tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375071335679640824.post3579084532784718983..comments2023-10-11T06:26:01.345-07:00Comments on American Literature After 1945 Fall 2014: The Importance of Being LikedAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15859084138187073439noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375071335679640824.post-8772562243560837962014-09-01T20:17:14.325-07:002014-09-01T20:17:14.325-07:00Cory,
Thank you for reminding us about Bernard! H...Cory,<br />Thank you for reminding us about Bernard! He makes for an interesting comparison to Biff much as Ben does for Willy. What path should Biff (and Willy for that matter) have followed?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859084138187073439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375071335679640824.post-52928321188655362852014-08-31T21:59:36.636-07:002014-08-31T21:59:36.636-07:00I agree, look where Bernard's hard work brough...I agree, look where Bernard's hard work brought him. It is very unfortunate that Willy wasn't more successful. He worked so hard for little credit. In todays world, "who you know" is very important but without the proper education it won't bring you far. It is sad that Willy let the idea of riches get in the way of his children's success.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10225089575546063096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375071335679640824.post-34735113387435647072014-08-30T20:23:51.625-07:002014-08-30T20:23:51.625-07:00I'm really glad someone brought up this point....I'm really glad someone brought up this point. Willy always describes people's quality based on how liked people are, Charley, Bernard, etc. "He's liked, but not well liked" is a phrase Willy uses to describe people a few times throughout the play, and is constantly using how well liked he is to reassure himself that he's something special to both himself and the world around him. He thinks it will impress people and that everyone judges success based on the same criteria.smithz1994https://www.blogger.com/profile/00521128997105411654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4375071335679640824.post-77243682755029852772014-08-30T12:31:00.367-07:002014-08-30T12:31:00.367-07:00I'm glad you brought up Bernard! Bernard is f...I'm glad you brought up Bernard! Bernard is funny because he's essentially used by Willy and Biff to further Biff's career in high school. They deem his intellect and work ethic as less important than Biff's chance to succeed. Bernard's school work could have suffered but they didn't care about that because he was a puny nerd. Fast forward to adult Bernard, the guy who has studied, applied himself and worked hard his whole life - he's not doing what they would consider work because it's all at a desk, it's not "manly" and yet he's happily married with a second son on the way. He's successful at work and seems as happy as one could be. Bernard is a great example of maybe not exactly what Biff (or Happy) could have been, but another path, when Willy makes it sounds like there's only one option. Maria Torontohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00696620781165132644noreply@blogger.com