A THESIS
BY:
MEI ANI VINOLIA TOGATOROP
REG. NO. 080721002
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERA
A STUDY OF CONFLICT AS PORTRAYED IN ARTHUR
MILLER’S
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
A THESIS
BY:
MEI ANI VINOLIA TOGATOROP REG. NO. 080721002
SUPERVISOR, CO_SUPERVISOR,
Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum Drs. Parlindungan Purba.M.Hum NIP. 131 570 487 NIP. 130 365 143
Submitted to Faculty of Letters University of North Sumatera in partial fulfilment of the degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Language/Literature
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERA
MEDAN
Approved by the English Department of Faculty of Letters
University of North Sumatera (USU) Medan as thesis the
Sarjana Sastra Examination.
Accepted by the Board of examinersin partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Sarjana Satra from the English Department, Faculty of Letters, University of North Sumatera, Medan.
The examination is held on the Faculty of Letters, University of North Sumatera on
The Dean of Faculty of Letters University of North Sumatera
Prof. Bahren Umar Siregar, Ph. D NIP. 130 809 978
Board of Examiners
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I would like to delivered my highest thankful and praise to the Jesus
Christ, who has given her life, love, guidance, strength, and his blessing in all my life,
particularly in completing this thesis.
The Dean of faculty letters, Prof. Syairifuddin, MA, Ph.D, the Chief of English
Department, Dra.Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum and the Secretary of English
Department, Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum.
My special gratitude to Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M. Hum as my Supervisor
and to Drs Parlidungan Purba, M.Hum as my Co-Supervisor, who have kindly Shared
their knowledge and experience with me. All my lectures who have teach and guide me
during my study.
And also my deepest and limited thankful to my family, my father, M.
Togatorop and my mother, T. Siahaan thank you being such a loyal and great parent for
me. My brother, David Jan Putra and Louisa Suryati, Srinovrita, Febry Yanti thank you
for your support and spirit that given to me.
To my classmate in 2008, Febri, Onet, Hotma, Putri, Meli, Serti and all my
friends that don’t mention one by one. Yes, I know you very well for me. That’s why
To all my juniors in Campus, thank you very much, my friends Dian, Jeanery,
Fernandes, Jemi, Jaya, and all friends. Thank you for your pray, spirit for me. I love you
all…and especially for my love someone Harlan Sihombing thank you for your love,
support, and pray to me. I love you so much.
This Thesis is still far being perfect. Before and after thank you very much.
Medan, Desember
ABSTRACT
Togatorop, Mei Ani Vinolia. A Study Conflict as Portrayed by Arthur Miller in “Death
of A Salesman”. Thesis. English Department, State University of North Sumatera,
2009.
Saya memilih drama yang berjudul Death of A Salesman yang mana pada dasarnya
adalah sebuah drama yang unik karangan Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller banyak
mendapatkan hadiah Nobel atas karya-karyanya, lagipula dia adalah seorang pengarang
drama terbaik. Saya suka membahas drama ini karena kebanyakan drama karangan
Arthur Miller menceritakan tentang masalah atau conflict yang terjadi dalam keluarga.
Didalm thesis ini saya mengambil masalah conflict dalam drama Death of A Salesman.
Conflict terbagi dua yaitu inner confliict pada diri Willy Loman itu sendiri dan outer
conflict yang terjadi antara Willy Loman dengan Biff Loman, Happy Loman, Howard,
Charley and Bernard. Adapun conflict dengan Linda, istrinya sendiri tidak begitu
menonjol sekali.
Itulah makanya saya senang membahas masalah conflict dalam drama Death of A
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER IV : THE ANALYSIS OF CONFLICT IN PLAY ‘DEATH OF A SALESMAN’ 4.1 The Inner Conflict ... 18
4.1.1 Willy Loman’s Inner Conflict ... 18
4.2.1 Biff’s Outer Conflict ... 22
4.2.2 Happy’s Outer Conflict………25
4.2.3 Howard Outer Conflict……….………28
4.2.4 Charley’s Outer Conflict………..31
4.2.5 Bernard’s Outer Conflict………..34
CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 4.1.Conclusion ... 40
4.2.Suggestion ... 41
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX I : THE SUMMARY DEATH OF A SALESMAN APPENDIX II : ARTHUR MILLER’S BIOGRAPHY AND LITERARY WORKS
ABSTRACT
Togatorop, Mei Ani Vinolia. A Study Conflict as Portrayed by Arthur Miller in “Death
of A Salesman”. Thesis. English Department, State University of North Sumatera,
2009.
Saya memilih drama yang berjudul Death of A Salesman yang mana pada dasarnya
adalah sebuah drama yang unik karangan Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller banyak
mendapatkan hadiah Nobel atas karya-karyanya, lagipula dia adalah seorang pengarang
drama terbaik. Saya suka membahas drama ini karena kebanyakan drama karangan
Arthur Miller menceritakan tentang masalah atau conflict yang terjadi dalam keluarga.
