Happy and biff: Our impressions

Biff

The first impression we get of Biff is from his father, Willy. 'I won't fight with him anymore' This insinuates that willy has been trying very to hard to mould or turn him into something or someone that he isnt. The fact he has to fight suggests he's trying very hard to go against bill's wishes but when he see's there is no hope in it he falls back onto the only hope he has left his son will succed 'later in life' the fact he uses famous role models who have started late like ' Thomas edison' suggests that he needs some reassurance that his son will succeed.

Before we actually properly meet Biff, so much is told about him through stage direction. He said 'these days to bear a worn air and less self- assured' This suggests that he once looked full excited and certain about his direction, but now he sees he isn't going by the 'norm' and realising he isn't a 'boy' anymore which is making him 'less self assured .

Happy I feel is a more tragic character as he is locked up in a life he doesn't live and full only of what his father has passed on to him. 'Goddammit im lonley' amongst all his wealth money ' Apartement' and ' women' he has that missing empty space, a longing for someone or something ' thats what I long for'. but amongst all his dreams he cant escape from his regimented routine of becoming the best ' I want to walk into the store the way he walks' this highlights his pride and competitve nature which even overrides the thought of his happiness.

This point is then reitterated when he talks about 'ruining her' but manages to slip in the fact that shes the 'third executives' wife to be this insinuates that even if he cannot get to the position he wants to be he needs some satisfaction of someone of higher status falling below him through other means.

It is very ironic he chooses a 'bride' to be as this is what he is forever longing for and although it should be the husband in his position it isn't, he's destroying something he so desperatley wants. 

Although Happy is said to be the character who has everything, I believe his tale is tragic and somehow he has lost all sense of humanity whereas although Biff isn't looked upon as highly especially by his father we see as an audience he understands humans, human life and happiness which makes him less of a tragic character.