Character analysis in Death of a Salesman

1. Art Of Drama
ENG 245 R 1

2. Dramatic Elements To Be Considered:
• Setting • Plot/Rising Action
• Characters • Climax
• Motivation
(highest point of dramatic tension))
• Resolution
• Dialogue (how things are worked out)
• Theme
• Conflict
• Motif
(recurring thematic element)
• Symbols

3. In your group, prepare two presentations of each of
the following scenes. Consider the variation in the
dramatic elements for each presentation.
A. You’re late.
A: Hey.
B: Hello. B. I know. I couldn’t
A: Do you want a mint? help it.
B: No thanks.
A. I understand.
A: Sure.
B: Wait, why? B. I thought you would.
A: No special reason.
A. I have something to give
B: Oh. you.
A: Want one?
B. Really?
B: OK, thanks.
A: Thank you. A. Yes, this.

4. Death of A Salesman
By Arthur Miller
The First Great American Tragedy

6. • Painful conflicts within one family

7. • Painful conflicts within one family
• Larger issues involving American national
values.

8. • Painful conflicts within one family
• Larger issues involving American national
values.
• Blind faith in the American Dream

9. • Painful conflicts within one family
• Larger issues involving American national
values.
• Blind faith in the American Dream
• Myth constructed around capitalist materialism

10. Major Characters

11. Major Characters
Willy Loman:

12. Major Characters
Willy Loman:
•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.

13. Major Characters
Willy Loman:
•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.
•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of
economic success.

14. Major Characters
Willy Loman:
•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.
•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of
economic success.
•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.

15. Major Characters
Willy Loman:
•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.
•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of
economic success.
•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.
•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been
unsuccessful in their lives.

16. Major Characters
Willy Loman:
•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.
•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of
economic success.
•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.
•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been
unsuccessful in their lives.
•The tensions in Willy’s life have taken their toll. We see him as exhausted and out
of touch.

17. Major Characters
Willy Loman:
Lee J. Cobb
•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.
•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of
economic success.
•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.
•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been
unsuccessful in their lives.
•The tensions in Willy’s life have taken their toll. We see him as exhausted and out
of touch.

18. Major Characters
Willy Loman:
Lee J. Cobb Dustin Hoffman
•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman.
•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of
economic success.
•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.
•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been
unsuccessful in their lives.
•The tensions in Willy’s life have taken their toll. We see him as exhausted and out
of touch.

19. Major Characters
Willy Loman:
Lee J. Cobb Dustin Hoffman
•insecure, self-deluded traveling salesman. Brian Dennihy
•believes strongly that being well liked is the key to the American Dream of
economic success.
•At age 61, it is clear that Willy has not achieved the dream.
•He’s also disappointed in the fact that his sons, especially Biff, have been
unsuccessful in their lives.
•The tensions in Willy’s life have taken their toll. We see him as exhausted and out
of touch.

20. Linda Loman

21. Linda Loman
•Willy’s loyal and long suffering wife.

22. Linda Loman
•Willy’s loyal and long suffering wife.
•She has persevered through all of Willy’s
dreams and schemes.

23. Linda Loman
•Willy’s loyal and long suffering wife.
•She has persevered through all of Willy’s
dreams and schemes.
•Sometimes she buys-in but most often she
maintains a high sense of reality.

24. Linda Loman
•Willy’s loyal and long suffering wife.
•She has persevered through all of Willy’s
dreams and schemes.
•Sometimes she buys-in but most often she
maintains a high sense of reality.
•Throughout she is unconditional in her
love and support for her husband.

25. Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)
p. 10-12
“The way they boxed us in here.”
Scene 1
Willy returns home following an abbreviated
business trip to New England

26. Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)
p. 10-12
“The way they boxed us in here.”
Why has Willy returned home?
Scene 1
Willy returns home following an abbreviated
business trip to New England

27. Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)
p. 10-12
“The way they boxed us in here.”
Why has Willy returned home?
What are Willy’s inner conflicts?
Scene 1
Willy returns home following an abbreviated
business trip to New England

28. Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)
p. 10-12
“The way they boxed us in here.”
Why has Willy returned home?
What are Willy’s inner conflicts?
Why is Willy constantly longing for
the past?
Scene 1
Willy returns home following an abbreviated
business trip to New England

29. Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)
p. 10-12
“The way they boxed us in here.”
Why has Willy returned home?
What are Willy’s inner conflicts?
Why is Willy constantly longing for
the past?
Describe Willy’s relationship with
Scene 1
Linda?
Willy returns home following an abbreviated
business trip to New England

30. Willy ( Lee. J. Cobb)/ Linda (Mildred Dunnock)
p. 10-12
“The way they boxed us in here.”
Why has Willy returned home?
What are Willy’s inner conflicts?
Why is Willy constantly longing for
the past?
Describe Willy’s relationship with
Scene 1
Linda?
Willy returns home following an abbreviated
business trip to New England

31. Biff Loman

32. Biff Loman
•The Loman’s older son.

33. Biff Loman
•The Loman’s older son.
•High school star who didn’t live up to expectations.

34. Biff Loman
•The Loman’s older son.
•High school star who didn’t live up to expectations.
•Has been a victim of Willy’s over-expectation.