Didalm thesis ini saya mengambil masalah conflict dalam drama Death of A Salesman.
Conflict terbagi dua yaitu inner confliict pada diri Willy Loman itu sendiri dan outer
conflict yang terjadi antara Willy Loman dengan Biff Loman, Happy Loman, Howard,
Charley and Bernard. Adapun conflict dengan Linda, istrinya sendiri tidak begitu
menonjol sekali.
Itulah makanya saya senang membahas masalah conflict dalam drama Death of A
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1The Background of The Problem
Literature in the true sense of the term is that kind of writing which is charged
with human interest, and concern of Mankind. Generally, Literature can be divided into
play , novel, and poetry. But I focuses only play.
According to Wellek and Warsen (1956 : 15) literature is a creative activity and
art without artistic values literature would be just another kind writing, along with
scientific works, reports, etc. It means the literature as one of the imaginary works,
literary performs various problems of human and humanity, live and life.
Drama is the literary form designed for the theatre, in which the illustration is
the actors who posed a the character and dialogue. According to Styan (1923 : 19 )
states that drama is not made of words alone, but of of sights and sounds, stillness and
motion, noise and silence, relationship and responses. These relationship and responses
are not those between characters, rather those between actor and audience.
Drama means a performing art, designed to be presented by actors on a stage
before an audience. There are two kinds of drama, tragedy drama and comedy drama.
Tragedy drama is the drama with sadness ending and consists of the multiple abstract
images of words and physical movement that have to be spelt out by the readers.
Comedy drama is the drama with happiness ending. Based on reality of life, I decides to
According to Stanford (2003: 319) character is the fictional people who are part
of the action of a literary work. In literature, the role of characters is to bring the
representation of the plot as a sequence of events and theme as a central idea of the
whole story. In a play, the complexity of a role of the characters are revealed
dramatically by comparing speeches and action as well as comparing characters itself
with others in order to find out and understand what the author wants to convey in the
whole story and dominant issue on the text. Without characters presence in a work, the
story will be meaningfulness or useless.
Conflict is a fiction deals with human experience in everyday life. It is a made –
up story which is mostly about human life and its affair and fells about the process of
change in life, how the characters are confronted with various conflict and struggle
between the opposing forces may be in form of a clash of action, idea, desire and will.
This reality of life could also be found in drama which consists of problems and
conflict. The problem might come from himself, family and society.
Collin’s English Language Dictionary (1974 : 70) states that conflict is an
encounter between a characters purpose and obstade of others purpose, the forces of
hostile environment. I conclude that conflict refers to the opposition or disagreement
felt by someone that is related to his mind way of thinking and feeling.
Death of a Salesman is one of the greatest plays, written by Arthur Miller who
was born on October 17, 1915 into German. Most of his play as well concentrate on the
many things concerning human problems, financial problem, dishonesty, hopelessness,
etc.
I chooses one of Arthur Miller’s tragedy drama entitled Death of a Salesman
because tragedy drama has superiorities compared to other forms of drama, such as
comedy drama. One of the superiorities is that the dramatic format present the readers
or the audiences with images of human behavior, images which are more vivid and
more shocking.
Another reason why I chooses Death of A Salesman, in the fact that, I wants to
know and review messages delivered in the dialogues of the drama. That’s why the
writer can catch the intention of the play, and will try to compare it to our real life.
Those are all the reasons why the writer is interested to Arthur Miller and choose his
drama Death of A Salesman for this thesis.
1.2 The Problem Of The Study
Conflicts are the soul of play. If there are no conflict, there would be no plot.
The problem of study will be formulated in this study of the following :
1) What types of conflict are found in Arthur Miller’s drama “Death of a
Salesman”?
2) How Arthur Miller are describe the portrayed of conflict in “Death of a
Salesman” ?
Having read the Arthur Miller’s drama, Death of a Salesman , I discovers that
there are many interesting aspect as the problem that can be discussed. However, the
writer doesn’t discuss all of them, but I only discuss the main character’s conflict by
Willy Loman and Linda Loman as a inner conflict and outer conflict in Death of a
Salesman
1.4The Objectives of the Study
The writer hopes the problems above can be accomplishing by these objectives :
1) To explain types of conflict in Death of a Salesman and
2) To describe the portrayal of conflict in Death of a Salesman
1.5 The Significance Of The Study
At this point, I would give some of the significance of the study. This study
gives a valuable lesson to the writer as well as the reader in enriching their mind about
the bad effect of family conflict, the way to avoiding conflicts in life. The other
significance is the thesis may be useful for the other students who plan to do further
reasearches in the similar topic.
