Biff Loman

a short analysis of Biff Loman

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  • Created by: wunms
  • Created on: 28-04-13 13:30
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  • Biff Loman
    • SECONDARY TEXT INFO
      • "bears a worn air and seems less self -assured" p14 Act 1
      • "He has succeeded less...than Happy" p14 Act 1
      • "his dreams are stronger and less acceptable than Happy's" p14 Act 1
    • VIOLENCE/ MASCULINITY
      • "I got so mad I could've torn the walls down!" p82 Act 2 - Biff's anger at Bill Oliver not recognising him is shown through his wish to be violent
      • [He ***** his fists] p38 Act 1 - (Young) Biff engages in a (playful) fist fight with Uncle Ben showing that fighting has always been a big part of Biff's life.
    • REALISATIONS AND REALITY
      • "To suffer 50 weeks of the year for the sake of a 2 week vacation, when all you really desire is to be outdoors, with your shirt off" p16 Act 1 - Biff sums up his dreams of working the outdoors and his discontentment with typical jobs
      • "I'm 34 years old, I ought to be makin' my future" p17 Act 1 - Biff realises that he has been wasting his life going from useless job to job
      • "I've had 20 or 30 different kinds of jobs since I left home" p16 Act 1 - Biff is yet to settle down
      • "we weren't brought up to grub for money. I don't know how to do it" p18 Act  - Biff admits that their upbringing has hindered them from going out and getting regular jobs
      • "He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong" p110 Requiem - Biff understands that Willy's dreams were far fetched and unrealistic.
      • "He did not know who he was" p111 Requiem - Biff highlights that Willy was lost, much like himself.
      • [with a hopeless glance at Happy] p111 Requiem - At the funeral, Biff sees that Happy is still delusional about their Father - the word "hopeless" foregrounds this.
      • "I stole myself out of every job since high school!" p104 Act 2 - Biff confronts Willy about the values he instilled in them as children. They steal because they do not understand that it is wrong.
        • "You're going to hear the truth - what you are and what I am!" p104 Act 2 - Biff is determined to force Willy to face the truth about the Loman family's failures.
      • "I stole a suit in Kansas City and I was in jail" p104 Act 2 - Biff confronting Willy at the end of this Act about their stealing habits.
      • "We never told the truth for 10 minutes in this house" p104 Act 2 - Biff highlights that the Lomans are accustomed to lying and facades.
      • "I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air that I could never stand taking orders from anybody!" p104 Act 2 - Biff acknowledges that his flaws are a result of Willy's bad parenting.
      • "I am not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you" p105 Act 2 - Biff crushes the great "Loman dream"
    • DREAMS AND FANTASY
      • "I'm tellin' you, kid, if you were with me I'd be so happy out there" p18 Act 1 - Biff tells Happy about their potential future
      • "If I could get 10 thousand or even 7 or 8 thousand dollars I could buy a beautiful ranch" p19 Act 1 - Biff's dream is to buy a ranch and work the land. The inconsistency in the price shows he hasnt really thought through his idea properly. It also shows his naivity/lack of understanding.
      • "I know he thought the world of me, though" p20 Act 1 - Biff is deluded and thinks Biff Oliver will worship him - hanging onto the past.
  • COSTUME AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
    • Biff Loman
      • SECONDARY TEXT INFO
        • "bears a worn air and seems less self -assured" p14 Act 1
        • "He has succeeded less...than Happy" p14 Act 1
        • "his dreams are stronger and less acceptable than Happy's" p14 Act 1
      • VIOLENCE/ MASCULINITY
        • "I got so mad I could've torn the walls down!" p82 Act 2 - Biff's anger at Bill Oliver not recognising him is shown through his wish to be violent
        • [He ***** his fists] p38 Act 1 - (Young) Biff engages in a (playful) fist fight with Uncle Ben showing that fighting has always been a big part of Biff's life.
      • REALISATIONS AND REALITY
        • "To suffer 50 weeks of the year for the sake of a 2 week vacation, when all you really desire is to be outdoors, with your shirt off" p16 Act 1 - Biff sums up his dreams of working the outdoors and his discontentment with typical jobs
        • "I'm 34 years old, I ought to be makin' my future" p17 Act 1 - Biff realises that he has been wasting his life going from useless job to job
        • "I've had 20 or 30 different kinds of jobs since I left home" p16 Act 1 - Biff is yet to settle down
        • "we weren't brought up to grub for money. I don't know how to do it" p18 Act  - Biff admits that their upbringing has hindered them from going out and getting regular jobs
        • "He had the wrong dreams. All, all, wrong" p110 Requiem - Biff understands that Willy's dreams were far fetched and unrealistic.
        • "He did not know who he was" p111 Requiem - Biff highlights that Willy was lost, much like himself.
        • [with a hopeless glance at Happy] p111 Requiem - At the funeral, Biff sees that Happy is still delusional about their Father - the word "hopeless" foregrounds this.
        • "I stole myself out of every job since high school!" p104 Act 2 - Biff confronts Willy about the values he instilled in them as children. They steal because they do not understand that it is wrong.
          • "You're going to hear the truth - what you are and what I am!" p104 Act 2 - Biff is determined to force Willy to face the truth about the Loman family's failures.
        • "I stole a suit in Kansas City and I was in jail" p104 Act 2 - Biff confronting Willy at the end of this Act about their stealing habits.
        • "We never told the truth for 10 minutes in this house" p104 Act 2 - Biff highlights that the Lomans are accustomed to lying and facades.
        • "I never got anywhere because you blew me so full of hot air that I could never stand taking orders from anybody!" p104 Act 2 - Biff acknowledges that his flaws are a result of Willy's bad parenting.
        • "I am not a leader of men, Willy, and neither are you" p105 Act 2 - Biff crushes the great "Loman dream"
      • DREAMS AND FANTASY
        • "I'm tellin' you, kid, if you were with me I'd be so happy out there" p18 Act 1 - Biff tells Happy about their potential future
        • "If I could get 10 thousand or even 7 or 8 thousand dollars I could buy a beautiful ranch" p19 Act 1 - Biff's dream is to buy a ranch and work the land. The inconsistency in the price shows he hasnt really thought through his idea properly. It also shows his naivity/lack of understanding.
        • "I know he thought the world of me, though" p20 Act 1 - Biff is deluded and thinks Biff Oliver will worship him - hanging onto the past.
    • "Biff is...well built" p14 Act 1 - shows he is muscular/lean and  has a body that resembles that of an athlete
    • "Biff, wearing a sweater with a block 'S', carries a football" p22 Act 1 - (Young) Biff's costume reflects his sport orientated childhood.
    • "His blue suit. He's so handsome in that suit. He could be a - anything in that suit!" p55 start of Act 2 - Linda comments on how impressive Biff looks in his blue suit. It is interesting that Miller uses the colour blue, blue may represent Biff's inner sadness reflecting in his costume.

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