Drama Character Analysis of Biff Loman, Linda Loman & Happy Loman
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Biff Loman
Identity Loss
Death of a Salesman describes a man, Biff Loman, who had lost his identity and he lacks the ability to accept change within himself and the society. His thinking and behaviour was the outcome of his father's mental illness and instability.
Biff was Willy’s oldest son and Willy was really crazy about him. Biff was a star football player in his high school. However, he never paid attention to his schoolwork and failed in math. And Willy was responsible for all these since he never encouraged Biff to do well in school.
Dislike for Father
When he was a teenager he discovered that his father, Willy Loman had an extramarital affair, the incident created a bad impact on Biff's mind. He was the only member of the family who knew about Willy's affair and started disliking his father badly.
He realized that Willy was unfaithful to his mother and it changed the whole of his perception about Willy, whom he used to adore and considered all his stories to be true, he even followed his father's philosophy that anything is possible as long as a person is "well-liked".
And then Biff starts deteriorating in his life. Biff never raised questions at Willy, even though he could see that Willy was going against the rules.
It is not surprising that Biff’s tendency to steal things continued throughout his adult life since Willy used to encourage Biff’s thefts during childhood and teenage, while he was growing up.
When Biff was in school he stole a football and instead of scolding Biff for his act of stealing the football, his initiative was praised by Willy.
Willy – fake
Biff finally realizes that Willy has created his fake image in front of his family, society and for himself as well. He considers Willy to be a “fake,” and stops believing him, or following Willy’s grand fantasies of success. Instead, Biff hates his father and all his ideas or philosophies.
Willy regarded Biff as an underachiever, while Biff thinks that he is trapped in Willy's ambitious fantasies. After the incident of Bill Oliver's office, Biff determined to cut the web of lies which was surrounding the Loman family and wanted to live in realism.
Acceptance of Truth
Unlike his father, he accepts the truth of life and realizes his failure. After Willy committed suicide Biff said that “didn’t know who he was.” There was a discord between Biff and Willy for over 15 years, and during that time he was not able to hold any job steadily.
He made his father believe that he is good for nothing, "I am a dime a dozen, Pop, and so are you". It is believed that the character of Biff was inspired by his own life.
Arthur Miller's conflicted relationship with his uncle, Manny Newman who was also a salesman, is considered to be the basis of dramatic confliction in Death of a Salesman.
Newman also refused to accept his failure. It's been half a century since it was written; Death of a Salesman still remains a powerful drama.
Linda Loman
Loving Wife
Linda Loman, the wife of Willy Loman in the play, appears as a kind-hearted, loving and caring wife who believes in standing by her family through thick and thin. She loves her husband Willy more than her sons throughout the play.
Like a kind and supportive wife, Linda never complains of her husband's erratic and irrational behaviour. On the other hand, she always tries to keep her husband peaceful and calm by maintaining a stable environment within the home.
Perhaps, she is the only member of the family who truly understands Willy and never confronts him about his desire to commit suicide.
Comfortable Atmosphere for Husband
Understanding the loneliness and employment issues of her husband, Linda Loman always tries her best to teach her kids to respect their father and provide him with a comfortable atmosphere in the home.
Although Linda seems to be a very caring and supportive wife in the play, she loves Willy to the extent that she never confronts him on his behaviour and always desires to support him in every aspect of his life.
She even supports Willy to achieve his American Dream by encouraging him to search for other jobs and employment opportunities. It is the very reason that she ends up being a widow at the end of the play.
Amalgamation of Disappointments
Linda's life becomes an amalgamation of disappointments, fruitless struggles and hopelessness because she never bothers to change her husband Willy for the good of the family.
Supporting her husband in every right and wrong, Linda proves herself to be a loving wife but not a sensible one. Hence, she ends up alone, miserable and discontented by the end of the play.
Happy Loman
The Younger Jealous Son
Happy Loman, the younger son of Willy and Linda Loman, appears in the play as an unattractive and overweight young man, who is not loved and appreciated as much as his elder brother; therefore, becoming jealous of his elder brother.
Unlike his name, Happy never feels happy and satisfied in his life because he is never liked by his father. Due to this reason, Happy Loman always desires to please his father in any way he can.
A Failure
Although he has a good reputation in business, Happy fails to achieve any success in life. He, like his elder brother, remains a failure throughout his life in his home, education, and business.
Happy feels that his life is aimless because he cannot figure out what he actually wants in his life. Despite being the part of a successful organization, Happy always feels that he is overshadowed by his bosses who insult him daily.
Like his elder brother Biff Loman, Happy also feels that his failure in life is due to the irrational beliefs of his father, Willy Loman. Although he does not resent his father as much as Biff, Happy also blames his father for his unsuccessful career.
Alone and Empty
Throughout the play, Happy Loman feels an emptiness and loneliness in his life being the younger unwanted member of the family. It is the reason that Happy feels discontentment and dissatisfaction in spite of running a reasonable business.
In pursuit of American Dream, Happy Loman faces same difficulties and problems like other characters in the play; thus, he too turns out to be a failure and a lonely man at the end of the play.
