SUMMARY OF DEATH OF A SALESMAN
The play opens with the soft sound of a flute, setting a calm yet melancholy mood. Willy Loman, an aging traveling salesman, returns home exhausted and disoriented after a long and stressful day, having narrowly avoided an accident on the road. His wife, Linda, is worried about him, and their conversation soon turns to the return of their eldest son, Biff.
Willy is happy that Biff is home but also deeply disappointed in him. He once believed Biff would become a successful businessman and bring pride to the family. However, Biff has been unable to find stability, moving from one job to another without clear direction. Willy hopes to persuade him to go into business and finally achieve success.
Happy, the younger son, also dreams of success, but he spends most of his time chasing women and living irresponsibly. Both sons have failed to live up to Willy’s expectations, which frustrates and saddens him.
Willy often drifts into memories and daydreams about the past, especially moments when he felt proud of his sons. He clings to the belief that being well-liked and attractive is the key to success. In reality, his sales career is failing, and he struggles to pay his bills. He envies his neighbor Charley, who is prosperous and often offers Willy money and advice. However, Willy’s pride prevents him from accepting help, and he feels insulted even by Charley’s kindness.
The pressure of failure, disappointment in his children, and his misguided faith in the “American Dream” gradually destroy Willy’s mental stability. He begins to hallucinate and holds imaginary conversations with his deceased brother, Ben, who symbolizes wealth and adventure. Convinced that he can no longer succeed in life, Willy comes to believe that he can at least provide for his family through death.
In the tragic conclusion, Willy takes his own life so that his family can collect his life insurance money. He convinces himself this act will finally make him a hero in Biff’s eyes and bring his family the success he could not achieve while alive. Sadly, Willy’s suicide only reveals the depth of his despair and delusion. Instead of proving his worth, it underscores how he was trapped by pride and unrealistic dreams.