"Death of a Salesman" Act I - Analysis

What Willy taught his children:
Willy Loman essentially instills in his children--Biff and Happy--the importance of outside appearance, of "personality winning the day." In one of Loman's flashback memories, when he is talking to his kids Biff and Happy, he says: "That's just what I mean. Bernard can get the best mark in school, y'understand, but when he gets out in the business world, y'understand, you are going to be five times ahead of him. That's why I thank Almighty God you're both built like Adonises. Because the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who cr…