AP Lang "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller Plot

What is the basic premise of Death of a Salesman?

Willy Loman, an aging salesman, struggles with the gap between his dreams and his disappointing reality as he loses his job, his grip on sanity, and his sense of worth.

When and where is the play set?

Late 1940s, primarily in the Loman family home in Brooklyn, New York, with scenes that blend the present and Willy's memories.

How does the play begin?

Willy returns home late at night, exhausted from a failed business trip, and confides in Linda that he couldn't keep his mind on driving.

What early signs of Willy's instability appear?

He contradicts himself constantly, talks to himself, and drifts into memories as if they were happening in the present.

How does Linda respond to Willy's exhaustion?

She comforts him and urges him to ask his boss for a non-traveling job, showing her deep care and worry.

What is revealed about Biff early in Act I?

Biff has returned home aimless and jobless after years of drifting; he feels lost and frustrated by his lack of success.

What is revealed about Happy early in Act I?

Happy is superficially successful in business but lives a shallow life, chasing women and approval like his father.

What tension exists between Willy and Biff in Act I?

Willy believes Biff is lazy and a failure, while Biff resents Willy's unrealistic expectations and constant criticism.

What does Willy reveal about his philosophy of success?

He insists that being "well-liked" is the key to success, not hard work or skill, reflecting his misguided belief in charm over substance.

What happens during Willy's first major flashback?

He remembers when Biff and Happy were teenagers and he was proud of Biff's athletic success, imagining great things for him.

How does Bernard appear in the first flashback?

Bernard warns Biff to study for math or he'll fail, but Willy dismisses him as "liked but not well liked," showing his disdain for practicality.

Who is "The Woman" in Willy's memories?

She is a woman Willy had an affair with while traveling for work, representing guilt and betrayal.

What does the scene with The Woman reveal about Willy's character?

It shows his moral weakness and how he uses charm to feel important, while betraying Linda's trust.

How does Willy's mood shift after the flashback?

He becomes angry and confused, lashing out at Linda and Biff as his guilt and frustration resurface.

What is Linda's response to Willy's erratic behavior?

She defends him, tells the boys he's been borrowing money to cover bills, and reveals he has been attempting suicide.

How does Biff react to learning about Willy's suicide attempts?

He is shocked and emotional, realizing his father's desperation but still conflicted about his feelings toward him.

What plan do Biff and Happy come up with at the end of Act I?

They decide to go into business together selling sporting goods — the "Loman Brothers," a dream meant to give Willy hope.

How does Willy react to the boys' business idea?

He becomes joyful and excited, convinced that Biff will finally be successful and restore his pride.

What happens in the restaurant scene in Act II?

Biff and Happy meet Willy for dinner, but Biff tries to tell the truth — that he didn't get a business deal — while Willy refuses to listen.

Why is the restaurant scene a major turning point?

It marks the complete collapse of the family's illusions; Biff confronts reality while Willy retreats deeper into fantasy.

What memory interrupts the restaurant scene?

Willy relives the Boston hotel room where Biff discovered him with The Woman, destroying their relationship forever.

Why is the Boston flashback so important?

It reveals the source of Biff's disillusionment and explains why he gave up on success — he lost respect for his father.

What happens when Willy is left alone in the restaurant?

Happy abandons him to chase women, and Willy is humiliated and emotionally shattered, talking to imaginary figures.

What does Biff do when he returns home after the restaurant?

He confronts Willy, telling him they have lived in lies and that he's just a "common man," not destined for greatness.

How does Willy react to Biff's confrontation?

He misinterprets Biff's tears as love and validation, convincing himself Biff still believes in him.

What decision does Willy make at the end of Act II?

He decides to kill himself in a car crash so that Biff can collect the life insurance money and achieve success.

What does Willy imagine before his death?

He talks to Ben in his mind, fantasizing that his death will make Biff love and admire him.

How does the play portray Willy's death?

He drives off in his car in an implied suicide, leaving the audience with a sense of pity and tragic irony.

What happens in the Requiem?

The family and Charley attend Willy's small funeral; no business associates show up, proving how empty his dream was.

What does Charley say in his eulogy?

He defends Willy, saying that "a salesman has got to dream" — recognizing that illusion is part of the profession.

How does Biff interpret his father's death?

He realizes Willy "had the wrong dreams" and vows to live truthfully, rejecting his father's false ideals.

How does Happy interpret his father's death?

He refuses to accept the truth and declares he'll continue Willy's dream to prove him right.

What does Linda say at the end of the play?

Standing at Willy's grave, she repeats "We're free… we're free," mourning that they are finally debt-free but emotionally ruined.

What is the emotional tone of the Requiem?

Somber and ironic; it exposes the emptiness of Willy's dream and the quiet tragedy of Linda's devotion.

What is the dramatic irony of the play's ending?

Willy's suicide meant to secure success only leaves grief and emptiness — the dream destroys rather than redeems.

What recurring structure does Miller use to tell the story?

Alternating present scenes with dreamlike memories to blur time and reflect Willy's psychological breakdown.

What is the climax of the play?

The confrontation between Biff and Willy in the final act, when Biff tells the truth about their lives and rejects the illusion of greatness.

What does Biff's final realization represent?

Self-awareness and freedom — he understands that truth and honesty matter more than success or wealth.

What does Willy's final action represent symbolically?

The death of the salesman ideal — his identity tied to work and reputation leads to his destruction.

How does Miller use the house as a setting throughout the play?

It begins as a symbol of aspiration and ends as a prison, boxed in by apartment buildings and failed dreams.

What role do flashbacks play in the narrative?

They reveal Willy's memories, regrets, and self-deceptions, showing how his past choices shape his downfall.

How does the play use sound and music?

The flute motif recalls Willy's father and symbolizes nostalgia, while music shifts to match Willy's emotional state.

What does the play suggest about time and memory?

The past constantly invades the present, showing how Willy lives trapped in his own illusions rather than reality.

What event from Biff's past defines his present life?

Catching Willy with The Woman in Boston — shattering his idealized image of his father and his belief in success.

How is Linda's role in the plot significant?

She anchors the family emotionally, defending Willy but also enabling his illusions out of love and loyalty.

How does the plot structure reflect tragedy?

It follows Willy's rise in hope and fall into despair, ending with death and an ironic sense of moral truth.

What is the play's resolution?

Biff gains insight and emotional honesty, while Willy's death reveals the hollowness of his dreams.

How does Arthur Miller create tension throughout the play?

Through dialogue, fragmented memories, and the pressure of Willy's expectations on his sons.

How does the plot critique the American Dream?

It shows how chasing material success and social approval leads to alienation, failure, and emotional collapse.

How does the play's non-linear plot affect its meaning?

It blurs reality and illusion, allowing Miller to explore Willy's inner world and the psychological roots of his tragedy.

What moment provides catharsis for the audience?

Biff's final confrontation and recognition of truth — offering release from the lies driving the story.

Why does the play end with ambiguity?

Because even after Willy's death, illusion persists through Happy — showing how the cycle of false dreams continues.

What is the overall message of the plot?

That self-deception and blind faith in the American Dream destroy personal identity, family, and happiness.