Death of a Salesman

Plot- 

The Play starts with us seeing Willy come home, we find out that Willy's sons Biff and Happy who are grown men have come home. Willy has high Hopes for his son Biff but throughout the dream we realize that his dreams are not what Biff wants. Willy is downstairs and starts having one of his many flashbacks and is talking to himself so loudly it wakes up the others. At this point Linda Willy's wife explains to her son's that they are having trouble with money. Willy joins the real conversation and starts to fight with Biff. Happy tells his father that Biff plans to see a man named Oliver to get a loan making Willy very happy and ending the fight. Willy goes to see his boss the next morning to see about not having to travel as much anymore because of his age but everything goes wrong for Willy and he ends up getting fired instead. After being fired Willy goes to his neighbors work and asks to borrow money where we find out that he has been borrowing money for a long time. his neighbor offers him a job but Willy is to proud to take it. Biff went to go see Oliver but things didn't go as planned for him either. Oliver wouldn't see him and Biff out of anger ended up stealing his pen. He tells this to Happy as they wait for their dad in a restaurant Happy tries to talk him out of telling their father. But he does tell Willy the truth and Willy tries to deny it's true and fades into another flash back and the boys leave him there at the restaurant by himself, running off with two girls. In Willy's flashback we find out that Biff found out that Willy had cheated on his Linda. When they get home Linda is really up set about what they had done. This evokes a huge fight where Biff finally tells everyone he can't live up to his fathers expectations. Biff starts to cry in his fathers lap and Willy is surprised by his emotions and realizes that Biff really does love him and is not trying to spite him. In the end Willy kills himself by crashing his car. At his funeral nobody is there and Linda wonders why because Willy was always going on about how well liked he was and how it was important to be well like. the play closes with Linda telling him that she finished the house payments and that they are finally free. 

Significant Quotes-

"And when I saw that, I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?" 

This is an Important quote because a major importance for Willy is to be well liked even though his thoughts are diluted and he is not much well liked anymore and is not making enough money.

Characters- 

Linda- Mother of Biff and Happy wife to Willy, he thinks Willy is a wonderful man and deserves a better job and better from his son's.

Willy- Father to Biff and Happy and husband of Linda's also is going a little crazy. Has flashbacks about better days when he is up set. Is a salesman and thinks its the best job in the world. Has dreams for Biff of being super successful but also has suicidal thoughts.

Biff- Son of Willy and Linda's thinks he cannot live up to his fathers expectations or just does not want to. Mad at Willy for pushing these dreams on him and also for cheating on his mother.

Happy- Brother of Biff's son to Willy and Linda. Has the same kind of mind as his father in that he will be successful and well liked one day.

Charley- Willy's next door Neighbor and is in a way Willy's foil. He owns a successful company and is giving Willy money and even offers him a job.

Bernard- Charley's son and is a foil to Biff. He is the successful son going off and doing work his father can be proud of.

Ben- Willy's Brother and is the kind of successful rich man Willy wishes he could be. Willy looks up to him and want to go off with him to work and become rich.

Theme-

One theme of this book is 'The American Dream' and how Willy is always pushing his dream onto his son Biff. Willy's impression of the American dream is to be well liked, attractive and to be successful and wealthy. He thinks that hard work will give you success but in a way his obsession with the American dream is what takes it away from him.

Setting-

1940's, in Brooklyn visiting places like Boston or New York.

Symbols-

Seeds- symbolized the failure of Willy to be a good father and a good worker and put food on the table.

Rubber Hose- symbolized his death and his suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

Stockings- Willy's need to be able to provide for his wife and kids. Also that he cheated on Linda.