Death Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller Plot Summary

The stage drama Death of a Salesman was written by American writer Arthur Miller in 1949. In February 1949, the play had its Broadway debut and ran for 742 performances. The two-act tragedy takes place in late 1940s Brooklyn and is recounted through a montage of the protagonist Willy Loman's memories, nightmares, and conflicts.

The American Dream, the nature of truth, and infidelity are just a few of the issues the drama touches on. Both the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play was given to this play. One of the best plays of the 20th century, according to several reviewers.

Characters

• William "Willy" Loman: The titular salesman. Never is it made clear what he is selling. He has self-delusions, is 63 years old, and is unstable. Throughout the performance, he shifts back and forth between various stages of his life and imagines them as if they were happening right now.
  Willy looks like a youngster because of his advanced age and failing mental health. This youthful quality is reflected in his first name, Willy, which also has the ring of the question "Will he?"
• Linda Loman: Faithful and devoted wife of Willy. Although she appears to be well informed about what is happening, Linda is sympathetic and compliant when Willy expresses irrational aspirations for the future. Despite Willy's mistreatment of her, she chastises her sons?especially Biff?for failing to assist their father. She also supports Willy. At the start of the play, she is the first to notice that Willy is thinking of ending his life.
• Biff Loman: Eldest son of Willy. When Biff spotted Willy with another lady, he dropped out of summer school. Biff was a high school football standout with potential. He struggles with the decision of whether to go home and try to live up to Willy's ambition of seeing him succeed as a businessman or to ignore his father and move to the West to work as a farmhand, where he is happier. Even if the evidence is bogus, Biff steals because he needs proof of his achievement.
• Harold "Happy" Loman: Younger son of Willy. Despite having to live in the shadow of his bigger brother Biff, he nevertheless tries to support his family. He leads a restless existence as a womaniser and aspires to rise in his work. He accepts bribes from clients. Though he longs for it, he rarely receives his parents' approval. He makes up details to attract attention, such as informing his parents that he is engaged. His connection with Linda is tumultuous; she disapproves of his way of life.
• Charley: Witty but benevolent neighbour of Willy. Despite Willy's mistreatment of him, he routinely gives him money loans and plays cards with him. His son is more successful than Willy's, which makes Willy envious of him. Willy consistently rejects Charley's job offers.
• Bernard: Child of Charley. He appears in Willy's memories as a nerd who Willy makes answer test questions for Biff. The success that Willy seeks for his sons is achieved by him later in life when he is a married, successful lawyer, and the father of a second son.
• Ben: Diamond magnate and Willy's deceased older brother. Even though Willy is long dead, he frequently hears from him when he hallucinates. He is portrayed as visiting the Lomans' home while on business trips to share stories, representing Willy's vision of the success story of the American Dream.
• Howard Wagner: Willy's superior. Willy, who used to work for Frank, Howard's father, claimed to have suggested the name Howard for Frank's infant son. Despite all the years Willy has contributed to the company, he terminates him because he believes Willy to be a liability. Howard is incredibly proud of his family and his fortune, which is evident in his new wire recorder.
• Miss Forsythe: A female Happy pick up from the restaurant. She claims to have appeared on multiple magazines covers and is quite attractive. Happy tells her lies so that she will believe that he and Biff are significant figures in the world.

Detailed Summary

Act I

Start of Death of a Salesman takes place in Willy Loman's house. After his most recent sales trip, Willy is worn out when he gets home. He frets since he is having trouble remembering events and maintaining present-tense focus. He is reassured by his wife Linda that his symptoms are simply mental tiredness. Linda advises Willy to ask for a New York position rather than making weekly trips.

Willy is first hesitant to inform his boss Howard about his accomplishments since he feels like Howard does not value his contribution to the firm and could fail to pay attention to him, but Linda prods him to do so. In the morning, Willy chooses to speak with Howard. Concerning their son Biff, Willy and Linda fight. Biff is referred to by Willy as a "lazy bum," but Linda supports him by saying that he continues to try to "find himself." Then, in defiance of his earlier claim that Biff is lethargic, Willy decides to find Biff an opening as a salesman.

When Biff was a high school student, everyone looked up to him, and Willy finds himself drifting back into the past. He awakens from his daydream and reassures Linda that everything is great. He declares that he will stop debating Biff's work with him. When Linda recommends having a picnic lunch, Willy realises that he had been driving the 1928 Chevy versus the Studebaker the entire day.

The boys' bedroom is where Scene 2 opens. Biff and Happy, Willy's sons, overhear him. Happy informs Biff that Willy has started to talk to himself almost constantly. Happy claims that when Willy is in his private thoughts, Biff is generally the subject of conversation. The boys talk about the past and women.

