Charley says something in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman that summarizes Willy's whole life. He asks him, "When the heck are you going to grow up?" He exhibits many childlike qualities. He thinks he is a great man that is popular and successful. His two sons Biff and Happy pick up this behavior from their father. He is idealistic, stubborn, and he has a false sense of his importance in the world. As a child he had high ideals and high hopes. He always thought he could be successful. He never lets go of his wasted life. He dreamed of being the man who does all of his business out of his house and dying a rich and successful man. He also dreams of moving to Alaska where he could work with his hands and be a real man. Biff and Happy follow in their father's footsteps in their large dreams and unrealistic goals. Biff wastes his life being a thief and a loner. Biff, along with Happy try to come up with a crazy idea of putting on a sporting goods exhibition. The problem with Willy is that he never grows up and deals with his obstacles. He is also a very stubborn man. He is like a little child that wants to do something their way even though they know that another option would be a better choice. Charley practically sets a potential job into Willy's lap and he refuses it. Willy just was fired and needed a job. He refuses one. Willy is too stubborn to let go of his old job and take a new one. He still believes that he is at the top of his profession. When Willy does not get his way he acts just as a child would. He has tantrums such as when he basically challenged Charley to a fight after he told him to grow up. Biff is also stubborn like his father. He never gives up being a child. He steals and lies. Biff cannot handle being ignored, so he steals a pen. During the whole story, Willy brags about himself, calling himself a great salesman. He says that he is known everywhere. When his funeral is to occur, Willy believed that it would be a major event, but only a few people attended his funeral.
