《推销员之死》中威利与比夫的父子关系

《推销员之死》中威利与比夫的父子关系IntroductionArthurMilleristhemostfamousrealisticplaywrightincontemporaryAmerica.Heisknownas“theconscienceofAmericandrama”.Hisplaysmostlydepictsmallfiguressuchassalesmen,stevedores,clerks,farmersandsoon.Theyareuniqueintheirideologicalcontentandartistictechniques.MillerdiscussedhisdramatictheoryandmoderntragicthoughtinTragedyandOrdinaryManandTheNatureofTragedy.Headvocatedthatordinarypeopleshouldbeputonthestageoftragichistory.Playwrightsshouldlookfortherootcausesofthetragediesofthelowerclasscharactersfromthesociety(Abbotson,2015).Hepracticedthistheoreticalconceptioninhisdramaticcreation.Atthesametime,heskillfullyusesexpressionismandsymbolisminhisplays.ManycriticspraiseDeathofaSalesmanasMiller'smasterpieceandoneofthegreatestplaysinthehistoryofAmericandrama.Ithasperformed742consecutiveperformancesinNewYork,makingitoneofthe50longest-runningperformancesinBroadway.Ithaswonsixconsecutivetheatreawards,includingtheDramaCriticsAssociationAward,thePulitzerPrizeforDrama,theAntonitePerryAward,theAmericanPressAward,theDramaClubAwardandtheDonaldsonAward.InDeathofasalesman,WillyaskedhissonBifftofollowhisteachingsanddevelopaccordingly,sothathecouldsucceed.ButBiffsaid,“Thisfamilyhaslessthan10minutestotellthetruth.”Thefather-sonrelationshipconstructedbylieswasveryharmoniousbeforeBiffbecameanadult.However,this“nofoundation”relationshipeventuallybrokedownwiththeendofBiff'sdeparture.Harmony-contradiction-harmonyisthelawofhedevelopmentoffather-sonrelationshipinliteraryworks.Thecommoncharacteristicofthiskindofrelationshipisthattheharmonyoffamilyisdestroyedbytheoppositeoffatherandson.Oncethecontradictiondeepens,theindividualwillenterthepredicamentofnon-deathandlife.ThisplayembodiesthecontradictionofenlargementandtheharmonyofreturningtothedeathofWilly(Bigsby,2017).Thedevelopmentoffather-sonrelationshipisaprocessoffamilypowerchangethateveryfamilycan’tavoid.Thedenialofpatriarchyisanecessarystageforasontogrowup,whichlaysthefoundationforasontobeanewparent.DeathofaSalesmanisaplaythatshowsthegrowthofthefatherandtheson.CommentsonDeathofaSalesmanmostlyfocusontheinterpretationofdramalanguage,AmericanDreamandmoderntragicthoughts.However,fewstudieshaveexploredthethematicsignificancefromtheperspectiveoffather-sonrelationship.Thepurposeofthispaperistointerprettheplayfromtheperspectiveoffather-sonrelationshipandtoexplainthedilemmaoffather-sonrelationship.2AnalysisoftherelationshipbetweenWillyandBiffSomeunexpectedeventsoftenoccurwhenachildisgrowingup.Inparticular,thestatureofparentsdisappearedinemergencies,andtheidolsofchildhoodwereseenthroughandbecameordinarypeople.Whenhewasachild,Biffwasfullofrespectforhisfather.ItcanbesaidthatWillyistheobjectofBiff’sworshipandimitation.ButBiffhappenedtofindthathisfather’sdisloyaltytohismothercompletelychangedhisfather’simageinhismind.Fromthenon,WillyandBiffalwayswithagrudge,likeanenemy.2.1TheImageofFatherandSonWillycamefromanimmigrationfamily,andhisfatherabandonedhisfamilywhenhewasyoungandwentfaraway.Willygrewupfather’sconcern,whichWillyhasalwaysregretted,sowhenWillyhadhisownson,helovedhissonverymuchtomakeupforhischildhoodshortcomings.Heoftenpreachedtohisson,toldhissontorespecttheirmotherLindawithpracticalactions,andoftenbraggedabouthiscareerasasalesman.Infact,Willywasjustageneralsalesman,sohehopedhissoncouldriseheadandshouldersaboveothers.Throughouttheplay,Willy’smostunacceptablethingwasthatBiffbetrayalofhisambitionsforhim.Willybelievedthatasafather,hehadeveryrighttoexpectBiffrealizehisdreamforhimself.WhenBiffranawayfromhomeandrefusedtorealizeWilly’sAmericanDream,Willysawtherefusalasapersonalaffront，heassociateditwith“insult”and“spite”.Afterall,Willywasasalesman,andBiff’swithoutasinglesuccessandego-crushingrebuffultimatelyreflectedWillyhadfailedtosellhimtotheAmericanDream-theproductinwhichWillyhimselfbelievedmostfaithfully.Willy’srealitywascompletelyconflictedwithhisdream.Throughouthislife,hewasimmersedinthefantasyofsuccessallthetime,butturnedablindeyetotherealityofpayingloansandoftenborrowingmoneyfromhisneighbors.Atthebeginningoftheplay,Willyhadseriousself-delusion.Hecannotevenmaintainaconsistentfantasybecausehisconsciousnesswassofractured.Inonemoment,hecomplainedthatBiffwasalazytramp,butsoon,headdedthatBiffwasjustalackofopportunity,notlaziness.Moreover,hislaterassessmentofthefamilycarwascontradictory-helastminutehecalleditworthlessgarbage,andthenextminutehepraisedhiscaras“thefinestcareverbuilt”(Hoeveler,2017).WhenWillysaidhissonwasalazybumitwasbecauseBiff’slackofmaterialsuccess,ambition,andfocus.Whenhedeniedhisson'slaziness,WillyholdontothehopethatBiffwoundsomeday,insomecapacityhaveachancetogetahead,fulfillhisexpectationofhim.Willychangedhisinterpretationofrealitydifferentlyaccordingtohispsychologicalneedsatthemoment.Also,hewasabletochangehispastexperiencesasneededinhislaterdaydreams,andevenfabricatethingsthatdidn’texistatall.Ironically,heangrilyaskedhiswifeLindawhyhewas“alwaysbeingcontradicted”.Infact,itwashimwhodeniedhimselftheordinaryselfandcontradictedhimselffrommomenttomoment.Willy’srealityprofoundlyconflictedwithhishopes.Thoughouthislife,hewasconstructedelaboratefantasiestodenythemountingevidenceofhisfailuretofulfillhisdesiresandexpectations.Willy’stendencytomythologizepeoplecontributestohisdeludedunderstandingoftheworld.HespokeofDaveSinglemanasalegendandimaginedthathisdeathmusthavebeenbeautifullynoble.WillycomparedBiffandHappy(Willyanotherson)tothemythicGreekfiguresAdonisandHerculesbecausehebelievedthathissonswerepinnaclesof“personalattractiveness”andpowerthrough“wellliked”-mess;tohim,theyseemtheveryincarnationoftheAmericanDream.Willy’smythologizingprovedquitenearsighted;howeverWillydidn’trealizethatasinglemanwaslonelyandstilltryingtoachievewhatheconsidersbeingSingleman’sheroicstatus,Willycommittedhimselftoapatheticdeathandmeaninglesslegacy(evenifWilly’slifeinsurancepolicyendsuppayingoff,BiffwantsnothingtodowithWillyambitionforhim).Similarly,neitherBiffnorHappyendsupleadinganideal,godlikelife;whileHappydidbelieveintheAmericanDream,itseemslikelythathewoundendupnobetteroffthanthedecidedlyungodlinessWilly.Biff,Willy’seldestson,wastheprideandhopeofthewholefamily.Hehadlivedinthedreamshisfatherhadwovenforhim.Inmiddleschool,Biffwasnaive,optimisticandfullofdreams.Hewasapromisingrugbystaratschool.Threefamousuniversitiesarewillingtoofferhimscholarships.Butundertheinfluenceofhisfather,Biffdevelopedsomebadhabits.Heneglectedthecultivationofmoralcharacterandthebasicelementsofsuccess:diligence,honestyanddidreallysolidwork.Whenhewasinhighschool,Biffstolerugbyatschool,butsaidheborroweditfromthedressingroomandwasveryproudofit.InspiredbyWilly,heandhisbrotherHappystolesandandwoodfromtheapartmentbuildingsiteandshowedofftohisfather’sbrotherBen.Itwasbecauseofhisfather’sindulgencethatBiffdevelopedthehabitofstealing.Thishabitledhimtobefiredforstealingeverytimehehadagoodjob.Biffwasevenforstealingasuit,hewassentencedtothreemonthsinprison.Aboutlearning,Biffalsodidnotpayenoughattention.Bernardadmonishedhimthatifhecouldnotlearnmathsanylonger,hewouldfailandnotbeabletograduate.However,hedidnottakeitseriously.Hecontinuedtruancyandlaughedathismathteacher.Ultimately,hefailedinimportantexamsinmathematicsandwasunabletoenteruniversity,whichaffectedhisfuture.Intheplay,theimageofhisclassmateBernardandBiffcontrastssharply.WillyoftencomparedthemandthoughtthatBernardwasunpleasant,unproductiveandlesspopular.WillytoldtoBiff“Maybethehighestscoreinschool,youknow,butinsociety,inbusiness,youknow?You'llbefivetimesbetterthanhim!”Butironically,Bernard,whohasbeenlookeddownuponbyWilly,grewuptobeafamouslawyerthroughhisowneffortsanddidreallysolidworkefforts.HedefendedthecaseintheSupremeCourt.Henotonlyhadasuccessfulcareerandwasrespectedbyothers,butalsohadahappyfamily.Willymadeasinglebreakthroughinthefootballmatchtomakehisfatherproud.Whenhisfathercamebackfromotherplaces,Biffneverlethimcarryhissuitcase.Hewaxedandpolishedhisfather'sredcaralldaylong.ThediscoveryofWillycheatingbecameaturningpointinBiff’sfateandcausedadevastatingblowtoBiff.Whenhegothome,Biffburnedhissneakersthatoncemadehimproudwhichprintedthewords“UniversityofVirginia”.ThisburntdownthetallimageofhisfatherandthebrightfutureofBiff.Fromthenon,Biffcouldn'tfacehisfatheranddecidedtoleavehome.Theprotagonistalwayscan’tfindhisgoalafterherunsawayfromhome.Hewentthroughallhishardshipsandachievednothing.Thisistheconfusedstagebeforetheprotagonist’sepiphany.Biffhasbeenpuzzledsincehelefthome.Hedidnotrecognizehisidentity,norcouldhefindhisplaceinsociety,andfeltthathisfuturewasuncertainhewasconfusedabouthislifeandfuture.Hewasneithersuitedtocitylifenorsatisfiedwithsimplefarmlife.AfterBifflefthome,hehadsixorsevenyearstofindawayout.Hehasworkedintwentyorthirtyprofessions,buthehasneveraccomplishedanything,andtheresultsarealwaysthesame.Althoughheenjoyedfarmlifeverymuch,hefelttherewasnowayoutinspring.Ontheonehand,hethinksthatasasmallclerk,salesman’slifeisreallypitiful.Gotosqueezethesubwayearlyinthehotday.Fiftyweeksayear,justforthosetwoweeksofvacation.Ontheotherhand,Bifffeltlike,“WhereverIam,inthespring,Ihaveafeelingthat,God,Ihavenowayouthere!WhatamIdoinghere?Makingafoolofhorsesandearningtwenty-eightdollarsaweek!I’mthirty-fouryearsold,andIshouldstartafamily.BythistimeIshouldhaverunhome.Now,I’mback,butIdon'tknowwhatIshoulddomyself.”