There are two the significances of the study are :
1. The Significance of Theoritically :
a) To add the glossary of literature especially in drama fields
b) To describe the portrayed of conflict in drama “Death of a Salesman”
2. The Significance of Practically :
b) To convince of the readers in so that they can be to continue the proposal
that I made can be more expended again
1.6 The Review of the Related Literature
Death of A Salesman against the charge that Willy Loman the very name is a
symbolic gesture of defiance lacks the “Statue” for the tragic hero. As far as death of
salesman is concerned there is a difficulty here of which miller seems aware, but which
he is unable to face completely. Death throws human values into relief. This is
obviously true in ‘a society of faith’, but less obviously so, in a ‘secular society’ for the
‘tragic victory’ if there is to be one, must come out of the essential humanity of
character. Death of a Salesman in his masterpiece that wins the Publitzer prize. I uses
the play in order to make this analysis more accurate with the real sample of written
form of language, besides he is sure it will be interesting to analyze this beautiful
CHAPTER II :
THEORITICAL APPROACH
2.1 Drama
Drama it got its start back in ancient Greece. Many of the plays written during
the classical period, from 525 BC to 385 BC, are still performed today. Antigone,
Oedipus Rex and Medea are among the plays written during this time. Not only are
these plays still popular as theatrical productions, they also greatly influenced
playwrights throughout history
According to Hatlen (1928 : 3 ) the historical background of drama are : In
Greece, these objectives were centered in a single God whose relationship to fertility
was not confined to vegetation, but included human fecundity as well, as is clearly
evident from the phallic rites associated with Dionysus. The legend of this God tells of
his death and subsequent rebirth as a young man – a symbolic representation of the
calendrical cycle of the death of the seed as it is buried in the ground in winter and its
rebirth with the coming of spring. Some scholars, in tracing the origin of drama,
emphasize the seasonal celebrations of seed and harvest. Others suggest that the roots of
drama are to be found in the commemorative rites honoring dead heroes. In any case,
urges and gave symbolic representation to his longest thoughts as he sought to orient
himself to the universe.
Just as Greek drama grew out of the rites performed in honor of Dionysus, so
drama in the middle ages developed from the ritual performed in honor of the death and
resurrection of Christ. Antiphonal singing was a part of the liturgy of the church as early
as the fourth century, but genuine dialoque arose from the practice of inserting lines,
known as tropes, into certain parts of the mass. An extant manuscript shows the
introduction of a trope into the Easter service in the early part of the tenth century. From
these tropes, which included mimetic action and the use of costumes and properties,
serious plays developed through the addition of scenes, until long and complicated
dramas were written and performed to dramatize the entire life of Christ. .
Drama is a dramatic composition in verse or prose that has been written for
theatrical performance and tells a story of conflict and emotion using action and
dialoque. It is one of three literary genres (drama, epic and lyric poetry) developed by
the Greece. Drama is different from other genres because the author’s (dramatist’s
intention is fulfilled by the presentation of actors and theatrical devices, not reading and
reciting it is an oral and visual creation whose written form is first a preparation and aid
to performance (the actor’s lines) , and lastly a printed text for critical and educational
scrutiny.
According to Horstein (1968: 52) drama is a literary work written in dialoque
and intended for presentation by actors. A play as a work of art composed of words
spoken, or motion performed , by imagined characters and having subject, action,
development, climax and conclusion essential.
2.2 Kinds of Drama
Drama can be divided into two main categories :
1) Comedy drama and
2) Tragedy drama
The classification will be formulated as the following :
2.1.1 Comedy
Comedy is the genre of dramatic literature that deals with the light and amusing
or the serious and profound in a light, familiar , or satirical manner. Comedy thrives on
human error, mistaken identity, awkward meetings, and verbal humor. It’s dialoque is
usually prose with an abundance of verbal tricks such as punks and similes
According to Corrigan (1817 : 17) comedy is an escape, not from truth but from
despair, a narrow escape into faith. It believes in a universal cause for delight, which
leaves us to rest on out own buoyancy.
Cicero (1929 : 43) said that comedy is ‘a copy of life’, a mirror of custom, a
reflection of truth’ Comedy, indeed, comprises action and speech since it is verse based
upon a representation of life and on imitation of customs. According to Palmer (1984:
165), comedy is an imitation of the common errors of our life, which he representeth in
beholder can be content to be such a one. The history of comic theory could be regarded
as a series of variations on the basic conception that comedy involves a sense of triumph
over whatever is inimical to human or social good, however this ideal is defined.
There are two kinds of Comedy : High comedy and Low comedy. High comedy
is recognized as that which evokes intellectual laughter, usually through combats of wit
and humor. High comedy is distinguished by the attitude of the author toward his
subject.
