Death of a Salesman Summary
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Here you will find a Death of a Salesman summary (Arthur Miller's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters Death of a Salesman Summary Overview
In the backdrop of a soft flute melody, a weary traveling salesman, Willy Loman, drags himself back to his Brooklyn home after an unsuccessful business journey. His wife, Linda, suggests that he request his employer, Howard Wagner, to assign him work in New York to avoid further travel. Willy plans to speak with Howard the following day. Frustrated with their elder son Biff's lack of success, Willy voices his concerns. Linda however, defends Biff and criticizes Willy's harsh judgement. Although Biff and his younger brother Happy, who is also visiting, are dissatisfied with their lives, they dream of buying a ranch in the west. Meanwhile, Willy slips into a daydream, lavishing praises on his young sons and sharing his ambitious plan to start a business that would outshine his neighbor Charley's. At one point, Linda joins the daydream, and they discuss Willy's recent business trip, which was not as successful as Willy initially boasts. Willy worries about the mounting bills and confesses his struggles with popularity and efficiency at work. Linda comforts him, but Willy gets distracted by the laughter of his mistress, leading him into another daydream. When the mistress leaves, Willy returns to his earlier daydream in the kitchen, where Linda reassures him. However, Willy criticizes Linda's mending work and demands she discard the stockings. When their older son, Happy, tries to calm Willy, an agitated Willy expresses regret about not joining his brother Ben in Alaska, who had found a diamond mine in Africa and became wealthy. Charley, alarmed by the loud argument, steps in, and an argument ensues. In the present, a weary Linda finds Willy outside. Biff and Happy discuss Willy's condition with their mother, who reprimands Biff for his harsh judgment of Willy. Linda reveals that Willy has attempted suicide, unsettling Happy. Biff accuses Willy of being a fraud, but refuses to elaborate. Happy and Biff propose a joint venture in the sporting goods industry. The idea invigorates Willy, who provides Biff with advice about securing a loan. After a series of arguments and reconciliations, everyone retires for the night. The following day, Willy resolves to convince Howard to give him a New York-based job. Despite his high hopes, Howard rejects Willy's proposition and asks him to take a break. In his solitude, Willy imagines an interaction with his brother, who invites him to Alaska. However, Willy's wife and young son bring him back to reality. The story unfolds with more tension and disagreements among the characters, and Linda's final words echo through the stage, "We're free. . . .", as she breaks down in tears at the end.
act 1 part 1
The drama opens in the Loman's Brooklyn residence on a Monday evening. The entrance of sixty-three-year-old sales representative, Willy Loman, is marked by subtle lighting alterations and soft flute music, a recurring motif linked to his vague recollection of his father, a former flute-maker and salesman. Willy comes home early from a work trip, seemingly tired. Linda, his wife, questions if he had a car mishap, referencing a previous incident when he carelessly drove into a river. Dismissing her concerns, Willy discloses he was repeatedly zoning out while driving, at one point nearly hitting a child. Linda suggests he request a stationary job in New York from his boss, Howard Wagner. Their adult sons, Biff and Happy, are in town. Earlier, Willy had reproached Biff for opting for physical work on farms and horse ranches in the West, a disagreement that remains unresolved. Willy dismisses Biff, his thirty-four-year-old son, as an idle individual, only to later contradict himself by defending him. This contradictory behavior is a recurring pattern in his dialogues with Linda. Willy's loud chatter rouses his sons who guess he might've had another mishap. Linda retires to bed as Willy heads to the kitchen for a snack. Happy and Biff reminisce about their youthful days. Happy, although younger than Biff, is more self-assured and prosperous, while Biff appears weary and puzzled. Happy expresses concern over Willy's habit of talking to himself, usually about his disappointment in Biff's lack of steadiness. Biff, who has been drifting between jobs since high school, feels he's squandered his life. He grapples with the mismatch between his reality and the values Willy instilled in him. Happy, although holding a secure job in New York, finds no fulfilment in his work. He and Biff briefly dream of moving West, but Happy still harbors ambitions of becoming an important executive. He takes bribes and sleeps with his superiors' partners in an attempt to ascend the corporate hierarchy from his current role as a subordinate to an assistant buyer. Biff intends to request former employer, Bill Oliver, for a loan to purchase a ranch. He recalls Oliver's high opinion of him and his generous offer to help him. Biff wonders whether Oliver remembers an incident when he allegedly stole a box of basketballs from his store. Happy supports Biff, asserting his popularity - a significant determinant of success by the Loman's standards. The brothers are disheartened when they overhear Willy talking to himself downstairs and try to sleep.
