Death of A Salesman: Question 4 pg. 41-50

[Liv]

Dear God,
please let my post work:)

Question: What information do we receive about Willy's family and his
childhood in this scene?

In this scene, background is given on Willy's own childhood and family
relations and it helps shed some light on his parenting techniques
with his own kids. The scene begins with Willy playing cards with his
brother Charley, and there is a fair amount of banter between the
two. Then Willy has one of his flashbacks and replays the time he met
his brother Ben for the first time in years. During this encounter,
readers discover the Willy's father left when he was still an infant
to go to Alaska. His oldest brother, Ben, left for Africa, in search
of his father, when Willy was only 3 or 4. This proves that Willy
lacked a father figure-- a male role model-- in his life, and probably
made him struggle in growing up and becoming a man. He also is unsure
that he is raising his own boys properly, as a result of his own
improper upbringing. He looks for consolation in Ben "Because
sometimes I'm afraid that I'm not teaching them the right kind of--
Ben, how should I teach them?" (Miller 52). Willy's childhood was
irregular and resulted in his attitude towards his own kids, pushing
them to achieve the ultimate American Dream.