Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Lecture notes of English Literature

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Arthur Miller’s

Death of a Salesman

Willy Loman

The main character in the

play, Willy develops a theory

involving personal

attractiveness and being

well-liked. He believes that if

a person is well-liked and

has a great deal of

attractiveness, he can easily

achieve success. Willy builds

his life around this illusion.

Thus, Willy spends

his life trying to

imitate this person.

He speaks of Dave

Singleman as a

legend and imagines

that his death must

have been

beautifully noble.

Willy begins to tell lies about how well-liked he is in all of his towns and how vital (important) he is to New England. At times Willy even believes these illusion and becomes so enthusiastic that he tells his family that he has made more money in commission (getting money according to the amount he sells).

Linda is Willy's long- suffering, devoted wife, who desperately loves her husband and resents the fact that his sons do not love and appreciate their father as much as she believes they should.

Linda Loman

Linda speaks carefully, and has a quiet manner that belies her inner strength. Linda has tremendous patience, and serves as the family peacemaker.