act 1 part 2
Willy is immersed in past recollections. His sons' youth springs to life as young Biff and Happy clean their father's car. Biff discloses to Willy that he "borrowed" a football for practice, which amuses Willy. Happy seeks his father's attention, but Willy's favoritism towards Biff is clear. Willy hints at plans for a business bigger than his prosperous neighbor Uncle Charley's, claiming his own popularity as an advantage. Charley's son, Bernard, arrives urging Biff to study math to avoid flunking and derailing his graduation. Willy instructs Biff to study, but Biff distracts him with a University of Virginia logo he printed on his shoes. Bernard warns that the emblem doesn't guarantee graduation. After Bernard departs, Willy questions if Bernard is popular, with the boys confirming he is, but not as much as them. Willy assures Biff and Happy that despite Bernard's academic success, their popularity will lead to greater business achievement. Remaining in his reverie from a decade and a half ago, Willy boasts about making $1200 that week in sales to Linda. However, she calculates his actual commission as just over $200. Willy then downplays his claim, admitting it was only $200 gross, with a $70 profit barely covering their bills. In a brief spell of clarity and self-reflection, Willy laments his lack of progress, feeling people don't like him. Linda reassures him of his success. Willy bemoans his excessive talkativeness and humor, attributing Charley's respect to his quiet demeanor. His envy towards Charley is strikingly evident. Willy believes people ridicule him for being overweight; he even once hit a man for mocking his size. As Linda comforts him, calling him the most handsome man, Willy praises her as his most trusted companion. As he expresses his longing for her when he's away, the sound of The Woman's laughter fills the darkness.
act 1 part 3
The Woman, who is both Willy's mistress and his buyer's secretary, features in Willy's daydream. They are in a hotel room where she commends his sense of humor and kindness. Willy appreciates this adulation. She expresses gratitude for the stockings he gifted her and assures him she will facilitate his meetings with the buyers. As Willy's daydream ends, he finds Linda mending stockings which angers him due to his pride. It is later revealed he has been buying new stockings for The Woman instead of Linda. Bernard comes to the Loman house, urging Biff to study. Willy instructs Bernard to share the test answers with Biff but Bernard declines, stating it's against the rules. Bernard also asks Biff to return a stolen football. Linda shares that some mothers find Biff too rough with their daughters. Willy, upset by his son's shortcomings, shouts at everyone causing Bernard to leave and Linda to retreat tearfully. Willy mourns the missed opportunity of joining his brother, Ben, in Alaska. Ben had discovered a diamond mine in Africa and made a fortune by the time he was 21. Charley, alerted by the shouts, checks on Willy and they play cards. Charley offers Willy a job but Willy takes offence. When Charley shows interest in the ceiling Willy installed, Willy accuses him of being less of a man due to his lack of handyman skills. Ben appears in a semi-daydream and Willy informs Charley about Ben's death. Willy oscillates in conversation between Charley and his deceased brother. Willy gets angry when Charley wins a game causing Charley to leave, disturbed by Willy's behavior. Willy eventually delves into a memory of his brother visiting. Ben and Willy had been deserted by their father when they were young. Ben tried to find their father in Alaska but failed. When Willy asks, Ben shares stories about their grandfather with young Biff and Happy. Their father used to sell flutes he made and eventually joined a gold rush in Alaska. Ben playfully wrestles young Biff to the ground and waves his umbrella menacingly. Despite Willy's pleas, Ben leaves to catch his train.
act 1 part 4
Loud noises from Willy rouse Linda and Biff, who catch him outside in his nightwear. Biff questions Linda about Willy's self-talk duration, and Happy soon joins them. Linda reveals that Willy's mental strain is due to losing his regular pay, now working strictly on commission. She is aware that Willy borrows fifty dollars weekly from Charley, feigning it as his income. Linda accuses Biff and Happy of being unappreciative, labeling Happy as a "womanizing slacker." Biff, feeling guilty and angry, proposes to stay home and find employment to aid with financial needs. Linda tells him he can't constantly quarrel with Willy. She discloses that his car incidents are in fact botched suicide attempts. She also discovered a rubber hose near the fuse box and a fresh nipple on the gas pipe of the water heater, indicating Willy's attempt at self-asphyxiation. Willy eavesdrops on Biff, Happy, and Linda's argument about him. When Biff tries to cheer him up with a joke, Willy misconstrues and believes Biff is labeling him insane. They squabble, but Willy insists he's a significant figure in the sales industry. Happy brings up Biff's idea to approach Bill Oliver for a business loan, which excites Willy. Happy suggests a marketing campaign for selling sports equipment; this business concept, involving the brothers using their athletic prowess to lead promotional sports events, is named the "Florida idea." Everyone supports the notion of Happy and Biff starting a business together. Willy starts dispensing questionable and not so useful advice for Biff's loan interview. He oscillates between telling Biff to avoid humor and encouraging him to share amusing anecdotes. Linda attempts to give support, but Willy repeatedly tells her to stay silent. He instructs Biff not to pick up anything dropped from Oliver's desk as it's a menial task. Before bed, Linda pleads with Willy again to request a stationary job from his employer. Biff removes the rubber hose from the fuse box before heading to sleep.
