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    Death of A Salesman Summary

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    zyrenne03.oyando
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    Death of A Salesman Summary

    Uploaded by

    zyrenne03.oyando
    5 views2 pages
    english

    Original Title

    Death-of-a-Salesman-Summary

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    english

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    5 views2 pages

    Death of A Salesman Summary

    Uploaded by

    zyrenne03.oyando
    english

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    "Death of a Salesman" (Arthur Miller)

    "Death of a Salesman" takes place in New York and Boston. The action begins in the
    Loman’s home.

    Willy Loman returned from a business trip. He realized that he shouldn’t be driving
    because he experienced nearly crashing multiple times. Linda noticed that Willy is no
    longer able to do his job so she suggested asking his boss, Howard Wagner, to give
    him a local office job near New York.

    Biff has just returned home from working as a ranch hand in the West. Later that
    night, Willy starts having flashbacks and talking to imagined images as if they were
    real people. He’s ranting so loudly that Happy and Biff wake up. The brothers are
    worried, as they have never seen their father like this. Biff’s feeling is to stay longer to
    fix his relationship with his dad. He decides to talk to Bill Oliver about getting a loan
    to start a business.

    In the middle of the night, Willy is talking to himself so loudly that everyone wakes up.
    Linda admits to her sons that she and Willy are struggling financially. Worse, Willy
    has been attempting suicide. Linda is worried so she discusses this with the boys.
    Willy gets into the family discussion. Willy and Biff begin to argue, but Happy
    interjects that Biff plans to see Oliver the following morning. Everyone goes to sleep
    believing that tomorrow will fulfill their dreams.

    The next day, everything goes wrong. Willy feels happy and confident as he meets with
    his boss, Howard. But rather than give him a transfer to the New York office, Willy
    ends up fired. Destroyed by the news, he begins to hallucinate and speak with
    imaginary people as he heads out to meet his sons at a restaurant.

    On the other hand, Biff also has bad news. While waiting for their father in a
    restaurant, Biff explains to Happy that Bill Oliver wouldn’t see him and didn’t have the
    slightest idea who he was. When Willy arrives at the restaurant, he demands to hear
    good news; however, Biff struggles to tell the truth and lets his father down. Willy, who
    can’t handle the disappointment, tries to pretend it isn’t true. He starts drifting into
    the dreamy past again, reliving the moment when Biff discovers his affair with a
    woman in Boston. While their dad is busy being detached from reality, Biff and Happy
    ditch him for two girls. Biff and Happy return home from their dates to find their
    mother waiting for them, fuming mad that they left their father at the restaurant. A
    massive argument begins. Biff manages to get the point across that he can’t live up to
    his dad’s unrealistic expectations and is basically just a failure.

    That night’s fight ends with Willy realizing that Biff, although a failure, seems to really
    love him. He thinks the greatest contribution that he can make toward his son’s
    success is to commit suicide. That way, Biff could use the life insurance money to
    start a business. Within a few minutes, they heard a loud crash. Willy has killed
    himself.
    Questions:

    1. What suggestion does Linda make to Willy regarding his job after noticing his
    inability to perform?

    2. Why does Biff decide to talk to Bill Oliver about getting a loan?

    3. What happens during Willy's meeting with his boss, Howard, that devastates him?

    4. Why does Biff struggle to tell Willy the truth about his meeting with Bill Oliver?

    5. How does the story end for Willy Loman? Why does he decide that way?

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