Low comedy is that which evokes belly laughs. The main devices of low
comedy are jokes, gags, slaptics humor , boisterous and clownish physical activity. Low
comedy is best defined by farce. Farce is a light dramatic composition that uses highly
improbable situations, stereotyped characters, extravagant exaggeration and violent
horse play. It is generally regarded as intelectually and aesthetically inferior to high
comedy because of its crude characterizations and implausible plots.
If the author’s intent is to ridicule, he/she develops a satirical comedy. Subdivisions of
the satirical comedy include :
a) The Comedy of Character, which ridicules individuals. It means the comedy of
character refers to eccentricities of the protagonist
b) The Comedy of Manners, which satirizes social conventions. Comedy of
Manners similar to character and situation aristocratic and witty characters .
c) The Social Comedy, which ridicules the structure of society
d) The Comedy of Ideas, which ridicules conventional thinking.
1) Comedy of Situation:
Character and ideas are minor hidden identities, discoveries, reversals,
etc. similar to farce, but less unrealistic
2) Romantic comedy struggles of love, sympathetic characters, ludicrous devices
lovers use.
If the author chooses to chart the progress of trouble to the triumph of love in a happy
outcome i.e., marriage, he/she develops a Romantic comedy. If his/her intention is to
provide amusement and excitement with an intricate plot of reversals, the author
developes a comedy of intrigue. Occasionally, an author will combine the elements of
comedy and tragedy, thus producing a tragic comedy.
2.1.2 Tragedy
Between 600 and 500 BC, the dithyramb had evolved into new forms, most
notably the tragedy and the ‘satyr’ play. Tragedy, derived from the Greek words tragos
(goat) and ode (song), told a story that was intended to teach religious lessons. Much
like Biblical parables, tragedies were designed to show the right and wrong paths in life.
Tragedies were not simply plays with bad endings, nor were they simply spectacles
devised to make 'laugh’ and make ‘ cry ’.
Tragedy is the genre of drama that evokes pity and terror from the audience as it
deals with serious themes and dignified characters. It typically describes the
development of a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force i.e : destiny,
circumstance and society. With the death of one or more of the principal characters, it
The protagonist of a tragedy is a tragic heroine. This character should be of high
social and moral standing, but not perfect. What makes the hero tragic is that he/she has
a tragic flaw, weakness, transgression or excess of arrogant ambition that leads to
his/her downfall.
Sometimes thought of as low tragedy, is the Melodrama. Melodramas feature
stereotypical characters and can be characterized by their improbable plots, sensational
incidents, predominance of physical action and spectaculer staging.
2.3 Conflict
Conflict is actual or perceived opposition of needs,
conflict can be internal (within oneself) to individuals. Conflict as a concept can help
explain many aspects of social life such as social
a
can refer to
in the term
social settings can result in or tensions among stakeholders. When an interpersonal
conflict does occur, its effect is often broader than two individuals involved, and can
affect many associate individuals and relationships, in more or less adverse, and
sometimes even humorous way.
As said by Brooks (1964:128) , conflict is a necessary element in a story.
Without any conflict, a story is considered to have no plot ; as a result, conflict is one of
All of us face constant conflict in our daily life, and most of them are easily
resolved. For example : whenever a person has to choose a shirt that he has to wear
every morning, the person simply pick one of the shirt according to which or what
occasion that he would go to. Sometimes, people are faced with conflict which have
some kind of a human nature, or which modify their character, values, ideals or
concepts in some way.
According to Stanford (1999: 40), conflicts means a struggle between to
opposing forces may be in form of a class of action, idea desire and will. Conflict is
also a struggle between desires within a person or struggle of a character against him or
herself conscience, his or her guilt or simply to decide what he is going to do. In other
words, the opponent is he or herself. In daily life, a person is confronted with many
problems and obstacles. In process of achieving and maintaining his or she often
involve in his or her own conflict.
In this kinds of conflict, he or she is facing a kind of complicated situations in which he
or she should choose the best alternative according to his/her own consideration.
2.3.2 Inner Conflict
Inner conflict is the conflict which goes on with in the mind of the hero and
between him and a goal he has set himself. Inner conflict provides an unstable basis for
positive results in the outside world, as he self often chooses some aspects of the outer
environment to match the group within they self. People who notice that they have
repeated negative aspects, may find that understanding they self is a basis for better
Thus, inner conflict is more important than the outer conflict since inner
conflicts that take place within one person’s mind. Inner conflict are those obstacles that
prevent a character from achieving any kind of inner development, growth or even
self-worth. In this case, the character faces a physical or emotional problem or struggle.
Inner conflict uses up a great deal of energy. There is a drive to do something and a
brake on it at the same time. It is like having a herd of wild horses jumping around in a
little pen. That energy has to move- or it will explode or make us tense and sick.
