Pride Over Convenience

One relationship I found particularly interesting was that between the Loman family and Charlie's family. On the surface, the two neighbors appear to be closely nit. Bernard and Biff seem to be friends in class. However, Willy develops this underlying need to surpass Charlie. He reveals his dream to build a business bigger and more successful than Charlie’s. I believe this is the reason he refuses to take the job his neighbor offers him (even though he could really use the money). Willy is desperately grasping onto any self-pride he has left, because it seems his financial and social life is crumbling around him. Willy's zeal for competition with his neighbors could also explain his anger towards Biff's failing grade in math. Yes he wasn't happy about the F, but he seem particularly bothered by the fact that Bernard wasn't able to give Biff enough answers to pass the class. Perhaps Willy's pride and competitive nature blinded him from what could have been an economically and socially beneficial relationship.