Dream Analysis in Death of a Salesman
Dream Analysis in Death of a Salesman
Willy’s dream for success affected both of his sons. He wanted to be above average like Dave Singleman so badly that his expectations for Biff were too high and he neglected his relationship with Happy. One motif in the book showed that Willy wanted his boys to be well liked because that is what he considered to be the most important thing in life.
Biff was a strapping young man in high school. He was full of dreams just like his father was. He had several scholarships to go to the University of Virginia after high school. This all changed after Biff found out about his father’s affair with the secretary in Boston. Biff was so upset and spiteful towards his father that he decided not to go to college because he knew how much his father wanted him to go. He didn’t want anything to do with his father anymore, so he moved away. Willy’s dreams for Biff were so high and his constant praise of the boy ruined him. Biff couldn’t hold a steady job because he thought he was too good for the work. He also started stealing and ended up in jail. Willy’s dreams for Biff really messed up Biffs attitude about life which is why he was unsuccessful.
Happy on the other hand was always in the shadows. He was always trying to gain the same acceptance as Biff had from his parents. This is shown in the motif in which Happy is telling his parents, “I’m losing weight. Can you tell?” or “I’m going to get married soon.” Happy didn’t really have much encouragement from his parents but he ended up more successful than his brother Biff. Willy’s dreams did not become Happy’s dreams until after Willy died.
At the end of the story it was made clear that Biff realized that he was only an ordinary man and he was going to move on and make something of his life. Happy unfortunately seemed like he was going to become an exact replica of his father. This is how Willy’s dreams inevitably affected his too boys.