A character’s inner conflict is not just being in two minds about something, not
just being torn between obvious incompatibles but is about being in a new situation
where old attitudes and habits war with delay the need for change. A character’s inner
conflict can be between what people thinks they want and what they really want.
Conflict must always be resolved, and everything people creat need its conclusion.
Internal conflict as a struggle between competing elements within the character,
aspects of his/her personality may struggle for dominance. These aspects may be
emotional, intellectual and moral. For example : an “ emotional” conflict would occur if
the protagonist choose an unworthy lover over someone who is devoted. An
“intellectual” conflict could entail accepting or rejecting one’s religion. A “moral”
conflict might pose a choose between honoring family or country. Such conflict
typically leave the character indecisive and agitated. When such conflict are resolved,
the resolution may be succesful or unsuccesful.
All of the explanations above are very essential for me to analyze play. In this
2.3.2 Outer Conflict
Outer conflict indicates conflicts affecting two or more parties in the physical
world. Outer conflict is the conflict between two persons or group, in one of which the
hero is the kind person.
Outer conflict may also place between a person and a force beyond that person.
the outer conflict is always won by the hero at the end and the opposite group is always
the loser.
The outer conflict is mostly found in the Greek and modern tragedy. In Greek
tragedies, the heroes like unequal battles with the faith and destiny that drives them
relentlessly on to their fate. Outer conflict are those obstacles that prevent a character
from achieving an outer goal. In modern tragedy, the heroes fight for the hopelessness,
the battles with the society like its age old customs, convention and rules.
Outer conflict can be divided into four :
1) The conflict between character and other characters
2) The conflict between character and society
3) The conflict between character and nature
4) The conflict between character and his God.
As stated above, I recognizes that external conflict may be classified into three
groups, they are : conflict between man versus man, conflict between a man versus his
environment or social force (community, school, church, workplace, society, etc) and
conflict between man and natural forces (disease, fire, flood, cold, famine, etc) and
conflict between man and God. However, the conflict between characters and other
conflict. Many popular fictions are based on this conflict. For example : two men trying
to win the love of a girl, the competition of businessman.
The conflict between character and society is in which a character’s , or group of
main character’s : main source of conflict is social traditions or concepts. It is a struggle
between man and social values in his society. In this kind of conflict, the character can
come into conflict with the moral principles of society such as traditions, customs, laws,
moral codes and accepted beliefs. A struggle against society occurs when a character is
at odds with a particular social force or condition produced by society, such as poverty,
political revolution, a social convention or set of values.
The conflict between character and nature place is a character against forces of
nature and also means a character has from himself separated from nature. It is also
strong about struggling for survival in remote locales. In this case the character faces a
problem with some force of nature such as cold, strom, radiation. The world seems to be
outside, and people seem to be strangers in this world. The world is not going to be
reconciled, if they are not going to obey it laws. Because of a conflict of our
individuality with the universal nature, people suffer various pains – hunger and thirst,
heat and cold and death. For example : a struggle of a character against wild beast in the
jungle is constant obstacles to mankind.
The conflict between character and his God. In this case the character faces a
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Method
This study applied descriptive method, because I want to analyze and describe
the conflict on Arthur Miller’s drama entitled “Death of A Salesman “ . Data collected
can be analyzed using statistical technique and would also be considered quantitative
descriptive research. Descriptive research involves describing and interpreting events,
conditions or situations of the present. Generally, findings and conclusion only apply to
the sample studied. Descriptive research can use qualitative or quantitative methods to
describe or interpret a current event, condition and situation.
The research was conducted by two ways ; the first way is library research
which is done by reading some references related to it and the second way is field
research which is done by analyzing the drama.
3.2 The Technique for Collecting Data
Firstly I read the play for many times as the main source of inspiration to write
this thesis to collect the data, I evaluated the way the characters speak that expresses
Most of the data presented in this thesis to support the analyze are relevant
collected sentences for the drama. Other significant information is from literature books
and some other books of related topics.
3.3 The Technique of Analyzing Data
The analysis will be conducted after getting the data formulated as the
following:
Miller’s plays Death of A Salesman (1949), was written in six weeks. It’s
concern were rooted in the American ideal of business success, and its conclusions were
a challenge, to standard American business valusion. Willy Loman became a symbol for
American in the post war period of growing wealth and affluence. The life of the
Salesman has given Willy a sense of dignity and worth, and imagines that the modern
world has corrupted that sense by robbing salesman of the value of their personality.
Death of A Salesman has been given a privilaged position in American drama because it
is a modern tragedy. Willy wants to be well liked but as an audience we find it difficult
to like a person who whines, complains and accepts petty immorcibility as a normal of
life.
