Biff seems to be undergoing a change in the beginning of the second act. He is starting to grow up and piece his life together so he can help his father in his mentally handicapped state. I think Willy's expectations of his son are a little bit too high. After all, he puts all of his hopes into Biff getting a job. So what happens if Biff doesn't come through? Willy always thinks about the way he wished his life turned out, imagining his kids' success and helping him in his time of need. I think that these expectations are what is killing him, as his desire for things out of his reach is hurting him inside and making him not want to live.
The family's bills are piling up, and after Willy is fired and Biff's proposal is rejected, there is no income to pay the bills.
It's somewhat confusing when Willy has flashbacks and memories of the old days, as they mix right in with the scene without any real defining factors. But it is getting easier to tell when the author is using the present and when he's using past events. Right after Willy was fired, he has a flashback of the day his brother asked him to go to Alaska with him. He turned him his offer down because he wanted to earn a living as a salesman. I think he looks back with regret, as now his brother is a successful man leading a luxurious life, while Willy is now unemployed and has no way to support his family.
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