Bernard questions Willy about what happened when Biff went to visit him. Bernard says Biff changed right after high school when he visited Willy in Boston.
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Willy and Bernard discuss Biff and consider possible reasons for his lack of motivation and success. Willy's daydream ends when he arrives at Charley's office.īernard is waiting for Charley in his office. Willy recalls Charley pretending he is unaware of Biff's game, and this infuriates Willy. Willy shifts from his memory of Ben to Biff's last football game. He accepts, but Linda intervenes and reminds him of Dave Singleman. He remembers Ben offering him a job in Alaska. This time, Willy asks for advice because things are not going as he planned. Upon being fired, Willy begins freefalling into his memories of the past. Howard remains impassive and instead fires him. Willy reminds Howard that he named him, and he was a very successful salesman when he worked for Howard's father. During the meeting, Howard informs Willy that there are no positions available in New York. The next morning Willy prepares to visit his boss Howard to ask him for a job in New York. Biff removes the rubber tubing Willy hid behind the heater. Before Linda and Willy go to bed, Linda questions Willy: She wants to know what Biff is holding against him, but Willy refuses to answer. When Happy describes Biff's plan to open his own business, Willy directs Biff on what to do during his interview with Bill Oliver. Willy overhears his wife and sons talking, and he and Biff argue. He also tells Linda that Willy is a "fake." It is at this point that Linda informs her sons that Willy is suicidal.
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Biff decides to stay in New York, but he reminds Linda that Willy threw him out of the house. Linda criticizes her sons for abandoning their father in order to pursue their own selfish desires, and she gives Biff a choice: Respect your father or do not come home. Biff and Happy learn that Willy is on straight commission and has been borrowing money from Charley in order to pay bills. The play once again returns to the present, in which Biff and Happy talk with Linda about Willy. Willy also remembers instructing Biff and Happy to steal some supplies from the construction site in order to remodel the porch so that he can impress Ben. After Charley leaves, Willy relives Ben's visit and asks Ben for advice because he feels insecure since he did not really know his own father. As a result, Willy becomes confused by the two different "discussions" he is having - one in the present, one in the past - and he accuses Charley of cheating. However, Uncle Ben appears to Willy while he is playing cards with Charley, and Willy relives an old conversation with Ben while simultaneously talking with Charley. The play continues in the present with his neighbor Charley coming over to play cards. He is unable to separate memories of Linda from the Woman. While he is reliving his conversation with Linda, he begins to remember his conversation with the Woman (a woman with whom he had an affair). At this point, Willy's memories begin to blend together. Willy recalls complaining about his appearance and remembers Linda assuring him that he is attractive.
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Willy remembers a conversation with Linda in which he inflates his earnings but is then forced to admit he exaggerated when Linda calculates his commission. In this last scene, Willy listens but dismisses the important news because Biff is "well-liked," and Bernard is not. Finally in his reverie, he relives the time that Bernard, son of the next-door neighbor Charley, informs Willy that Biff is failing math and will not graduate unless his scores improve. Willy also remembers his old dream of the boys visiting him in Boston during a road trip. They contemplate buying a ranch and working together.Īt this point, Willy relives several scenes from his past, including the time when, during high school, Biff admits to stealing a football and promises to throw a pass for Willy during the game. Both are dissatisfied with their jobs: Biff is discontent working for someone else, and Happy cannot be promoted until the merchandise manager dies. Biff and Happy discuss women and the future. Biff learns that Willy is usually talking to him (Biff) during these private reveries. Linda and Willy argue about their oldest son Biff.īiff and his brother, Happy, overhear Willy talking to himself. His wife, Linda, suggests that he request a job in New York rather than travel each week. Willy is having difficulty remembering events, as well as distinguishing the present from his memories of the past.
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The action begins in the home of Willy Loman, an aging salesman who has just returned from a road trip. Death of a Salesman takes place in New York and Boston.