CHAPTER IV
THE ANALYSIS OF CONFLIC IN PLAY
‘DEATH OF A
SALESMAN ’
4.1
The Inner ConflictAs explained in the previous chapter, internal conflict is a conflict that a person
struggles against some elements which are in his or her own personality. Internal
conflict involves the struggles between a man against forces within himself, his own
physical or emotional limitations (man confronted by inner doubts, fears, inhibitations;
man overwhelmed with physicological, spiritual or intellectual dilemmas).
4.1.1 Willy Loman’s Inner Conflict
Willy Loman is a salesman and he has worked for the company of Howard
Wagner for 36 years. He spends most of his time on the travelling from New York to
Boston. Although he is a road man but he earns a small amount of money every week
and of course his salary is not enough to fulfill the family’s need. Because of it, he
always thinks that he is not a good husband and father for the family.
From the statements above, we understand that Willy is mad to himself. He has
worked hard but why he cannot get the best. He regrets himself by saying that he is a
man that talk too much and it makes the people don’t respect him anymore. If he has a
lot of money, the people will respect him although he is a talk active man. Willy also
lost his confidence because of his low income and status.
Based on this Willy’s statement, we know that he is not as confidence as the
most American. He always thinks that his neighbor is mocking him suspicious by
laughing at him when he walks and passes them.
The feeling of Willy is really hard and it makes the inner conflict begin to occur
in his mind. Willy is also a person who likes to accuse himself. He envies to his brother
ben because ben gets success but why he doesn’t.
Willy : “I got an awful scare, nearly hit a kid in Yonkers! Why didn’t I go to Alaska with my brother Ben that time! That man was a genius, that man was success incarnate! What a mistake! He begged me to go.” ( Miller, Act 1, 970)
This sentences proves that Willy regret that he hasn’t gone to follow Ben to go
to Alaska at this time. If he has gone to Alaska at this time maybe he is a rich man not
as a road salesman who spends a plenty of time and energy only to earn a little of
money. Desperation has a big effect in someone’s mind and also in Willy’s mind.
Willy faces many kinds of problem in his life and this really disturb him. He
thinks that death is the solution of the problem. Sometimes person who is always in the
problem, they think death is the easiest solution. Because of the opinion, the only way is
commit suicide many times with some ways. We know it from Linda dialoque to Biff,
From the statements, Linda knows how the feeling of Willy Loman is. Willy is
really desperate and he decide to take the easy way, committing suicide by smashing his
car and makes it really like an accident but the accident don’t cause him die.
Willy is a salesman and as a salesman, he needs more and more customers. The
more costumers he has, he will get more commisions. Willy is always proud of himself.,
because he thinks he knows a lot of people in America. The mayor of province is also
one of his friends. Although he has a lot of friends, but his income is not increase. His
friends are not good customers for him, because never brought something from Willy.
Willy regrets to them. The feeling of Willy makes the conflict between Willy and the
societies begins to occur.
Linda : “ Well, next week you’ll do better.”
Willy : “ Oh, I will knock and dead next week. I’ ll go to Hartford. I’m very well-liked in Hartford. You know, the trouble, Linda. People don’t seem to take to me.” (Miller, Act 1, 967).
Willy regrets that he is a man that talk to much and it makes the societies don’t
respect him. Willy says to Linda that they will laugh when they pass by Willy. Willy
Linda : “But you’re doing wonderful, clear. You’re making seventy
Willy : “ I’m fat. I’m very-foolish to look at Linda. I didn’t tell you, but Christmas time I happened to be calling on
Willy Loman is also a type of person that always proud of himself when he has
been young. He always says to his children that he knows well every person including
the mayor of province. He thinks that he is the most known road man in city.
Willy : “ Well, I got on the road and I went north to province,
From the statements, we know that Willy Loman is a dreamer. His dream is also
the big opponent in his mind. As a human being, we may not dream the impossible
thing because it will make us desperate if we can’t get it. If he always stay at home, he
may share it with his family Willy began to dream of the impossible things when he is
young but until he is old the dream don’t come true. Sometimes financial problem will
make person depressive and of course when someone is depressive, he needs someone
but when he is far from his family, he will find out somebody else to share it. That
happened to Willy Loman : he is a roadman, he spends almost his not at his home and
finally he finds a woman to share his problem. He and this woman have an affair and his
affair known by Biff, that’s why he hates his father.
Willy : “ Cause I get so lonely, especially when business is bad and there is nobody to talk to, I get the feeling that. I will never sell anything again that I won’t make a Living for you or a business, a business for the boys. There is so much I want made for (Miller, Act I , 968)”.
Willy rememorizes all of his false in past and he regrets why his affair can be
known by biff. Willy also seems like a grazy person, he will angry to his wife and his
friends when he is remembering about something. He also mad to Linda when Linda is
mending a pair of silk stockings. The silk Stockings are the symbol of his affair to the
woman.
