he boys miss Willy when he is on the road. As Biff tells his father, ôWhereÆd you go this time, Dad? Gee we were lonesome for you...Missed you every minuteö (Miller, 1976, 30). Willy himself is still full of false bravado that I believe he uses to keep himself motivated in the face of reality. When Willy says he will have his own business one day and never have to leave, Happy asks him if he will make is as big as Uncle Charley. WillyÆs reply shows his ambitions rule his sense of reality: ôBigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is notùliked. HeÆs liked, but heÆs not well-likedö (Miller, 1976, 30). Later in this flashback Bernard joins the group and insists Biff needs to study math homework if he is to graduate. Willy mocks Bernard as worrisome and anemic, Biff distracts WillyÆs focus with his sneakers, and when Bernard insists he knows what he is talking about we see WillyÆs reaction enables BiffÆs behavior: (angrily) ôWhat are you talking about? With scholarships to three universities theyÆre gonna flunk him?...DonÆt be a pest, Bernard! (To his boys) What an anemic!ö (Miller, 1976, 33). This is the exact behavior Willy will later detest in his son and view as failure.
We see Willy also explain in this flashback that he is thrilled because boys are built like Adonises. He is thrilled because making an appearance in the real, dog-eat-dog world of business is more important to getting ahead than getting the best marks in school. I love how Miller shows these flashbacks of WillyÆs life when his hopes, dreams, and ambitions had not yet begun to crumble around his ears. In this flashback we also see Linda and Willy in a happier time and place. There is more open affection between them and the material possessions they own are a source of pride just like the boys. When Willy meets Linda he enthusiastically calls ôSweetheart!ö out to her as she asks, ôHowÆd the Chevy run?ö (Miller, 1976, 76). Will...