Every one of us is greatly influenced by our parents throughout our lives. Parents have a strong influence one's character and outlook on life. Unfortunately, this is not always a positive effect. In Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Willy is an unsuccessful salesman who enforces his idea that success is determined by being well liked and achieving the American dream. He wants his sons, Biff and Happy to become salesmen, just as he was. However, this way of life does not work out well for his sons, who struggle to get jobs and make money. Biff and Happy become discontent with their unsuccessful lives; however, while Biff is able to learn from his mistakes and realize his dreams, Happy continues to live by Willy's false ideas of success. Happy tries desperately to gain Willy's attention, while Biff is indifferent to having it. Furthermore, Happy is unable to recognize Willy's lies and deceit, whereas Biff can, Happy avoids conflict, unlike Biff who confronts it. These differences allow Biff's character to develop while Happy remains static. Happy and Biff differentiate themselves in terms of their effort in trying to please Willy. Happy desperately tries to follow in Willy's footsteps in order to impress him and gain the attention that was rarely given to him as a child. This characteristic disallows Happy's character to develop, which causes him to continue living by the same idea of success that causes him to be unsuccessful and unhappy. Happy demonstrates his willingness to be successful while he is talking to Biff about his job, "That’s what I dream about Biff. Sometimes I wanna just rip my clothes off in the middle of the store and outbox that goddamned merchandise manager" (Miller 24). Although Happy is discontent with his job, he continues to work there because it is the only way that he believe he can be seen as successful in his father's eyes. Likewise, when Happy and Biff are waiting for Willy at Frank's Chop house, Happy begins flirting with a girl, he tells her "Biff is the quarterback of the New York Giants" (Miller 102). This is another occasion when Happy lies to boost his self-esteem. This is a habit he develops from trying to impress Willy, causing him to loose track of reality, and resulting in his incapacity to change and to pursue his own dreams. On the contrary, Biff does not feel obligated to impress Willy because he feels as though he has let him down as a father. Biff tries to become a salesman to please Willy, but it doesn't work out in his favour. Unlike Happy, who exaggerates his accomplishments regarding his lack of success. Concerning his interview with Bill Oliver, Biff explains "How the hell did I ever get the idea I was a