Willy : “ (angrily taking them from her) I won’t have you
mending stockings in this house! Now throw them
out.” (Miller, Act I , 969)
Outer conflict is the conflict between two persons or group, in one of which
the hero is the kind person..
4.2.1 Biff’s Outer Conflict
The outer conflict in act 1 between Willy and Biff. Biff is the oldest son of
Willy. Biff and Willy hasn’t got any good relation although they are father and son.
Willy thinks that actually biff can do everything well because he has the ability to do it
but he doesn’t want to do it.
Willy : “ The trouble is he’s lazy good admit!”
Willy : Biff is a lazy bum” (Miller, Act 1, 954)
When Biff has been at a senior high school, Biff has done a big mistake, he
has stolen something and of course it makes Willy hates him. Willy is a disciplines and
honest man. He never teach his son to steal something. Willy is angry to him.
Willy : ‘Loaded with it. Loaded! What is he stealing? He’s giving it back, isn’t he? Why is he stealing? What did I tell him? I never in my life told him Anything but decent things.”(Miller, Act 1, 970)
All the fathers in this world love his son and Willy Loman also loves biff and proud of
him.
Willy : “That’s just what I man. Bernard can get the best marks in school, Y ‘ understand, but when he gets out in the business world, Y’ understand. You are going to be five ahead of him…” (Miller, Act 1, 965)
Biff is his idol when he is at senior high school but later they don’t like each
right and there is no fighting at the Loman house. But as soon as Biff comes back to
home, the fighting starts.
Linda : “But you no sooner come home in the door than
you’re fighting.” (Miller, Act 1, 978)
Linda also knows that Biff and Willy can’t be together so Linda as a mother
asks Biff to do her favor.
Linda : “Biff dear, if you don’t have any feeling for him,
then you can’t have any feeling for me!”
(Miller, Act 1, 979)
Biff and Willy are not easy to get along. They will fight as son as they meet they look
Willy likes to compare Biff and Bernard but Biff doesn’t like the way his
father comparing him so he tries to argue to abort it to his father. The ways of their
speaking also create a conflict.
Willy : “… You never grew up. Bernard doesn’t wistle in the elevator, I assure you.”
Biff : “(as though to laugh Willy out of it) Yeah, but you do, pop.” (Miller, Act 1, 982)
The conflict in act one, Death of A Salesman is when Biff and Willy meet after a
long time they have never met each other.
Happy : “ People are worse off than Willy Loman. Believe me, I’ve seen them!”
Statements as can be seen above show how their relationship. Willy doesn’t do
show us that Biff like to compare his father with his neighbor, Charley. Biff thinks that
Charley is the best father for his family because he has good behaviour and Charley
never done the things that make his family unhappy. The statements of Biff really make
willy stress. Biff seems like to blame Willy because of his failure to attend the
university. Actually, willy has seen stressed because he only earns a small amount of
money and he owes much money to other people.
Willy : “ What do we owe? “
Linda : “Well, on the first there’s sixteen dollars on the refrigerator…”
Linda: “ Well you owe him three and a half, odds and end comes to around a hundred and twenty dollars by the fifteenth.” Willy : “ A hundred and twenty dollars! My god, if business
does pick up I don’t know what I’m gonna do!” (Miller, Act 1, 966-967)
Willy goes of the Frank chop’s house, the place where he and his sons will get
the dinner after he meets charley at his office. Willy with hope has some conversation
with his older son, Biff and he’s sure that his son already gets something from Bill
Oliver. Willy asks his son about this morning when Biff meet Oliver.
happened? It’s great news, Biff. Did he take you into
In the middle of their speeches about the day, the conflict between Willy and
Biff occur but the confllict doesn’t continue because Willy tells them thet he has been
fired this morning so Biff takes pity to him.
Willy thinks that biff has a good talk with Oliver, so he asks Willy many kinds
of question about how is Oliver to him. Firstly, Biff tries to cheat him by saying that
Oliver is very kind to him but finally he can’t continue it and biff become angry again.
The question of his father makes him bored and frightened because he steals something
him, didn’t you?”
Biff : “Listen, will you let me out of it will you just let me out of it!” (Miller, Act 2, 1012)
In the Death of A Salesman, Arthur Miller uses the style of flashback. The
flashback is found when Willy is dreaming to the past and it happens for many times.
When Willy is talking to Biff and Happy, he suddenly remembers what Bernard says to
him about Biff’ failure in his life. The conversation between them becomes very strange
because Willy mentions about the math.”
Willy : “(Wildly) “Math, math, math!” Biff : “Take it easy, pop!”
Biff : (at the table, now audible, holding up a gold fountain pen)… So, I’m washed up with Oliver, you understand?
Are you listening to me?”
Willy : (at a loss) “Yeah, sure. If you had flunked…” Biff : “Flunked what? What are you talking about?”