(Arthur,1949).Fromthispassage,wecanseethatduringthatperiod,Biffwasfullofcontradictionsandconfusionandfeltthathewaswastinghislife.Buthedidn'tknowwhatthefuturewasorwhathewanted.2.2FromWorshiptoConfrontationsWhenBiffwasinhighschool,theRomanshadagoodrelationship.BiffworshipshisfatherWilly,whonotonlyhasa"successful"careerasasalesman,butalsohasa"goodrelationship"andloveshissonverymuch.InBiff’smind,Willyisbothagoodhusbandandagoodfather.UnderWilly'sguidance,BiffoftenhelpsLindawithhouseworkandeveninstructsherclassmatestodohousework.EvenstealingfootballfromschoolshowsofftoWilly,whonotonlydoesn'tblameBiffforstealing,butalsopraiseshimforhardwork,whichmakesBiffabadhabitofstealing.Thebreak-upbetweenfatherandsonisduetothreethings.ThefirstthingwasinBiffHighSchool.BecauseofWilly’sindulgence,Biffdidnotpayattentiontohisstudies,resultinginfailureinmathematicsandaffectinghisgraduation.BiffimmediatelywenttoBostontoseekhisfather’shelp.Hehopedthathisfatherwouldusehis“goodpopularity”toconvincetheteacher.ButBiffaccidentallyfoundoutthathisfatherhadcheated.ThecollapseofthetallimageofhisfatherwasagreatblowtoBiff.Biffcouldnottellhismotherabouthisfather’saffair,hedidnotwanttomakehersad,buthedidnotwanttoseehisfather,soBifflefthomeearlyandwentoutalone.ThesecondoneishappenedafterBiffcamehomeformanyyears.Biffhadnoskillsandoftenstole,sohehadatoughlife.WhenBiffreturnedhome,hequarreledwithWilly.Inthemanypersuasionfromhismother,BiffandhisfatherreachedatemporaryagreementtoborrowmoneyfromthebosswhohadpreviouslyappreciatedBifftodobusiness.ButwhenBiffpluckedupthecouragetocometotheformerboss’scompany,itsuddenlyoccurredtohimthatheusedtobeasmallcargoclerk,notasalesmanashisfathersaidThebossdidn’tevenknowwhohewas,letalonelentmoneytoBifftodobusiness.Biffwashitbyreality,andherealizedthathisfatherhadbeentalkingbigallthetime.Willy,whohadjustbeenfiredbyhisboss,hadabigfightattherestaurant,andBiffandhisbrotherlefttheoldWillyalone.ThethirdthingisWilly’sdeath.OldWillylosthisjob,butinhishearthefirmlybelievedthataslongasBiffhadthemoneytodobusiness,hewouldsucceed.Willycommittedsuicideinordertogettheinsurance.Biffunderstoodwhyhisfathercommittedsuicide,andbythistimehehadbecomecalm,andBiffknewthatevenifWillywerestillalive,hisAmericanDreamwouldnotchange.AtthistimeWillyhadcompletelydisagreedwithWillyideologically,andWilly’sdeathsymbolizedBiffisgoingtostartanewlife.3TheCausesofConfrontationsWillyandBiff’sfather-sonrelationshipchangedfromworshiptoresistancetofather,whichisrelatedtoWilly’scharacterandfamilyeducation.WillyisanadvocateoftheAmericanDream,loyaltofantasiesandneglectingdidreallysolidwork.Secondly,WillylovesBiffdeeplybutlackseffectivecommunication,resultinginaseriesofcontradictions.ThechangeofRomanfather-sonrelationshipalsoconfirmstheancientthemeofOedipuscomplex.3.1ExpectationsOftenLeadtoDisappointmentAperson'schoiceislargelyinfluencedbysocialvalues.AlthoughWillyLomanhastheabilityandenjoymentofphysicallabor,healsodespisesit.HeisenthusiasticaboutAmerica'sdreamofsuccess.WillyacceptedthemainvaluesoftheUnitedStatesandtriedtoachievethemthroughopportunitiesorlegitimatetechnology.Heneverreallysucceeded,butheadmiredthosewhosucceeded.Hehasalwaysbeenhopefulthatwhathewantsinhislifeissuccess.Hewaseagertocometruethisdreamthatheactuallylivesinitandimposedhisdreamonhisfamily,especiallyhissons.InWilly’sbeautifuldream,Willyregardshissonsashisidealselfandonlyhashighexpectationsofeachother.Whentheyfailtomeeteachother’sexpectations,theywillleadtodisappointmentandevenhatred.Willytriedtoestablishanidealizedimage.Hewasasuccessfulsalesmanhimself,alovinghusbandandaprotectivefather.HissonsacceptedtheidealizedimagefromWillywhentheywerechildrenandbelievedtheirfatherwassuchaman.ButWillyhimselfbetrayedtheimagehehadcreatedandfailedtomeettotheexpectationsofhissons.First,Willyliedabouthissalesability.HetoldBiffthathedidn'thavetowaitinlinetoseethebuyer.