Relationships are built on trust. If trust is broken feelings of betrayal and abandonment can start to form. These feelings can have a tremendous negative impact on a person’s life if they are not dealt with. In Arthur Miller's “Death of a Salesman” the main characters are affected by betrayal within their family. Miller uses the literary technique of flashbacks to develop the theme of how betrayal and abandonment can negatively affect the outcome of a person’s life. Childhood betrayal affects a person’s actions as an adult. In A Death of a Salesman Willy and his sons were affected greatly by the betrayal within their own family. Willy doesn’t support Biff’s choice to work outside on a farm rather than working in sales. “How can he
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Goddamnit! You rotten little louse! Are you spiting me?” (Act 2 pg 88) This is another example of Willys disappointment of Biff’s line of work. Willy believes that the best sacrifice he can make to his family is by killing himself to be remembered.“I’m—I’m ashamed to. How can I mention it to him? Every day I go down and take away that little rubber pipe. But when he comes home, I put it back where it was. How can I insult him that way? I don’t know what to do. I live from day to day boys. I tell you, I know every thought in his mind. It sounds so old-fashioned and silly, but I tell you he’s put his whole life into you and you’ve turned your backs on him. Biff, I swear to God! Biff, his life is in your hands!” (Act 1 pg 43) This quote refers to Willys feeling of Biff's betrayal towards him. The author foreshadows Willy's suicide. When Biff was a senior in high school he discovered that his father Willy had an affair with a women in Boston. Biff feels that Willy betrayed his entire family by cheating on Linda. “Because I know he’s a fake and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows! Why a fake? In what way? What do you mean? Just don’t lay it all at my feet. It’s between me and him—that’s all I have to say.” …show more content…
Willy's father left his family at a very young age. “No, Ben! Please tell about Dad. I want my boys to hear. I want them to know the kind of stock they spring from. All I remember is a man with a big beard, and I was in Mamma’s lap, sitting around a fire, and some kind of high music.” (Act 1 pg 33) Willy tries to hold onto the past and not face the present. Willy believes that if you put a lot of time into a company you should get special privileges. Willy’s new boss Howard is in his 30’s and believes that a business should do whatever would make them the most money no matter what. “You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man is not a piece of fruit.” (Act 2 pg 61). Willy compares himself to an orange using a metaphor. This quote is when Willy got fired from his
Goddamnit! You rotten little louse! Are you spiting me?” (Act 2 pg 88) This is another example of Willys disappointment of Biff’s line of work. Willy believes that the best sacrifice he can make to his family is by killing himself to be remembered.“I’m—I’m ashamed to. How can I mention it to him? Every day I go down and take away that little rubber pipe. But when he comes home, I put it back where it was. How can I insult him that way? I don’t know what to do. I live from day to day boys. I tell you, I know every thought in his mind. It sounds so old-fashioned and silly, but I tell you he’s put his whole life into you and you’ve turned your backs on him. Biff, I swear to God! Biff, his life is in your hands!” (Act 1 pg 43) This quote refers to Willys feeling of Biff's betrayal towards him. The author foreshadows Willy's suicide. When Biff was a senior in high school he discovered that his father Willy had an affair with a women in Boston. Biff feels that Willy betrayed his entire family by cheating on Linda. “Because I know he’s a fake and he doesn’t like anybody around who knows! Why a fake? In what way? What do you mean? Just don’t lay it all at my feet. It’s between me and him—that’s all I have to say.” …show more content…
Willy's father left his family at a very young age. “No, Ben! Please tell about Dad. I want my boys to hear. I want them to know the kind of stock they spring from. All I remember is a man with a big beard, and I was in Mamma’s lap, sitting around a fire, and some kind of high music.” (Act 1 pg 33) Willy tries to hold onto the past and not face the present. Willy believes that if you put a lot of time into a company you should get special privileges. Willy’s new boss Howard is in his 30’s and believes that a business should do whatever would make them the most money no matter what. “You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away - a man is not a piece of fruit.” (Act 2 pg 61). Willy compares himself to an orange using a metaphor. This quote is when Willy got fired from his