Death of a salesman synopsis
ACT I
As the play opens, Willy Loman, a man in his early sixties, is returning home from a sales trip. He is exhausted after an unsuccessful attempt to drive to his first appointment. His wife Linda, alarmed at his early return worries about his health and makes excuses for his inability to drive. In the face of her concern, Willy confesses that he cannot concentrate. He is having strange thoughts. These thoughts will plaque him throughout the play. They are recollections of the past.
At Linda is urging, Willy agrees to ask Howard Wagner, his boss, to give him a position in the New York office. During Linda and Willy's conversation, their sons, Happy and Biff, are getting reacquainted. Happy, the younger of the two, has a job and his own apartment. He is confident, easygoing and sensual. Biff, who is his father's favourite, has had 20 or 30 jobs since high school. He is lost and troubled. His inability to settle down confuses Willy and has caused tension between father and son.
Downstairs, Willy recalls the past, half to himself and half aloud. Willy idolized Biff, he took such pride in Biff's athletic achievements that he frequently ignored Happy's need for attention and overlooked Biff's weaknesses -- his failure in math, his theft of the basketballs, and his cheating. Willy even justifies Biff's bad behaviour when Linda and Bernard, the boy next door, criticize him.
Willy's reminiscences are interrupted by the sound of a woman laughing. The woman is never named, but her presence is felt several times during the play. Weaving between the present and the past, Willy speaks of his loneliness and his inability to get ahead. The voice of the other woman flatters Willy from the past, while Linda, unaware of Willy's daydream, tries to reassure him.
ACT I
As the play opens, Willy Loman, a man in his early sixties, is returning home from a sales trip. He is exhausted after an unsuccessful attempt to drive to his first appointment. His wife Linda, alarmed at his early return worries about his health and makes excuses for his inability to drive. In the face of her concern, Willy confesses that he cannot concentrate. He is having strange thoughts. These thoughts will plaque him throughout the play. They are recollections of the past.
At Linda is urging, Willy agrees to ask Howard Wagner, his boss, to give him a position in the New York office. During Linda and Willy's conversation, their sons, Happy and Biff, are getting reacquainted. Happy, the younger of the two, has a job and his own apartment. He is confident, easygoing and sensual. Biff, who is his father's favourite, has had 20 or 30 jobs since high school. He is lost and troubled. His inability to settle down confuses Willy and has caused tension between father and son.
Downstairs, Willy recalls the past, half to himself and half aloud. Willy idolized Biff, he took such pride in Biff's athletic achievements that he frequently ignored Happy's need for attention and overlooked Biff's weaknesses -- his failure in math, his theft of the basketballs, and his cheating. Willy even justifies Biff's bad behaviour when Linda and Bernard, the boy next door, criticize him.
Willy's reminiscences are interrupted by the sound of a woman laughing. The woman is never named, but her presence is felt several times during the play. Weaving between the present and the past, Willy speaks of his loneliness and his inability to get ahead. The voice of the other woman flatters Willy from the past, while Linda, unaware of Willy's daydream, tries to reassure him.
