Death of a Salesman: Discussion Questions

At what point in the play do you feel Willy’s suicide became inevitable—or do you feel that one of the other characters could have prevented it?

Willy’s suicide appears to be impending right from the very beginning of the play—he is an exhausted, old salesman who has never tasted success; his sons are struggling to find their footing in the world and he is guilt-ridden about having an affair behind his wife’s back.

Willy’s suicide does though become inevitable when his son Biff is unable to secure an important business meeting that would catapult him towards success. At this point, Willy thinks that his life insurance money would help his son tremendously. In a last effort to achieve the American dream for his son Biff, Willy commits suicide.

Ironically, it is not family members who could have prevented Willy’s suicide; it is his young boss Howard. Willy worked for Howard’s father for over three decades and when he appeals to Howard for a pay raise and a permanent position in the city, not only is he denied but he is also fired from his job as a travelling salesman. This is the last blow for a man who seems to have lost everything—his success, his sons’ success and the ability to provide for a loyal wife.

However, Willy’s mental degradation, beaten down by the vagaries of time and a competitive life on the road, are ultimately to blame for his suicide.

Much of the play focuses on Biff and Willy’s relationship with Biff. How has this emphasis on Biff helped shape who Happy is?

Willy’s principal focus in life has always been on his older son Biff. Biff is tall, handsome, well-built and a star athlete in high school—all trademarks of a successful and charismatic man. Happy, on the other hand, was the fatter younger son who could not claim the same attentions from his father, as his older brother.

This is why Happy is constantly talking about having lost weight—well into his thirties; he is obsessed with his own looks and his marker of success is the number of women he has had affairs with. There are times when Happy wants to settle down and become successful at work but these thoughts are brief.

In being ignored by his father, in favor of the older son, Happy began to idolize his older brother Biff and also, towards the end, became resolute in not letting his father’s death go in vain. He is proud and determined to prove to his family and the world that he is worth something. Whilst he harbors a little resentment towards Willy, his affections and admiration for his older brother Biff remain unchanged.

Why does Willy feel that it is important to be well-liked?

Willy thinks that a man’s way to power, success and wealth come from being charismatic, good-looking and having a strong personality—this is his definition of the American dream in which it is imperative to be well-liked. Being popular opens doors and contacts via admiration and a desire to be in the popular person’s good books.

Biff is tremendously well-liked in high school and this prompts Willy to firmly believe that his son will never face any challenges; that Biff will have jobs offered to him on a platter and will climb the ladder of success, merely on the grounds of being well-liked.

Do you think Linda knew about the affair?

Willy had an affair with a woman in Boston, during his trips as a salesman. He was caught by his teenage son Biff and this episode changed their relationship forever. However, it seems implausible that Linda ever knew about the affair or its specifics. She is a devoted, timid wife to Willy who bears with his tempers, his depression and even his imaginary conversations. She is constantly protecting Willy from his own sons who call their father out on his mental degradation and lies.

In one poignant scene, Linda mends her silk stockings, instead of buying or asking for new ones, because they are expensive; Willy, meanwhile, has been gifting boxes of silk stockings to his mistress in Boston. It riles him up greatly to see his wife suffering, even on a miniscule level, whilst he showers another woman with material joys. Willy too, is apologetic about having had an affair and never told Linda.

However, the only time one is suspicious about Linda knowing about the affair is when she is talking to her older son Biff about a woman in Willy’s life and Biff stiffens up. It is possible that Linda knew and accepted it as something her husband needed, rather than fight with him about it. But there is little indication to her knowing at all about the affair.

Compare the relationship between Biff and Happy with that of Willy and Ben. Do you find similarities?

Biff and Happy Loman are the sons of Willy Loman. Willy Loman, the travelling salesman, too had an older brother Ben who became a very wealthy man, having built a business in diamond mines. The play introduces Ben only in the imaginary conversations that Willy has with him, the former having died a while ago.

Willy looks up to his older brother Ben for his tenacity, his charisma and his bold outlook on life—all markers of the great American dream which deluded Willy. He admires Ben for having become a respected and wealthy man; and while Willy himself will never admit to his own failures, he is acutely aware of them and very tired of working, even in his sixties.

Ben and Willy are happy siblings with the younger one admiring his elder brother and the elder brother always trying to help or look out for his younger sibling.

Biff and Happy have a very similar relationship. Biff was a popular high school athlete and Happy was obese; hence, Happy always admired and looked up to his older brother, wanting to become popular and respected like him. Biff is protective of Happy but does not show any deep affections.

In their thirties now, Happy is marginally successful and has plentiful affairs with women. Biff, on the other hand, is a lost soul, who is still making ends meet by working as a farm hand. Happy tries repeatedly to bring back his brother Biff as the popular high school kid he grew up admiring. He does not succeed at doing this as Biff has deeper questions on life.

Like Willy and Ben, Biff and Happy also discuss wanting to start a business together. There has never been any animosity between the two sets of siblings and their relationships are very much alike.