Topic > Theme of Motives in Death of a Salesman - 1341

Many times he will talk about someone/something and then turn around and say the exact opposite, contradicting his words. In one scene, he and his wife Linda were discussing their son Biff's life. She tells Linda, “The problem is, he's lazy, dammit! Biff is a lazy bum” (Miller 1215)! Then, a few lines later, he says “There's one thing about Biff: he's not lazy” (Miller 1215). He also remembers his Chevrolet and how for him they are the best car companies around. Something breaks in the car when it gets bigger and he immediately states that Chevy is the worst manufacturer ever and that production of their vehicles should be stopped. Willy is so contradictory because of the guilt and denial he carries with him. He's guilty of never really pushing himself and his boys to become successful men, but he also can't accept that his vision of success is distorted and hurtful to his sons.