act 2 part 1
Willy wakes up the next day to realize that Biff and Happy have headed out. Biff is off to see Bill Oliver and Happy is pondering over the "Florida idea" before heading to work. Willy is cheerful and wants to plant seeds in their yard, and when Linda tells him there isn't enough sunlight, he suggests moving to a country house. Linda reminds him to ask his boss, Howard, for a local job and an advance to cover their insurance payment. She also tells him about a dinner planned by Biff and Happy at Frank's Chop House. Just before Willy leaves, he sees Linda mending a stocking and, feeling guilty about his past affair, asks her to discard it. Willy hesitantly walks into Howard's office, where Howard is busy with a new wire recorder. Despite Willy's attempts to strike up a conversation, Howard brushes him off. Willy asks for a local job, but Howard denies having any openings. Willy, desperate, keeps lowering his salary request, but to no avail. Howard treats him dismissively, calling him "kid" and taking a superior tone, despite Willy reminding him of their past connection. Willy then talks about Dave Singleman, an old salesman who could make sales from his hotel room. His funeral was attended by hundreds of salesmen and buyers. This tale had inspired Willy to become a salesman himself, instead of joining his brother, Ben, in Alaska. Willy mourns the lost camaraderie in sales. Howard, visibly uninterested, leaves and returns only when Willy accidentally triggers the wire recorder, causing him to shout. Howard, fed up, fires Willy, suggesting he could return after a rest period. He implies that Willy should ask his sons (whom he assumes are successful) for help. The thought of depending on his children horrifies Willy, and he struggles to accept his termination.
act 2 part 2
Willy gets lost in old memories after Howard leaves, recalling a time when his brother Ben asked him to manage some timberland in Alaska. Linda, rather wary of Ben, insists that Willy has a great job already. Despite Willy's efforts to get some praise from Ben, he leaves. Young Bernard arrives, eager to join the Lomans at a football match. There's a bit of a tussle about who gets to carry Biff's helmet but eventually Happy lets Bernard carry the shoulder pads. Charley teases Willy about his overzealous focus on the football game, causing Willy to get angry. In the present, Bernard now an adult, sits in his father’s office. His father's secretary, Jenny, requests that he deal with Willy. Willy, still engrossed in his memories, is arguing with the unseen past version of Charley about Biff's football game. Bernard tries to talk to Willy, telling him about a case he's arguing in Washington, D.C. Willy tells Bernard about Biff's big deal in town, but breaks down, questioning why Biff's life took a downturn after his football game. Bernard reveals that Biff failed math, had planned to attend summer school, but changed his mind after visiting Willy in Boston. This leads to a heated conversation about Biff's changed attitude. Willy angrily wonders if Bernard blames him for Biff's failure. Bernard’s departure is interrupted by Charley who proudly mentions that Bernard is arguing a case at the Supreme Court, leaving Willy feeling a mix of envy and pride. Charley, in his office, gets ready to give Willy fifty dollars. Struggling, Willy asks for more to cover his insurance costs. Charley reminds him of a standing job offer that he had refused and scolds Willy for being ungrateful. Willy again declines the job, claiming he already has one, even though Charley points out that Willy isn’t earning. Willy finally admits that he was fired, causing Charley to express disbelief and outrage. Charley tells Willy that he needs to reevaluate his ideas about success and what it means to be well-liked. Despite their argument, Charley gives Willy the money, and a tearful Willy leaves his office.
act 2 part 3
Happy enjoys a playful conversation with the waiter, Stanley, and flirts with an attractive woman named Miss Forsythe. When Biff joins them, Happy introduces Miss Forsythe to him as a successful champagne salesman and a renowned football player, respectively. Miss Forsythe, who is likely a sex worker, agrees to join them after cancelling her prior plans and calling a friend to accompany her. Biff reveals to Happy that his meeting with Oliver was a failure, Oliver didn't even remember him. He admits to stealing Oliver's fountain pen and laments how Willy's lies had fooled him into believing he was a salesman, while he was merely a shipping clerk. Happy suggests to Biff to lie to Willy about the meeting with Oliver, to protect their father’s feelings. When Willy joins them, he unveils that he's lost his job and yearns for good news. Biff tries to tell him the truth, but Willy reacts defensively, blaming Biff's failures on his bad math skills. Biff attempts to persist with the truth but when Willy refuses to listen, he starts to recall a past incident involving Biff, himself and another woman in a Boston hotel. Biff yields and starts to lie to comfort his panicking father. Miss Forsythe returns with her friend, Letta. Willy, infuriated at Biff's "disrespect," lashes out at his son's explanations and the futility of going back to Oliver. He retreats to the restroom, talking to himself. Happy, embarrassed, tells the women that Willy isn't their father. Biff chastises Happy for his lack of concern for their father before storming out of the restaurant, wracked with guilt. An agitated Happy asks Stanley for the bill, then chases after Biff, leaving Willy alone in the restroom.
