The source of the conflict between Willy and his son lie years before the events of the play, at the end of Biff's high school years, as is shown in a flashback in the second act. While in high school, Biff shared his father's philosophy, thinking business was the only path to success. Biff also idolized his father, thinking he was almost a perfect person. However, when Biff finds his father in a hotel room with an unknown woman, Biff immediately becomes disillusioned both with his father, and the whole world that he associated with Willy- the business world. This disillusionment continues throughout the      remainder of the play, as Biff rebels against his father's views. 

     The conflict in the Loman household allows Miller to communicate the central theme of his play. This theme is the falsehood of the capitalist business dream- that anyone can succeed if they work hard enough. Miller evidently felt that many people held similar views to Willy about the business world. In the play, Miller exaggerates Willy's belief in the capitalist system, making him live in a completely fantasy world. Meanwhile, Biff's rational and logical arguments make it apparent how far gone Willy is from reality. 

     Willy constantly makes statements that are generally accepted as true in the business world, but the reality of his situation shows exactly the opposite. For example, Willy constantly professes that if he works hard and invests time in his company he will eventually move up and earn a comfortable retirement. He repeats this to himself so often that he comes to believe it, even though, as Biff points out, he has indeed invested time in his company, and he is about to get fired during the play. The conflict between Biff and Willy repeats this same argument multiple times, with Biff trying to point out how Willy's philosophy contrasts with the reality of his situation. Through this conflict Miller hopes to make the reader realize the faults and the danger of completely believing in capitalism.