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Death of a Salesman
Plot Overview -
Exposition
Willy comes home early from his work trip because he is too exhuasted to do his job or even drive without dozing off. His sons Biff and Happy are back home as well. It is also revealed that Willie talks to hallucinations of his brother and others. -
Conflict
Willie is struggling to make ends meet, and is also dissappointed with his eldest son Biff for not being as successful as he thought he should be, and the sons are informed by their mother, Linda, that that Willie has been having suicuidal thoughts. -
Rising Action
Willy tries talking to his boss about a work relocation so that he doesn't have to travel so far anymore,but ends up getting fired, Biff agrees to talk to his former boss,but he gets nowhere. Williy's delusion of the American dream for his son Biff returns and plans to commit sucide for his son Biff to get ahead. -
Turning Point
Willy commits suicide, by driving his car into a tree, in order for his son Biff to collect the insurace money and start up his own business. -
Falling Action
The Loman's mourn the death of Willy, and although Biff had promised and planned out his successful life, he starts having second thoughts as to whether or not he is choosing the right life, or if he is simply appeling to his father's dream. -
Resolution (Part)
Shortly before Willy's Death, Biff states "I stopped, and in the middle of that building and I saw the sky. I saw the things that I love in this world. The work and the food and the time to sit and smoke. And I looked at the pen and said to myself, what the hell am I grabbing this for? Why am I trying to become what I don't want to be? What am I doing in an office, making a contemptuous, begging fool of myself, when all I want is out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am!" -
Resolution (Part 1)
Linda is surprised at the lack of people at Willy's funeral, which symbolizes not just the physical death of Willy the salesman, but also the mataphorical death of a salesman who has no friends, nor does he have a happy fulfilling life. -
Resolution (Part 3)
In this way, there is another death of a salesman, in that Biff ended the dream of his father Willy for Biff to be a salesman as Willy was.