Working on the farm is wonderful for Biff because he likes being outside, but he doesn't like working for other people. Biff aspires to purchase a ranch and run it with Happy. Although he considers asking Bill Oliver for financial assistance, he hesitates because he is concerned that Bill may recall that he once stole some basketballs from him.

Happy has everything he wants materially ? a flat, a car, and a seemingly endless supply of women ? but he is unhappy with his current lifestyle. He cannot be promoted until the merchandising manager departs or dies, and he realizes that if he is promoted, he will be too preoccupied with acquiring more money and material possessions to appreciate what he has.

Scene 3 goes back in time. Willy is in the kitchen, having a glass of milk, but the activity he witnesses is in the past. Willy guides Biff and Happy as they polish the antique 1928 Chevy. He also delights them with a punching bag. Happy remarks that he is losing weight and wonders if Willy has noticed. Biff shows Willy his new football and admits to stealing it from the school locker room. Willy is not pleased and orders Biff to return the ball.

Scene 4 is also set in the past and continues with Willy's reverie in the kitchen. Bernard walks in and asks Biff why he hasn't come over to study with him as scheduled. Bernard informs Willy that unless Biff begins studying for his exams, he will flunk maths and not graduate. Bernard is mocked by Willy and the boys. After Bernard has left, Willy criticizes him and promises that Biff and Happy will be more successful than Bernard because they both have attractive physical attributes.

Biff then tells Willy that Bernard is "liked, but not well-liked." Where Scene 4 left off, Scene 5 picks up in the past. Linda walks into the kitchen with a wash basket. Happy and his friends are waiting in the cellar when Biff tells them to help with the chores. Others clean the boiler room while others hang laundry. Willy and Linda are left alone and talk about his New England trip earnings.

Willy lies to Linda about his sales, saying he sold $1,200, but when Linda figures out his commission, Willy is forced to explain he actually only sold $200. Linda lists a number of expenses that total more than his $70 commission by about $50. Despite having praised the Chevy at the beginning of the scene, Willy grows irritated and refuses to pay for the carburetor because he believes the automobile to be worthless.

Willy and Linda's conversation in Scene 6 starts out. He continues talking to her in Scene 5 about how lonely and desperate he is. Willy occasionally experiences overwhelming worry that he won't ever be able to sell anything again. The Woman who was barely discernible in Scene 5 reappears and speaks to Willy as he is confessing his insecurities to Linda.

The Woman tells Willy that she picked him as her lover due to his sense of humor. She expresses gratitude to him for the stockings he bought her before they agree to meet up again the following time Willy is in Boston. Scene 7 continues the dialogue between Willy and Linda.

Although it technically "interrupted" her conversation with Willy, Linda is unaware of the dialogue exchange from Scene 6. She reiterates her observation from Scene 5 that Willy is a handsome man. Willy, on the other hand, is aware of the Woman from Scene 6, and in response to Linda's remark, he apologises apologetically and vows to "make it all up to you." When Willy sees Linda darning her stockings, he tells her to discard them.

The focus totally returns to the present in Scene 8. Happy descends and tries to walk Willy to bed. Willy explains to Happy that he returned home because he was having trouble driving and nearly hit someone in Yonkers. Willy remembers his affluent uncle Ben who made a living by mining diamonds. Willy laments not taking advantage of Ben's invitation to visit Alaska.

Scene 9 goes back in time. Ben finally introduces himself to Willy. Ben and Willy briefly discuss Ben's successful foray into African diamond mining while on their way to board a train. Willy implores Ben to share his father's story with the lads. Willy only has foggy memories of a campfire, a big man with a beard, and flute music. Ben talks about how their father traveled the country selling his handcrafted flutes and made huge sums of money. Ben and Biff start their bout.

Ben defeats Biff and advises him to take all means necessary?even if it means being unjust?when battling a stranger. Willy boasts that Brooklyn has all the elements of the great outdoors, including wildlife, tall trees, plenty of opportunities for hunting, etc. as Ben gets ready to leave. He then instructs the youngsters to grab some sand from the building site of the apartment complex. Willy gives them the task of remodelling the porch so they may show off their construction abilities.

Scene 10 returns to the current time. When Linda goes in search of Willy, she finds him outside chatting to himself. Willy inquires with Linda about the diamond watch fob that Ben gave him when he paid a visit. Linda kindly reminds him that he pawned it more than a decade ago to cover a Biff class. Willy murmurs to himself about Ben and then strolls outside in his pajamas.