act 2 part 4
After his sons leave Frank's Chop House, Willy is consumed by a memory of a younger Biff visiting him in Boston. He's in a dreamlike state, reliving a night spent with his mistress in a hotel room. Biff is outside the room, persistently knocking after failing to reach him by phone. The mistress, dressing, encourages Willy to open the door. She makes playful remarks and suggests she could expedite his business dealings during his next Boston trip. Willy, anxious about the unexpected visitor, finally agrees to her pleas to open the door. He instructs her to stay silent in the bathroom, fearing an intrusive hotel worker might discover their affair. Willy opens the door to Biff, who confesses his failure in math and requests his father's help in persuading his teacher, Mr. Birnbaum, to pass him. Willy promises to handle the matter, but upon hearing Biff mimic his teacher's lisp, the mistress can't help laughing from the bathroom. She emerges in a negligee and Willy quickly ushers her into the hallway. He tries to pass her off as a business acquaintance who needed to use his bathroom. Biff doesn't believe his father's deception and accuses him of giving away his mother's stockings to the mistress. Devastated, Biff declares he won't retake the math test or go to college, declaring his father a fraud. He leaves, with Willy calling after him in despair. Willy is snapped back to reality by Stanley, the waiter at the restaurant. He finds Willy on his knees pleading with the imagined young Biff to return. Stanley tells Willy his sons are gone and tries to return Willy's tip discreetly. Willy, rushing off, asks for directions to a seed store, explaining his urgent need to plant seeds as he has "nothing in the ground."
act 2 part 5
Late at night, Biff and Happy come home with roses for their mother, Linda, who is angry and tells them to leave. Happy insists their father enjoyed dinner, but Linda accuses them of deserting their ill father at the restaurant. Biff admits the truth while Happy denies it, but ultimately, Biff agrees with his mother, calling himself the "scum of the earth." Linda reveals that Willy is outside planting a garden in the dark. Out in the yard, Willy talks to Ben about a guaranteed $20,000 deal. Ben cautions Willy that the insurance might not be honored. Willy, contemplating suicide, is confident that his family will receive his life insurance payout. Biff tells Willy he's leaving for good and wants Willy to forget about him. Willy responds with anger, accusing Biff of wasting his life and blaming him for his failures. Biff admits that he's been fired from every job since high school due to theft and that he was in jail for stealing a suit. He criticizes Willy and the family for constantly lying and exaggerating their success. He also exposes Happy's false claim of being an assistant buyer. Biff insists on acknowledging their true selves and states that they're both ordinary. After breaking down in tears, Biff heads to bed. Willy, observing Biff's emotional state, believes his son must love him. Linda and Happy assure Willy that Biff loves him. Everyone goes to bed except Willy, who stays up thinking that Biff could succeed with $20,000. He finds himself alone as Ben leaves. Linda calls for him from upstairs, but he doesn't respond. Biff and Happy hear the car start and drive off.
requiem
With much dismay and confusion, Linda finds that only Willy’s family, Charley, and Bernard turn up at Willy's funeral. She questions the absence of his business friends and struggles to comprehend his suicide, especially when they were about to clear all their debts. Biff remembers Willy's joy when doing housework, contrasting it with his unhappiness as a salesman. He maintains that Willy chased the wrong dreams and failed to truly understand himself - an understanding that Biff now possesses. Charley counters, asserting a salesman's need to dream lest he lose himself, attributing his relentless optimism to his ceaseless dreams of self-promotion. Biff’s remarks increasingly irritate Happy, leading to his decision to remain in the city and fulfill his father’s dream of becoming a successful businessman, confident he can still “triumph over this game.” Linda asks to be alone. She tells Willy about the final house payment. Her inability to shed tears for him, makes her feel like he is just “on another journey.” She breaks down, repeating, “We’re free. . . .” Biff assists her and everyone departs. The flute tune plays as the tall buildings around the Loman house come into view.
