Amanda Knapp
Biff's history of stealing is a significant aspect of his character in the play. As a teenager, Biff stole a carton of basketballs, and later in life, he continued to steal, including a football from the school locker room and a suit, for which he went to jail. Biff's stealing reflects his struggle for order and his contradictory desires. It also underscores his character's corruption and Willy's failures as a father. While Willy initially disapproves of Biff's theft, he eventually defends his son, reinforcing the idea that it is acceptable to break the rules to get ahead.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stole basketballs from | Bill Oliver |
| Age when he stole basketballs | Teenager |
| Other things he stole | Football, lumber, a suit |
| Reason for stealing the football | To practice for the Ebbet's Field game |
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What You'll Learn
Biff stole a carton of basketballs as a teenager
Biff's history of stealing dates back to his teenage years when he stole a carton of basketballs. This incident reflects Biff's struggle for order and direction in his life. He steals the basketballs to practice and improve his skills, with the ultimate goal of impressing his father, Willy. However, his method is misguided and leads to confusion and disorder in his life.
Biff's stealing continues beyond this incident, as he later steals a football from the school locker room without the coach's permission. This act of theft is initially disapproved of by Willy, who instructs Biff to return the ball. However, Willy eventually defends Biff's actions, praising his "initiative". This contradictory response from Willy reinforces the idea that rule-breaking is acceptable to get ahead in life.
Biff's theft of the basketballs as a teenager is not an isolated event, as he also stole grades in school by cheating and collaborated with his brother Happy to steal lumber for their father's project. Biff's stealing habits continue into adulthood, where he steals a suit and serves jail time in Kansas City. Biff eventually acknowledges his thievery, admitting that he stole himself out of every good job opportunity since high school.
Biff's stealing habits are not without consequences, and they underscore his character's corruption and Willy's failures as a father. Biff's actions also reveal his conflicting emotions and instability, stemming from his desire to please his father and his resentment towards him. Despite his dissatisfaction with his job and future prospects, Biff struggles to find contentment and direction in his life.
In conclusion, Biff's theft of a carton of basketballs as a teenager is a significant event that sets a precedent for his future actions and reflects his complex relationship with his father and his own inner turmoil.
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He stole from Bill Oliver, an acquaintance
Biff's habit of stealing is well-documented in "Death of a Salesman". As a teenager, he stole a carton of basketballs from Bill Oliver, an acquaintance. This theft is particularly noteworthy as it is one of the first instances of Biff's stealing, and it sets the tone for his future behaviour.
Biff's stealing continues into adulthood, with another notable instance being when he steals a football from the school locker room without the coach's permission. This time, the theft is justified by Willy, Biff's father, who praises his son's "initiative". This approval further encourages Biff's stealing habits and creates a sense of confusion and disorder in his life.
Biff's inability to hold a steady job is also linked to his stealing habits. He acknowledges this himself, stating that he "stole [himself] out of every good job since high school". This suggests that Biff's stealing has had significant negative consequences on his life and may be a contributing factor to his dissatisfaction and instability.
The character's stealing habit is not isolated to material objects. Biff also steals grades in school by cheating and getting answers from Bernard. This further underscores the corruption of his character and his willingness to break the rules to get ahead.
Overall, Biff's stealing of the basketballs from Bill Oliver is significant as it is one of the first indications of the character's moral corruption and sets a precedent for his future behaviour and struggles.
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Biff stole a football from the school locker room
Biff's history of stealing dates back to his teenage years, when he stole a carton of basketballs. However, the incident in question here is Biff stealing a football from the school locker room. This incident is depicted in Scene 3, which takes place entirely in the past and is one of Willy's cherished memories. In the scene, Willy is in the kitchen drinking a glass of milk, while the action he observes is in the past.
