5.2.1

Biff Loman

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Biff Loman

Biff, Willy and Linda’s oldest son, is now 34 years-old but he is still “lost”.

Biff's character

Biff's character

  • Biff is a troubled young man, unable to live up to the hopes and dreams of the past and is, instead, drifting through life.
  • Biff is a brooding presence in the play, described as having a “worn air”.
  • He knows he must make a decision about his future soon but his complex relationship with his father makes this decision all the harder.
Biff's early life

Biff's early life

  • We can piece together Biff’s ‘career’ from what we learn at different stages of the play.
  • A star quarterback as a schoolboy, Biff look set to take up a scholarship at the University of Virginia.
Biff's career

Biff's career

  • However, Biff fails academically and instead works as a shipping clerk for Bill Oliver before leaving and taking up ranch-work out West.
  • We know Biff’s last employment was on a ranch in Texas and later learn that he has spent three months in prison after stealing a suit in Kansas City.

Biff's Theft

Biff's meeting with Bill Oliver in Act Two illuminates the full extent of Biff's fraudulent behaviour and delusions but is also what triggers his self-awareness.

Meeting Bill Oliver

Meeting Bill Oliver

  • In Act 2, the final day of Willy’s life, Biff is to meet with Bill Oliver, his old employer, and ask for a ten-thousand dollar loan to start up the Loman Brothers business venture.
  • However, the meeting is a disaster.
Biff's theft

Biff's theft

  • Biff is uncomfortable about an incident during his previous employment with Oliver in which a carton of basketballs has been stolen (it is strongly suggested Biff stole them).
Biff's delusions

Biff's delusions

  • Biff is also ‘thrown’ by his realisation that he was never a salesman for Bill Oliver as he and his father had convinced themselves, but was merely a clerk.
  • Flummoxed, Biff leaves Oliver’s office with his gold fountain pen and cannot bring himself to return there.
Willy's parenting

Willy's parenting

  • Through Biff’s petty thefts we see the influence of Willy’s parenting.
  • Although Willy tells the younger Biff not to steal, he undermines this message by applauding his daring: “Coach’ll probably congratulate you on your initiative”.
  • Biff’s propensity for stealing, overlooked by Willy, will eventually lead to the two mishaps with Bill Oliver and his three months in a Kansas prison.
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1

Introduction

1.1

Introductions

1.1.1Author1.1.2Historical Context1.1.3Setting1.1.4Social Issues
2

Act One

2.1

Key Events

2.1.1Staging2.1.2Key Events 1&22.1.3Key Events 3&42.1.4Key Events 5&62.1.5Key Events 7&82.1.6Key Events 9&102.1.7Key Events 11&12
2.2

Key Themes & Literary Techniques

2.2.1Foreshadowing, Flashbacks, Settings2.2.2Family, Reality, Fantasy
3

Act Two

3.1

Key Events

3.1.1Key Events 1&23.1.2Key Events 3&43.1.3Key Events 5&63.1.4Key Events 7&83.1.5Key Events 9&10
3.2

Key Themes & Links

3.2.1Pride3.2.2Metaphor3.2.3Self-Realisation
4

Extended Passage Analysis

4.1

Act One

4.1.1Staging4.1.2The Woman
4.2

Act Two

4.2.1In Howard’s Office4.2.2The Final Confrontation4.2.3The Requiem
5

Character Profiles

5.1

Willy & Linda Loman

5.1.1Willy Loman5.1.2Linda Loman
5.2

Biff & Happy Loman

5.2.1Biff Loman5.2.2Biff's Relationship with Willy5.2.3Happy Loman
5.3

Other Characters

5.3.1Uncle Ben5.3.2Charley5.3.3Bernard
6

Key Themes

6.1

Concepts

6.1.1The American Dream6.1.2Fathers & Sons6.1.3Nature & the City6.1.4Success6.1.5Men & Women
7

Writing Techniques

7.1

Structure

7.1.1Act One7.1.2Act Two
7.2

Realism

7.2.1Introduction7.2.2Staging7.2.3Language
7.3

Expressionism

7.3.1Introduction7.3.2Staging7.3.3Music
7.4

Symbolism

7.4.1The Garden / Seeds7.4.2Diamonds7.4.3Alaska & Africa
7.5

Motifs

7.5.1Introduction7.5.2Cars7.5.3Silk Stockings7.5.4Money7.5.5Mythological Figures
8

Historical Context

8.1

Historical Context

8.1.1Miller’s Family & The Great Depression8.1.2America’s Recovery
9

Literary Context

9.1

Tragedy

9.1.1Introduction
9.2

Applying Tragic Concepts

9.2.1The Tragic Hero9.2.2The Tragic Flaw9.2.3Recognition9.2.4Emotional Release9.2.5Chaos & Disorder9.2.6Revenge9.2.7Inevitability
10

Critical Debates

10.1

Introduction

10.1.1Introduction
10.2

The Marxist Reading

10.2.1Marxist Analysis10.2.2The Marxist Reading
10.3

The Feminist Reading

10.3.1Feminist Analysis10.3.2The Feminist Reading
10.4

The Eco-Critical Reading

10.4.1Eco-Critical Analysis10.4.2The Eco-Critical Reading10.4.3Post-pastoral
10.5

Other Debates

10.5.1The Play as Tragedy10.5.2The Critics
11

Recap: Main Quotes

11.1

Characters Quotes

11.1.1Willy Loman11.1.2Linda Loman11.1.3Biff Loman11.1.4Happy Loman11.1.5Uncle Ben11.1.6Charley11.1.7Bernard
11.2

Quotes by Act

11.2.1Act One: Key Events 1-3 Quotes11.2.2Act One: Key Events 4-6 Quotes11.2.3Act One: Key Events 7-9 Quotes11.2.4Act One: Key Events 10-12 Quotes11.2.5Act One: Stage Direction Quotes11.2.6Act One: The Woman Quotes11.2.7Act Two: Key Events 1-2 Quotes11.2.8Act Two: Key Events 3-4 Quotes11.2.9Act Two: Key Events 5-6 Quotes11.2.10Act Two: Key Events 7-8 Quotes11.2.11Act Two: Key Events 9-10 Quotes11.2.12Act Two: Howard's Office Quotes11.2.13Act Two: The Requiem Quotes

Practice questions on Biff Loman

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    How old is Biff Loman?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Assumptions the audience can make about Biff’s early life:True / false
  3. 3
    Assumptions the audience can make about Biff’s 'career':True / false
  4. 4
    How much does Biff ask to borrow from Bill Oliver to start up the Loman Brothers business venture?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What does Biff steal from Bill Oliver's office?Multiple choice
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Linda Loman

Biff's Relationship with Willy