Partial Interview with Biff Loman Essay

Interviewer:Were you surprised to hear about your father’s suicide attempts? Biff:Yes, of course! I had no idea. But I guess it’s like what Mom had said; I never asked about him, I didn’t write that often. But I really had no clue that he was that bad-off. Interviewer:What did you mean when you were telling Happy that you never felt like you were getting anywhere with your life when you were working on a farm? Biff:My father’s standard made me like I was wasting my life. I was only making 28 dollars an hour, that’d be nothing to him. He had always wanted me to be in business like him, so I felt like I was failing him. Plus, he had always looked down at manual laborers. Interviewer:What did you think of your father after you discovered he was having an affair? Biff:I thought he was a huge fake. At first I couldn’t believe it. I had always looked up to him, like any son to his father, but finding that out made me realize he was a fake. Interviewer:You had specifically mentioned how Willy had given the women in Boston your mother’s stockings, what was that about? Biff:It made me think of his as a phony and a liar. He was saying how that woman didn’t really mean anything to him, but that made me think otherwise. Interviewer:You were very worked up over accidentally taking Bill Oliver’s pen. What was that about? Biff:It made me realize that I wouldn’t be able to do what I was trying to do. There was no way this was going to work out. And once again, I wouldn’t live up to Pop’s dream of me. Interviewer:Did you really think that Bill Oliver would remember you and give you the money that you needed? Biff:Yes, but only because of my dad’s influencing. He really made me think that I was into business like he was. Interviewer:Do you blame your father for your shortcomings the jobs you held? Biff:Well, it wasn’t him who stole me out of every job I had since high school, it was me. But it was him who blew me so full of hot air I couldn’t stand taking orders from anybody for very long. Interviewer:How did you finally convince your father that you were never going to live up to the standard he had for you? Biff:I finally stood up to him and told him that I wasn’t going to be bringing any prizes home, so he should stop waiting for me to bring them. Interviewer:What did you mean by â€Å"I know who I am† when you were talked to Happy after your father’s funeral? Biff:I meant what I said. I was done chasing Dad’s dream and even though I was still unsure what I was going to do with the rest of my life, I knew for sure I’d be doing something that I would want to do. Interviewer:Your body language suggested you didn’t agree with what Happy was saying after your father’s funeral. What was that about? Biff: Oh yeah†¦ he was saying that the only dream you can have is to come out as the number-one man. It’s like he’s stuck now trying to be what I couldn’t be. And that’s a successful in business, be what Dad wanted me to be. It reminded me of Happy talking about his life the first night we were back in our room at our parent’s house. He said he had it all but he was still lonely. It reminded me that Dad had also said he was lonely after I discovered his affair. Interviewer:What did you mean by, â€Å"there’s more of him in that front stoop than in all the sales he ever made†? Biff:He had always really liked working with his hands. I think he only thought that being a salesman was what he was meant to do. He always put so much pride into his handiwork. He loved the idea of having a garden†¦