Assignment: Write a monologue (at least 250 words--basically the equivalent of one typed, double-spaced, MLA format document) in which either Happy or Biff is describing what his father was like to one of their children who never met their grandfather.
Would Happy or Biff tell a child the truth? Or would they try to sugar coat the past? What actions would they emphasize? What actions would they de-emphasize?
If they recalled certain speech or mannerisms that characterized their father, what speech would they remember? Remember that memorable tagline from Forest Gump? Remember how that character is forever saying, "Mama always said, 'Life is like a box of chocolates..." Does Willy have any taglines?
Be sure to write this so that it is appropriate for a child. You choose the age. Remember, you're role-playing. Feel free to key into whatever thoughts and emotions you think are in keeping with Biff or Happy. Finally, you might consider that, often, when we tell people about those who are no longer on the earth, we do so as a means of paying tribute or damning that person.
By virtue of his words and actions, Willy taught his sons lessons about what it means to be a husband and father. He taught them about money. He taught them lessons about love and marriage and parenting. He taught them about the value of work. He defined success and failure. He taught them about the American Dream. Were these positive or negative lessons? Which of these lessons might Biff or Happy pass down to a son? Or daughter?
Concentrate on tone. Try to express feelings appropriate to the data you've gathered about either Biff or Happy and their relationship with their father. "Correctness" of this assignment depends upon your ability to refer to specifics in the play. However, you SHOULD NOT merely be providing plot summary. Instead, you're trying to internalize the events as they'd be seen through the eyes of this one character.
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