“That’salltheyneedtoknow.I’llknowitinaminute.”However,heneededawomantohandhimovertothebuyer.Hetoldhissonsthathewouldworkathomewithouthavingtosellitoutofthecountry,buthedidnotsucceed.Finally,hewasfiredbyHoward.Whenhesaidhereceivedanaveragecommissionof$170aweek,Howard(Willy’semployer)impatientlydisagreed.Willy’swifeLindawasfaithfultohishusband,admiredhimanddefendedhimallthetime.Headmittedthat“WillyLomannevermadealotofmoney.”Asahousewife,Lindahadtokeepcountingandbudgetingtheirexpenses.ThefinancialsituationoftheLomansfamilyclearlyshowsthatWillydidnotearnenoughmoneyforhisfamilyexpensesandhehasneverbeenasuccessfulsalesman.Healsobraggedabouthisreputation.HeboastedtohissonthathewasfamousinNewEnglandandhehadlotsoffriends.HecouldparkhiscaronanystreetinNewEngland,andthepoliceandhisfriendsprotecteditaswellasthemselves.However,throughouttheplay,onlyCharlieattendedhisfuneralashisfriend.EvenWilly,afaithfuldreamer,admitsthatCharlieishisonlyfriend.Willytriedtolethischildrenknowthathewasalovinghusband.Hetaughtthemtoloveandhelptheirmother.Hedidnotevenallowhissonstolettheirmotherstakedetergentupthestairs(杜新宇,邹慧欢，2003).HewasgladthatBiffhadhisfriendscleanthekiln.However,hebetrayedLind.Asafather,hetriedtoprotectandcoverupBiff’smistakes.HetaughtBifftowatchoutforthegirlsandnottopromiseanything,buthepromisedhimselftowearstockingstowomen.Hedidn'ttakeBiff’sstealingseriously.HesaidheneededtopracticeballcontroltomakeexcusesforhimselfandevenaskedBernardtogiveBiffananswerintheexam.Biffhadagodlyprotectiveimageofhisfatherandevenbelievedthathislikablefathercouldpersuadehismathteachertolethimpasstheexam.AlthoughWillynevertalkedtoamathteacher,hewouldnotsucceedevenifhedid.Hestillfeltsmallandworriedthathehadn'ttaughthissontherightthing.Whenproblemsoccur,allhecandoisshoutoutandhewillwhiphim.Willypromisedhissonsanidealizedimage,sothattheyhadhighhopesforhim,buthedidnotfulfillhispromise.Hewasneverasuccessfulsalesman,noraloyalhusband,noraprotectivefatherwiththerightsenseofeducatinghisson.Whenthesonsaredisillusioned,reachingtheirexpectationswillinevitablyleadtogreatdisappointmentintheirhearts.ThesceneofBoston'sinfidelityledtoBiff’sdisillusionmentwithhisfather.WillyfellfromthesacredpositionsothatBiffcouldseethetruthabouthisfather.However,comparedwiththeidealizedimageoffather,thisnewimageoffatherwoundonlybringhimdisappointmentandmadehimconstantlyconflictwithhisfather.WillyadoptedanidealizedimageWhenWillyidealizedhisson.However,herealizedfromthebottomofhisheartthathewasaloserandwasverydisappointedinhimself.Althoughhetriedtobelievethathewantedotherstobelieveinhim,heknewhehadliedaboutthesizeofsales,hospitalityandnumberoffriends.Whenheisnotcareful,heoccasionallythinksofthetruth.WhenhewasalonewithLinda,headmittedtoLindathatpeoplelaughedathim,becausenobodynoticedhim.However,itwasrareforme,andthefactwassoonoverwhelmedbyhisfantasies.Hewassoobsessedwithhisdreamofsuccessthathecouldnotbeartoadmithisfailure.Heneedstobuildamythtocounteracthisdisappointment,supporthimselfandmaintainhisdignity.Heburiedhisdisappointmentdeeplyinhisheart,whichgaverisetohigherexpectationsforhissons.Hehopedthathissonswouldsucceedandrealizehisowndreamofsuccess.