35. Biff Loman
•The Loman’s older son.
•High school star who didn’t live up to expectations.
•Has been a victim of Willy’s over-expectation.
•Has fallen on his face at every turn, often involving theft.

36. Biff Loman
•The Loman’s older son.
•High school star who didn’t live up to expectations.
•Has been a victim of Willy’s over-expectation.
•Has fallen on his face at every turn, often involving theft.
•Has been fatally effected by “what happened in Boston.”

37. Happy Loman

38. Happy Loman
•The Loman’s younger son.

39. Happy Loman
•The Loman’s younger son.
•Has lived in Biff’s shadow.

40. Happy Loman
•The Loman’s younger son.
•Has lived in Biff’s shadow.
•Presents himself as more important
and successful than he really is.

41. Happy Loman
•The Loman’s younger son.
•Has lived in Biff’s shadow.
•Presents himself as more important
and successful than he really is.
•Low sense of morality.

42. Happy and Biff Loman
P. 12-18
“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”

43. Happy and Biff Loman
P. 12-18
“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”
Setting(s) significance

44. Happy and Biff Loman
P. 12-18
“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”
Setting(s) significance
Explain the edits in this scene-

45. Happy and Biff Loman
P. 12-18
“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”
Setting(s) significance
Explain the edits in this scene-
Compare & Contrast these
boys. Irony?

46. Happy and Biff Loman
P. 12-18
“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”
Setting(s) significance
Explain the edits in this scene-
Compare & Contrast these
boys. Irony?
Plot points?

47. Happy and Biff Loman
P. 12-18
“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”
Setting(s) significance
Explain the edits in this scene-
Compare & Contrast these
boys. Irony?
Plot points?
Character flaws?

48. Happy and Biff Loman
P. 12-18
“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”
Setting(s) significance
Explain the edits in this scene-
Compare & Contrast these
boys. Irony?
Plot points?
Character flaws?
What’s going on with Willy?

49. Happy and Biff Loman
P. 12-18
“He’s going to get his license taken away.....”
Setting(s) significance
Explain the edits in this scene-
Compare & Contrast these
boys. Irony?
Plot points?
Character flaws?
What’s going on with Willy?

50. Charley

51. Charley
•Willy’s next door neighbor.

52. Charley
•Willy’s next door neighbor.
•Owns a successful business and tries to help Willy
through his crises.

53. Charley
•Willy’s next door neighbor.
•Owns a successful business and tries to help Willy
through his crises.
•Although Willy is jealous of Charley’s success, he
knows in his heart that Charley is his only friend.

54. Ben

55. Ben
•Willy’s wealthy older brother.

56. Ben
•Willy’s wealthy older brother.
•Appears only in Willy’s daydreams.

57. Ben
•Willy’s wealthy older brother.
•Appears only in Willy’s daydreams.
•A symbol of the success that has eluded Willy.

58. Charley/Ben
p. 30-33
Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”

59. Charley/Ben
p. 30-33
Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”
Conversation with involvement.

60. Charley/Ben
p. 30-33
Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”
Conversation with involvement.
(complication of Willy’s
relationship to Charley)

61. Charley/Ben
p. 30-33
Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”
Conversation with involvement.
(complication of Willy’s
relationship to Charley)
Significance of the ceiling
Important Omission:
“A man who can’t
handle tools is not a man.”

62. Charley/Ben
p. 30-33
Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”
Conversation with involvement.
(complication of Willy’s
relationship to Charley)
Significance of the ceiling
Important Omission:
“A man who can’t
handle tools is not a man.”
Thematic importance
of Ben’s references.

63. Charley/Ben
p. 30-33
Charley: “What’re you doin’ home.”
Conversation with involvement.
(complication of Willy’s
relationship to Charley)
Significance of the ceiling
Important Omission:
“A man who can’t
handle tools is not a man.”
Thematic importance
of Ben’s references.

64. Howard Wagner

65. Howard Wagner
•Inherited the Wagner Company from his father and is now
Willy’s boss.

66. Howard Wagner
•Inherited the Wagner Company from his father and is now
Willy’s boss.
•Willy thought highly of Howard’s father, but not so much
toward Howard.

