Each social role carries expected behaviors called norms. Think of how many roles you play daily, e.g., son, daughter, sister, brother, student, worker, friend, etc. These lines capture the essence of social roles. They have their exits, and their entrances Īnd one man in his time plays many parts. With each social role you adopt, your behavior changes to fit the expectations both you and others have of that role.Īnd all the men and women merely players: Social roles are the part people play as members of a social group. In this sense, they serve a functional role that validates their existence and persistence. Social roles can contribute to societal stability by creating predictable behaviors and interactions. They are crucial in shaping individual behavior, identity, and social dynamics. Social roles help structure interactions within groups, providing a framework for understanding what is expected of individuals in various contexts. These roles come with rights, responsibilities, expectations, and social norms.Įxamples include roles based on family (e.g., parent, sibling), occupation (e.g., teacher, doctor), or societal functions (e.g., leader, citizen). Social roles refer to the behavior patterns expected of individuals in different situations and settings based on their specific position within a social unit. One way these expectations become apparent is when we look at the roles people play in society. Social roles emphasize the duties and behaviors attached to a specific position, and social norms dictate broader behavioral guidelines within a community or group. Such expectations can vary from group to group. Each social situation entails a particular set of expectations about the “proper” way to behave. We do not expect people to behave randomly but in certain ways in particular situations. Since he acknowledges that he, too, is a “fake,” Biff can no longer hold a grudge against Willy.There are many ways that people can influence our behavior, but perhaps one of the most important is that the presence of others seems to set up expectations Ironically, Biff reconciles with Willy almost immediately following this statement. Once Biff states that “We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house,” he severs himself from Willy because he openly refuses to live by Willy’s philosophy any longer. Biff is relieved once he realizes who he is and what he wants, as opposed to who Willy thinks he should be and who Biff needs to pretend to be in order to please him. It is only when he confronts Oliver that Biff realizes how wrong he was.īiff is different from Willy because he does finally accept and embrace the fact that he has been living a lie all of his life. For example, Biff truly believes he was a salesman for Oliver, rather than a shipping clerk.

It is true that Biff is not a womanizer like his brother Happy, but he has incorporated Willy’s tendency to exaggerate and manipulate reality in his favor. And as a result, he cannot change the fact that his father has inevitably affected him. Instead, Biff despises his father and everything he represents.īiff’s problem lies in the fact that, even though he does not want to associate with Willy, he cannot change the fact that he is his son. Biff considers Willy to be a “fake,” and he no longer believes in, or goes along with, Willy’s grand fantasies of success. Once he learns that Willy is having an affair, Biff rejects Willy and his philosophy. For example, instead of disciplining Biff for stealing the football, Willy praised his initiative.īiff’s perception of Willy as the ideal father is destroyed after Biff’s trip to Boston. It is not surprising that Biff’s penchant for stealing continued throughout his adult life because Willy encouraged Biff’s “little thefts” while he was growing up. As a result, Biff grew up believing that he was not bound by social rules or expectations because Willy did not have to abide by them, nor did Willy expect Biff to. He believed his father’s stories and accepted his father’s philosophy that a person will be successful, provided that he is “well-liked.” Biff never questioned Willy, even when it was obvious that Willy was breaking the rules. Prior to his Boston trip, Biff adored Willy. Whenever Willy is unable to accept the present, he retreats to the past, and Biff is usually there. He drives Willy’s actions and thoughts, particularly his memories, throughout the play.

Biff loman and social norms