Death of a Salesman

Question

by Arthur Miller

BERNARD: Biff! (He gets away from Happy.) Listen, Biff, I heard Mr. Birnbaum say that if you don’t start studyin’ math he’s gonna flunk you, and you won’t graduate. I heard him!

WILLY: You better study with him, Biff. Go ahead now.

BERNARD: I heard him!

BIFF: Oh, Pop, you didn’t see my sneakers! (He holds up a foot for Willy to look at.)

WILLY: Hey, that’s a beautiful job of printing!

BERNARD (wiping his glasses): Just because he printed University of Virginia on his sneakers doesn’t mean they’ve got to graduate him. Uncle Willy!

WILLY (angrily): What’re you talking about? With scholarships to three universities they’re gonna flunk him?

BERNARD: But I heard Mr. Birnbaum say...

WILLY: Don’t be a pest, Bernard! (To his boys.) What an anemic!

BERNARD: Okay, I’m waiting for you in my house, Biff.

(Bernard goes off. The Lomans laugh.)

Excerpt(s) from DEATH OF A SALESMAN by Arthur Miller, copyright © 1949, renewed copyright © 1977 by Arthur Miller. Used by permission of Viking Books, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

What is one way that Bernard’s reaction to the situation could be analyzed when interpreting this passage from the play?

(1 point)
Responses

He believes that Willy is not being strict enough in disciplining Biff.
He believes that Willy is not being strict enough in disciplining Biff.

He understands the implications of what will happen if Biff does poorly in school.
He understands the implications of what will happen if Biff does poorly in school.

He does not understand the true relationship between hard work and success.
He does not understand the true relationship between hard work and success.

He lacks respect for Biff and for the other members of the Loman family.

Answer 1

One way that Bernard’s reaction to the situation could be analyzed is that he understands the implications of what will happen if Biff does poorly in school. Bernard's concern about Biff's academic performance and his awareness of the consequences, as he tries to convey Mr. Birnbaum’s warning to Biff, demonstrate his seriousness about education and the potential setbacks that could follow if Biff does not take his studies seriously. This highlights a contrast between Bernard's diligence and Biff's more carefree attitude, underscoring the themes of responsibility and the pressures of success in the play.