Death Of A Salesman Death Scene Analysis

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The scene opens to a fatigued Willy Loman returning home after an unsuccessful business trip. His wife Linda, worried over Willy's state of mind and recent car accident, offers up explanations of his current state, diverting from the thought of his senility and pressures him to rest. Willy grumbles to Linda that their son, Biff, has yet to create a life for himself. Despite Biff's promise as a star athlete in high school, he failed senior year math and never attended college, seeming to wander aimlessly. Biff and his brother Happy, who are temporarily staying with Willy and Linda after Biff's unexpected return from the west, reminisce about their childhood together in their old room; they discuss their father's mental deterioration, which they have witnessed in the form of his constant contradictions and chatting to himself. In Willy’s first featured delusional rant, the time period shifts to the Loman house years before, where Biff and Happy are teenagers. Biff is idolized from Willy’s flashback by the attention being given over Happy. After Willy’s conversation with his wife, giving hint to Willy’s infidelity, the scene cuts to a hotel room with an unknown woman. The scene switches to present; Happy and Willy are talking about his brother Ben’s fortune. Ben interrupts into reality and the scene shifts back in time to Ben being introduced to Biff and Happy. Everyone is alerted to Biff being chased by the watchmen for theft, a foreshadow of Biff’s character that influence future. The next day feeling rejuvenated, Willy goes to ask his boss, Howard, for employment in town while Biff goes to make a business proposition to an old employer, but neither is successful. After his request is rejected, Willy gets irate with Howard and end... ... middle of paper ... ...y to his father that he is not meant for anything great, insisting that both of them are simply ordinary men meant to lead mundane lives. The feud climaxes with Biff hugging Willy and crying as he tries to get him to let go of the impractical expectations that he still carries for Biff and accept him for who he really is. He tells his father he loves him. Rather than listen to what Biff actually says, Willy thinks his son has forgiven him and thinks Biff will now pursue a career as a businessman. Willy carries out his final attempt at suicide, deliberately crashing his car so that Biff can use the life insurance money to start his business. However, at the funeral Biff retains his belief that he does not want to become a businessman; Happy chooses to assume his father’s role in the business world in an attempt to become what his father never saw him as, a great man.

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