“Here,hefitsperfectlywiththefamiliarsynthesesofparents’hopesforsuccessfortheirchildren.”Themoredisappointedhewaswithhislife,themoreeagerhewastoseehissonssucceed.3.2FailureinCommunication“Communicationistheprocessbywhichpeoplecommunicatetheirideasandfeelingstoeachother.”Whenpeoplecan'tcommunicateeffectively,theywillhaveinsufficientunderstandingandevenmisunderstanding.Thiscandestroypeople’srelationships.Communicationisundoubtedlycrucialtofamilyrelations.Familymembers’failuretocommunicatecanleadtoconflictbetweenthem,whichisonlyoneofthemostimportantreasonsfortheconflictbetweenWillyandBiff.Communicationtakestime.Asabreadwinner,hehastoworryaboutmortgages,insurance,repairstohouseholdappliancesandotherhouseholdexpenses.It’sdangerous.Inaddition,hehadtowork10hours.Businesswasbadandheworked12hoursadaytomakemoney.Tomakemattersworse,Willyisasalesman.Hespentalotoftimeontheroadandalwaysranawayfromhome.Whenhewasontheroad,hissonswerelonelytohim.Whenhereturnedhome,Bifftreasureditsomuchthathisfriendscouldevenwaittotalktohisfather.ThefamilywassoaccustomedtohisabsencethatafterhisdeathLindathoughthewasjustonanothertripandhadbeenlookingforwardtohim.Frequentabsencegreatlyreducedtheamountoftimehespentcommunicatingwithhisson,whichledtoalackofunderstandingbetweenhimandhisson.AsJackHelbiggerpointedout,“Heputhimselfintohisownbusiness.”Utah’slifeontheroadhasneverreallyknownhisson.Althoughtimeisimportantforcommunication,qualityismoreimportantthanquantityinfamilycommunication(郭敏,2008).Thisistrueinmanyotheraspectsoflife.However,evenathome,Willy’scommunicationwithhissonwasineffective.Atthemostbasiclevel,interpersonalcommunicationhasthreedifferentelements:sender,informantandreceiver.Thesenderisthepersonwhospeaksorhasamessagetosend.Informationisthemessagetobeconveyed.Thereceiveristhereceiverorobserverofthemessage.Anyofthesethreeelementsmaycausecommunicationfailure.Assendersandreceiversofmessages,WillyandBifffailincommunication.Themessagestheysendareusuallyvague.Willy’sandBiff’scommunicationbelongstoone-waycommunicationmode,andfeedbackisnotallowed.First,Willyfailedasamessenger.Willyalwayswantstoshineinhisson’seyes,sohehadbeentryingtoplayateacherandamentor.Heaskedhissonstosimulatehiscar,andthengaveLindathelaundry.HetaughtBiffhowtocutthebranchesofbigtreesandhowtodealwithgirls.Heimposedhisdreamsofsuccessonhissonsandencouragedthemtoactwiththeiruncleandtellsuccessstories.HeeventriedtoteachBifftodressbeforehewenttoseeOliver,whowasthirtyyearsold.Willyspoketohissonswithmanycommandsandcommands.Hehasbecomeaccustomedtothetoneofcommandandcommand.HeeventriestogetBiffbackandsays,“Igaveyouanorder.”Hiscommandinacommandingtonewillhinderthefeedbackoftheinformationrecipientandthewaytounderstandtheaudience'struefeelingsandthoughts.Manyfamilyconflictsarecausedbyfamilymemberswhodonotknowhowtocommunicatesuccessfully.ThecommunicationbetweentheLomanswasacompletefailure.TheconfrontationbetweenWillyandBiffisamisunderstandingcausedbytheirlackofunderstandingorcommunicationfailure.BiffwassuffocatedbyWilly'sheavylove.WillycouldnotrecognizeBiff’sloveforhim.WhenBiffgaveupWilly'sambitionforhim,Willyregardedthisrefusalasaninsulttohimself.Ontheonehand,heassociatesthisinsultwithhisrelationshipwithwomen;ontheotherhand,hedrawsthisconclusionfromhisphilosophy.Willybelievesthatbeinglikedcanmakeapersonsucceed,whileapersonwhofailsisnotliked.Willyknowshisfailuresohecan'tbelieveBiffloveshim.Theyalldistorteachother’sfeelingsaccordingtotheirownunderstanding,becausetheircommunicationfails.Thiscanleadtotheirangerateachotherandkeeptheminconflict.3.3OedipusComplexTheOedipusthemeinthedeathofaSalesmanisfirstexpressedthroughtheresistanceoftheeldestsonBifftohisfather.ThecontradictionbetweenWillyandBiff,whowereregardedbytheirsonsasidols,beganwhenBiffdiscoveredhisfather’sbetrayalofhismother.ThisincidentbrokeBiff’sworshipoffatherandgod,ledtoBiff’sresistanceandresentmentagainsthisfatherandWilly'sfearandresentmentagainsthisson,andmadethefather-sonrelationshiptenseandfrequentconflicts.WillyevendroveBiffoutofthehouse,firstrealizingthefather'sabandonmentofhisson.However,theloveoffatherandsonishardtobreak.WillyalwaysexpectsBifftocomehome.Biffalsosubconsciouslytriestopleasehisfather,butwhenthefatherandsonmeet,theyarealwaysangry.Youcan'tberepressed.Bifffeltthathisfatheralwayslaughedathimselfandwashardtogetcloseto,butWillythoughtBiffhatedanddespisedhimself.Theinextricableaffectionbetweenfatherandsonisdistortedintofear,suspicion,disappointmentandevenresentment,resultinginconstantconflictwitheachother.TheconflictbetweenWillyandBifffinallyintensifiedtoBiff’spatricide.BiffpromisedtoaskOliverforhelpinordertopleasehisfather.WhenBifffinallycameoutofWilly'sdream,hewasdeterminedtogiveuphiseffortstopromisehisfather,mercilesslybreakinghisfather'sfantasiesandhopesforhimself,andabandoninghisfatherinthehotelwithHappy.WillyBiff’shopes.Willywasoneofthemostimportantsustenanceofhislifeandtheonlyspiritualsupportleftafterhewasfired.ThisdisillusionmentactuallydestroyedWillyspiritually.Andwhenhecamehomethatnight,Biff’slaststruggleagainsthisfathergavehisfatheramoredeadlyblow.HeadmittedunabashedlythathisincompetencewasinfactdestroyingWilly'slife,becauseWillypinnedallhishappinessonhisson'sdreamofsuccess;hecondemnedthefamilyforbeingfullofliesandthelossofthemoralguidanceandemotionalcomfortitdeserved,whichwasanegationofWilly'sroleasfatherandheadofthefamily;heputWillyevenmoremercilessly.Theattempttocommitsuicidewasexposedtothewholefamily,deprivingWillyofhisdignityasaman,afatherandaloserwhocouldnotlookupinfrontofhisfamily,includingWillyhimself.AlthoughBiffhuggedhisfathertoexpresshisfeelingsforhisfatherandsoughtacompromisewithhisfather,itplungedWillybackintotheillusionofsuccessandstrengthenedWilly'sdecisiontocommitsuicideforhisfamily,especiallyBiffforinsurancepremiums.Bifftriedtohelphisfathergetoutofhisfantasiesandblows,buthesufferedamoresevereblowandfellintonewfantasies,eventuallypushinghisfathertodeath.DespiteBiff’sresistancetohisfather,loveandMercyconceals,butcannotchangehisson'sidentityasamanbyresistancetohisfather(郭岩,张颖,2015).AsBiffgrewup,hedemandedmorepower,andtheweapontoprovethathehadpowerinthefamilywastohavepower