In what way do Charley and Willy differ as fathers Essay Example

as his father has always been devoted to helping Willy. Although little is known about Happy during his childhood, it is evident that he, like Biff, deeply admires his father, and is not overly concerned with his studies.

Willey's sons prioritized popularity over academics because Willy instilled in them the belief that being liked and knowing how to sell oneself is more important than intelligence. This mentality led Biff and Happy to focus on sports and popularity in school, as opposed to their studies. As a result, they did not achieve the success their father had hoped for them. Willy only found joy in his son Bernard's success, who later becomes a happy and accomplished man with a good job and family.

By the age of 30, neither of the Loman brothers have a steady job or a family. Happy resorts to lying in order to survive and even sleeps with his boss's wives. Meanwhile, Biff struggles to find a stable career and has an unclear relationship with his father. It's not until the end of the play that we learn why Biff's life plans were derailed. Throughout it all, the Loman brothers maintain a strained relationship with their father.

The Loman family faces various communication and relationship issues. Biff and Happy have different living situations - Biff lives in another state, while Happy lives with their parents but lacks sincerity with them. Dishonesty is prevalent in the household, as Willy and Happy often choose to lie for the sake of maintaining peace instead of confronting problems. The constant fighting results in a strained relationship between the 'boys' and their father. The play doesn't address the relationship between

young Bernard and his father, but Charley later reveals that he never showed genuine interest in his son's life and allowed him complete freedom.

According to Charley on page 71, Bernard succeeded more than Biff or Happy in life, and Charley's parenting style was acceptable. Bernard's success was due to his inherent virtues rather than his concern for looks and popularity, unlike the Loman brothers' upbringing. Willy emphasized the importance of being "well-liked" to his sons.

Despite being a stubborn parent, Willy lied to everyone around him, including his entire family. He imposed his expectations on his sons and wanted them to become successful businessmen, completely disregarding who they truly are as individuals.

Despite Willy's frequent travels during the boys' youth, they held him in high regard and looked up to him whenever he returned home. This made Willy feel valued and content, but the truth was that he didn't really know his sons, and they didn't know the real Willy Loman either. Growing up without their father around meant that their needs were not always fulfilled, leading to an inaccurate perception of their father and future letdowns and misinterpretations.

Despite being father and sons, the two boys and their father have poor communication. Although Charley's fathering skills are not extensively portrayed in the play, we can infer from Bernard's character that he was supportive, nurturing, and devoted. Charley raised his son in a manner he deemed appropriate and did not impose high standards on him. He allowed his son to be authentic. Accordingly, Willy and Charley exhibit marked distinctions as fathers, husbands, and companions.

Despite Willy being a disappointment to those around him, Charley remains a loyal friend with

unlimited tolerance. Willy's behavior has not only affected his sons, but also his wife who tries her best to conceal her unhappiness.

Despite his disappointment in himself and his perception of his sons as failures, Willy's love for them is infinite. Although he may not be the ideal father, he becomes deeply moved when he misinterprets Biff's tears and believes they stem from a deep, loving bond between father and son. Unlike Willy, Charley prioritizes loyalty, honesty, and being there for others over displays of affection. He eschews dishonesty or pretense in order to present himself exactly as he is to everyone, including his son.

In my opinion, the main contrast between Charley and Willy is that Willy possesses excessive pride and fears revealing his true self to his sons. Instead, he chooses to live a life of deceit in hopes that his sons will achieve greater success. Additionally, Willy frequently second-guesses his approach to parenting and seeks advice from his deceased brother in flashbacks, asking, "Ben how should I teach them?" (Willy, pg. 35). Charley, on the other hand, prioritizes his son's ability to thrive independently by emphasizing the significance of education in achieving success.

Demonstrating good work ethic and honesty to others, he sets a positive example for his son. Moreover, in contrast to Willy, he possesses superior prioritization skills.