Millers Dramatic Effects of Dishonesty in Death of a...

Millers Dramatic Effects of Dishonesty in Death of a Salesman Introduction ============ Dishonesty is common throughout Death of a Salesman. Whether the lies are intentional or delusional, Willy, Biff, and Happy tell untruths all the time, Biff finally realizes that theyve been lying to each other and themselves so much, that they dont even know who they really are. Dishonesty is also highlighted by Willys relationship with the woman and his delusion in relation to his career. Finally, Lindas honesty makes the other characters dishonesty move evident and therefore dramatic. Willys Betrayal and infidelity to Linda with the woman†¦show more content†¦The fact that it does not occur to either of the boys that theres something wrong with this is very shocking and the audience is left to wonder how they developed such an attitude Biff Biff is deceitful about his life but his dishonesty is compounded, as Willy is dishonest about him. When Biff stole a football from the locker room when he was in high school, and he claimed that he took it because the coach told him to work on his passing. Willy acts for a moment as if Biff should return it, but when Hap implies that Biff was wrong for taking the ball, Willy defends Biff and declares that the coach, rather than being angry with Biff for stealing, would have been proud and impressed with Biffs initiative. Willy tells Biff that its OK that he took the ball because the coach likes him. Willy tells his son its perfectly fine to steal from people, as long as you are well liked; theyll let you get away with it. Willy finds it impossible to understand how someone who was as popular and well liked as Biff was in high school, could have grown up to be such a failure. Willy always believed that Biffs popularity would naturally lead to great success in the business world. B ut thats not the way things have worked out for Biff, and Willy is baffled by it. Willy shows this by telling Biff to pretend his work out West was business related instead