Throughout the play, Biff is portrayed as a
kleptomaniac who began stealing various items as a child and was never punished for his actions.
In one of Willy's memory scenes, Biff steals a football from the school locker room. Instead of
reprimanding Biff for stealing the football, Willy says that the coach will probably
congratulate Biff for his initiative. Willy also encourages his sons to steal at a young age.
Throughout the memory scene, Willy brags to Ben how he sent Biff and Happy to steal sand and
lumber from a nearby apartment building.
Before Biff meets with his former
boss, Biff tells Happy that he wonders if Mr. Oliver remembers that he stole a carton of
basketballs. After a failed attempt to ask Mr. Oliver for a business loan, Biff steals Mr.
Oliver's fountain pen from his desk. Towards the end of the play, Biff attempts to expose Willy
to the reality of their situation. Biff openly admits to Willy that he was arrested for stealing
a suit in Kansas. Biff then tells his father, "I stole myself out of every good job since
high school!" (Miller, 98).
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