When Willy gets back from his walk, he overhears some people calling him "crazy," while others are just making fun of him. When Happy tells Willy that Biff is going to speak with Bill Oliver, Willy gets pleased. Biff talks about his desire to start his own company. Happy suggests starting a company called the Loman Line, which sells sporting items, with Biff.

Willy will end the day on a happy note if Linda instructs Biff to say goodnight to him. To buy some new ties, Biff borrows money from Happy. Biff is instructed by Happy to cohabitate with him at his flat. Willy gets upset when Linda tells him the shower needs to be fixed.

Bill Oliver will, Willy assures Linda, remember Biff despite Linda's concerns. Willy recalls a football game played by Biff. When Linda asks Willy what Biff knows about the history that he is using against him, Willy declines to say. Biff locates the heater's rubber tubing downstairs and takes it out.

Act II

Act II starts the following morning. After Biff and Happy have left, Linda makes Willy breakfast. To opening the sporting goods line, Biff has gone to Bill Oliver to borrow money. Willy is delighted and certain that Biff will succeed in getting the money and achieving success at last. Willy is positive Howard will offer him a position in New York since he believes things is improving.

Willy arrives at the workplace with the goal of approaching Howard about a job in New York. Willy learns about Howard's new recorder from him, and he shows Willy how it works. Howard persuades Howard to be hesitant until Willy brings up the Christmas party and Howard's pledge to, if possible, provide Willy with a position in town.

According to Howard, there are currently no openings. Willy begs Howard for a job repeatedly, each time offering less money, but Howard swears there are no openings. As Scene 3 moves into the past, Howard's office vanishes. On his trip to Alaska, Ben approaches Willy. Because things are not going as he had hoped, Willy asks Ben for advice.

Willy accepts Ben's offer of a position managing his property in Alaska. Ben is subjected to Willy's efforts to persuade him that working as a salesperson is as noteworthy to living in Alaska. Even though they stay in Brooklyn, Willy is confident that he and the boys will achieve the same wealth and success as Ben.

In the past, Scene 4 continues. To see Biff play football at Ebbet's Field, Willy, Linda and Happy are getting ready to go. Happy and Bernard quarrel about who will carry Biff's football helmet as Willy frantically looks for the pennants. Willy needs a touchdown, so Biff wants to get one. It's Biff's game today, so Charley comes over and seems surprised. Willy gets upset by Charley's actions.

The time jumps to the present in Scene 5. When Willy enters Charley's office, Jenny, the secretary, hears him chatting to himself. Willy is still taking pleasure in his daydream from Scene 4. About Biff's upcoming football game & the touchdown which he has promised to score for Willy, Willy is making fun of someone.

Willy questions Bernard on how he was able to achieve such great success while Biff fared so poorly. After the game at Ebbet's Field, Biff's life, according to Willy, began to go downward. Willy is reminded by Bernard that Biff did not graduate because he failed maths. Bernard wonders why Biff skipped summer school. Willy doesn't know why he stayed home.

Scene 7 happens in a neighbourhood eatery. Happy engages in conversation with waiter Stanley, who is impressed by Happy's ability to foresee the arrival of attractive women. Happy makes sexual advances on Miss Forsythe, a young lady seated at the adjacent table. When Biff comes in, Happy lets him know that the girl is on duty. Happy tells her to locate a friend and cancel her appointment.

Even though the home is illuminated when Linda first comes, Scene 9 mostly takes place in the restaurant. Still seated at the table with Biff and Happy is Willy. Willy hears a hotel's receptionist calling his room. When the operator calls back, Willy replies that he is unavailable.

Scene 11 occurs at a residence. Due of the lads' neglect of Willy at the restaurant, Linda is enraged. They must leave the house, she commands. When Happy tries to give her flowers, she smears them all over the floor and tells him to clean it up. Linda stops Biff from speaking with Willy, despite his insistence. Willy is working in his garden outside.

Beginning in the backyard is Scene 12. While taking the garden's measurements and talking to himself, Willy. Ben comes in and talks about Willy's suicide strategy. Willy receives a warning from Ben that the insurance provider might decline to pay the life insurance coverage. Willy envisions Biff's response to a lavish burial.

Biff's response to Willy at the conclusion of Scene 13 overwhelms him. He is astounded by Biff's concern for him. Everyone retires to bed, but Willy stays up late since Ben has come back. Ben calls his attention to the $20,000 insurance plan. Willy is certain that if he kills himself to get the insurance, Biff will appreciate him even more. Willy leaves in a car. At Willy's grave, Linda, Biff, Happy, Charley, and Bernard assemble.