conflict between the two of them.The father-son conflict between Willy and Biff is complex. First of all, there is a strong personal attachment. He wants Biff to love him. He remembers the fondness shown for him by Biff as a boy, and he still craves this. At this point, however, relations are strained. Although Willy shies away from remembering so painful an episode, he knows in his heart that his affair with the Boston woman left the boy bitterly disillusioned. Feeling some sense of guilt, Willy fears that all of Biffs later difficulties may have been really attempts to get revenge. In other words, Biff failed to spite Willy. Although outwardly resenting such alleged vindictiveness, Willy still wants to get back the old comradeship, even if he has to buy it dearly. For instance consider when he asked Ben, Why cant I give him something and not have him hate me? and his final moment of joy and triumph occurs when he exclaims, Isnt that remarkable? Biff he likes me!On the other hand, Willy is also emotionally involved with Biff because his sons success of failure is his own. By becoming rich and influential, the handsome, personable Biff was slated to provide his own modest advancement. By making his fortune in the business world, Biff would prove that Willy had been right in turning down Bens adventurous challenge to head for Alaska. He would also outshine the sensible, plodding Charley and Bernard, thus establishing once and for all Wills theory that having personality and being well-liked were the great requisites for preeminence. Losing his own job, Willy is naturally unhappy. But if he can still purchase success for Biff with the insurance money, he personally will have won. He stated, I always knew one way or another we were gonna make it, Biff and I! So similar to the way Polonious was concerned about how Laertes actions in France affect Polonious reputation, Willy was concerned his own image being affected by Biff...
