The play “The Death of a Salesman” and Tim Burton’s film “Big Fish” both delve into the intricate bond between fathers and sons. In “The Death of a Salesman,” the main character is tricked by his own aspirations, resulting in his sorrowful downfall. Nonetheless, his son Biff acknowledges that he is better suited for physical work rather than enduring misery as a salesman, just like his father. Likewise, in “Big Fish,” Will, the protagonist’s son, comes to terms with and embraces his father as he truly is, including his inclination to embellish stories.
The main contrast between Biff Loman and Will Bloom lies in their acceptance or rejection of their father’s legacy. Biff made efforts to transform his father and expose the truth, whereas Will embraced his father’s occupation as a storyteller. Biff struggled to change his father’s ways, ultimately discovering that his own life was built on falsehoods. Conversely, Will embraced the inheritance left by his father. Ultimately, both men grappled with their fathers’ beliefs and values before meeting tragic ends in their respective stories.
The remarkable differences between the two protagonists are evident. In the end of the novel, Biff confronts Will and confesses about his life being a lie. Biff persists in trying to change his father’s perspective, longing for his father to grasp the truth. On the other hand, Will discusses with his father about what his funeral will entail and exaggerates, mirroring his father’s habit of fabricating stories. Through this experience, Will appreciates the value of exaggeration and comes to accept that it is not necessarily a negative trait. Will gains a more positive perception of his father, while Biff’s relentless actions compel their father to face the futile reality.
Biff comes to the realization that his life is a failure and he has nothing to demonstrate for it. Likewise, Will acknowledges the fact that his life is dull. During a conversation with Willy, Biff mentions the saying “a dime a dozen” and realizes that they are insignificant and that this is entirely ordinary. When the doctor informs Will about his birth, it lacks the excitement his father had when telling him the story.