67. Howard Wagner
•Inherited the Wagner Company from his father and is now
Willy’s boss.
•Willy thought highly of Howard’s father, but not so much
toward Howard.
•Howard treats Willy badly and eventually fires him.

68. Howard P. 57-61
God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of
any man.

69. What is Willy’s mission in
Howard P. 57-61
seeing Howard?
God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of
any man.

70. What is Willy’s mission in
Howard P. 57-61
seeing Howard?
God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of
any man.
What is the significance of
the tape recorder demo
prior to this scene?

71. What is Willy’s mission in
Howard P. 57-61
seeing Howard?
God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of
any man.
What is the significance of
the tape recorder demo
prior to this scene?
What non-verbal clues do
we get to Howard’s
character?

72. What is Willy’s mission in
Howard P. 57-61
seeing Howard?
God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of
any man.
What is the significance of
the tape recorder demo
prior to this scene?
What non-verbal clues do
we get to Howard’s
character?
Mythology of Dave
Singleman-- (84 years old)

73. What is Willy’s mission in
Howard P. 57-61
seeing Howard?
God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of
any man.
What is the significance of
the tape recorder demo
prior to this scene?
What non-verbal clues do
we get to Howard’s
character?
Mythology of Dave
Singleman-- (84 years old)
Significance:“A man is not a
piece of fruit!”

74. What is Willy’s mission in
Howard P. 57-61
seeing Howard?
God knows Howard, I never asked a favor of
any man.
What is the significance of
the tape recorder demo
prior to this scene?
What non-verbal clues do
we get to Howard’s
character?
Mythology of Dave
Singleman-- (84 years old)
Significance:“A man is not a
piece of fruit!”

75. The Woman

76. The Woman
•Willy’s mistress.

77. The Woman
•Willy’s mistress.
•Her attention boosted Willy’s fragile ego.

78. The Woman
•Willy’s mistress.
•Her attention boosted Willy’s fragile ego.
•Biff’s discovery of her fatally damaged his relationship
with Willy and halted his own aspirations.

79. Bernard

80. Bernard
•Charley’s son

81. Bernard
•Charley’s son
•As a boy growing up, Bernard was ridiculed by Willy for studying too
hard.

82. Bernard
•Charley’s son
•As a boy growing up, Bernard was ridiculed by Willy for studying too
hard.
•Bernard was a good friend to Willy’s sons and regarded Biff as a
hero.

83. Bernard
•Charley’s son
•As a boy growing up, Bernard was ridiculed by Willy for studying too
hard.
•Bernard was a good friend to Willy’s sons and regarded Biff as a
hero.
•As an adult, Bernard has become an extremely successful lawyer.

84. Bernard
•Charley’s son
•As a boy growing up, Bernard was ridiculed by Willy for studying too
hard.
•Bernard was a good friend to Willy’s sons and regarded Biff as a
hero.
•As an adult, Bernard has become an extremely successful lawyer.
•Bernard’s success is difficult for Willy to accept.

85. The Woman/Bernard
p. 26 bottom-p.29
Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”

86. The Woman/Bernard
p. 26 bottom-p.29
Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”
What are Willy’s
motivations for taking a
mistress?

87. The Woman/Bernard
p. 26 bottom-p.29
Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”
What are Willy’s
motivations for taking a
mistress?
How does Willy’s
“likability” factor
contribute to this scene?

88. The Woman/Bernard
p. 26 bottom-p.29
Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”
What are Willy’s
motivations for taking a
mistress?
How does Willy’s
“likability” factor
contribute to this scene?
Consider the stockings as a
theatrical device.

89. The Woman/Bernard
p. 26 bottom-p.29
Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”
What are Willy’s
motivations for taking a
mistress?
How does Willy’s
“likability” factor
contribute to this scene?
Consider the stockings as a
theatrical device.
Willy’s response to
Bernard and Biff

90. The Woman/Bernard
p. 26 bottom-p.29
Linda: “To me you are. The handsomest.”
What are Willy’s
motivations for taking a
mistress?
How does Willy’s
“likability” factor
contribute to this scene?
Consider the stockings as a
theatrical device.
Willy’s response to
Bernard and Biff

91. In your groups:
Discuss your reactions to your
assigned clip.
Present to the class a brief
analysis of the clip as it pertains
to the characters and their
motivations. Use the slide
questions as a base.

92. Clip # 1- p. 10 Willy/Linda
Clip # 2- p. 12 Biff/Happy
Clip # 3 - p. 30 Charley/Ben
Clip # 4- p. 57 Howard
Clip # 5-p26- The Woman/Bernard