Willy, Biff, and Happy are polishing an old 1928 Chevy, and Willy surprises them with a punching bag. Happy mentions losing weight and asks Willy if he has noticed. Biff then shows Willy his new football and admits that he stole it from the school locker room without the coach's knowledge or permission. Willy initially disapproves and instructs Biff to return the ball. However, he eventually defends Biff's action and praises his "initiative."
Biff's motivation for stealing the football is revealed to be his desire to please his father, Willy. Biff is nervous about an upcoming football game but promises to make a touchdown for Willy, even though he has been instructed to pass the ball. Willy is excited at the thought of telling everyone in Boston about the game. This incident reflects the tension between Biff and Happy, as well as Biff's own struggle for order within his life. Willy's contradictory response to Biff's theft contributes to further confusion and disorder in Biff's life.
Biff's habit of stealing continues into his adult life and is mentioned in Scene 2, where he expresses dissatisfaction with his job and future prospects. He contemplates asking Bill Oliver for financial support but is hesitant because he stole basketballs from him as a teenager. Biff's inability to hold a steady job and his habit of stealing highlight the corruption of his character and Willy's failures as a father.
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He stole lumber with his brother, Happy
Biff's habit of stealing underscores the corruption of his character and his father Willy's failures as a parent. Biff stole a carton of basketballs as a teenager, an act that his brother Happy reminds him of when he returns home, dissatisfied with his job and future prospects. Biff also stole a football from the school locker room, an act that his father Willy initially disapproves of but later praises as showing "initiative". Biff's thievery continued into adulthood, with him stealing a suit and going to jail for three months in Kansas City.
Biff's stealing is not an isolated incident, as he also stole lumber with his brother Happy. They brought home valuable lumber, worth "all kinds of money", to help their father Willy rebuild the front porch of their house. Willy was pleased with his sons, but their neighbour Charley warned them that if they stole any more lumber, the watchman would involve the police. This incident is another example of Biff's tendency to break the rules, a trait that is reflected in his stealing of the football and basketballs.
Happy, Biff's brother, is also dissatisfied with his lifestyle, despite having obtained all the material things he desires, such as an apartment, a car, and a seemingly endless supply of women. Happy targets women connected to his superiors and ruins these relationships, forcing disorder into the order of his superiors. This behaviour is similar to Biff's, who also disrupts order through his stealing.
The stealing of the lumber by Biff and Happy is a significant event in the play, as it showcases the brothers' willingness to break the rules and their disregard for authority. This incident also highlights the complex family dynamics at play, with Willy's approval of his sons' actions despite the potential consequences, reflecting his failure as a parent to instill moral values in his children.
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Biff stole a suit and went to jail in Kansas City
In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman", Biff goes to jail for stealing a suit in Kansas City. This incident is revealed when Biff confesses to his parents, explaining his absence and inability to hold down a job. Biff's stealing of the suit is symbolic of his character and personal struggles. It represents his lack of stability, his need to keep up appearances, and his passive-aggressive way of dealing with his father's high expectations.
Biff's thievery began in his teenage years, when he stole a football, and continued into adulthood. He attributes his failure to maintain a job and his inability to live up to his father's expectations to his stealing. Biff's justification for his actions is that he was never taught right from wrong, or the difference between illusion and reality. He believes the world owes him something, and stealing is his way of taking it.
The suit theft is significant as it leads to Biff's incarceration. He spends three months in jail, during which he is out of touch with his family. This period of imprisonment is a turning point in Biff's life, forcing him to confront the consequences of his actions and the reality of his situation.
Biff's stealing of the suit and subsequent jail time in Kansas City is a pivotal moment in the play, revealing his character flaws, his strained relationship with his father, and the underlying themes of moral decay, societal expectations, and personal failures within the Loman family.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Biff stole a carton of basketballs when he was in high school.
Biff stole a football from the school locker room. He also stole lumber with his brother Happy, and cheated in school by stealing grades.
Biff's stealing continued into adulthood, and he went to jail for three months in Kansas City for stealing a suit. He acknowledges his stealing habit, telling his father: "I stole myself out of every good job since high school!"