Willy : “Don’t blame everything on me! I didn’t flunk math, you take what pen?”
Willy : (seeing the pen for the first time) “You took Oliver’s pen?” ) (Miller, Act 2, 1013)
The conflict in this play is when Biff knows that his father has other woman in
Boston. He hates his father because his mother has done the best thing in the family but
why his father does it to her. Miller doesn’t put the root of playwright. The root of
conflict is found when rememorizes about his false that make his son doesn’t attend the
universities because he has been flunked of math. Willy also promises the woman
stockings. That’s why every time when he sees Linda takes stockings, he will angry
because stocking is the symbol of his affair.
Unfortunately Willy doesn’t happy for along, when he goes to meet his boss,
Howard. Willy faces the problem with his boss. Willy thinks that he is too old to travel
and two of of his sons will earn money by themselves so he doesn’t need a large amount
of money.
Howard refuses Willy’s favor. In Howard mind, Willy should do the road job
to earn money. Willy tries to say something to howard and ask for low salary sixty
dollars a week to forty dollars a week. Howard still refuses it and finally he asks willy to
At the same time, Howard fires Willy.
Howard : “Willy, you can’t go to boston for us.”
Willy : “Why can’t I go?”
Howard don’t want you to represent us. I’ve been meaning to tell you for along time
now.”
Willy : “Howard, are you firing me?”
Howard : “I think you need a good long rest, Willy.”
(Miller, Act 2, 996)
He is regret why Willy rude to Howard and it makes Howard fires him and
make Willy like as a crazy man.
Willy : “ Pull myself together! What the hell did I say to him? My God, I was yelling at him! How could I ? (Willy breaks off, starting at the light, which occupies the chair, animating it. He approaches this chair, standing across the desk from it.)
Frank. Frank, don’t you remember what you told me that time? How you put your hand
on my shoulder, and Frank… (he leans the desk and as he speaks the dead man’s name
accidentally switches on the recorder and instantly)
Willy : (leaping away with fright, shouting) “ Ha! Howard ! Howard! Howard!”
Howard : “ What happened?”
Willy : (Pointing at that machine, which continious nasally, childishly with the capital cities ) shut it off! Shutt it off! (Miller, Act 2, 996)
Although Willy is too old to travel but he really needs the job. By doing this
business he will get money for paying all of the family need. As the modern people in
money is the most important thing. How he can pay all of the payment without working
Linda notices to him to pay something before he leaves home that morning.
Linda : “ And Willy, don’t forget to ask for a little advance,
Willy likes to dream to the past to remember all of the things that can make
him be proud of. Before Howard fires him, he also say to Howard that he has a good
sales in 1928.
Willy has the conflict with Charley, his neighbor. Willy is always jealous of
Charley. Because of his bad behaviour, jealous, he hates Charley very much. He often
Charley is also the only person who comes to his funeral.
Willy : “A man who can’t handle tools is not a man,
you’re disgusting.”
Charley : ”Don’t call me disgusting, Willy.” (Miller, Act 1, 972)
Willy mocks Charley because he doesn’t know how to put the ceiling in the
living room. When Charley tells Willy that the Ebbets Fields just blew up, Willy
doesn’t believe it.. He thinks that Charley is jealous to him because his older, Biff will
be a Red Grange after the game in Ebbets Field is over and biff will be paid with twenty
five thousand a year. He shouts some rude words to Charley but Charley doesn’t hate
Charley is also the person who gives Willy money. Willy says that he should
pay the insurance. Willy ashes to saying that he has not money at all but charley
understand the condition of Willy.
Failure will make someone jealous to succeed person and it also happens
Willy. Willy always refuses Charley offer to give him a job. It’s because Willy is
jealous to Charley success. Willy doesn’t want Charley to take a pity to him. But
Charley is the best friend and neighbor for Willy. He helps him every time as he can.
The biggest regret in Willy’s life is when he refuses his brother invitation to go
to Alaska. Ben has bought Timberland there and he needs someone to look after it so he
asks Willy to do it. Firstly, Willy gets interesting in the job but Linda doesn’t allow him
to go. Linda thinks that her husband has got a good job in New York. Someday, Willy
will succeed in his job as a salesman as the eighty four years salesman named Dave.
Although Dave is too old but he can earn money by himself, he just call some of his
customer, te business will run. Besides that in his funeral ceremony many people come
to give him the final respect. That’s why Willy chooses to be a salesman than go to
Alaska with Ben. If he follow Ben that time, maybe he is a rich man now as a failing
salesman. Suddenly Willy rememorizes the entire thing that Ben says when he is fired
Willy : “That’s right, Ben. That’s right. When I look at that man I say, what is there to worry about?”
Willy : “It’s true ben. All he has to do is going into any city, Pick up the phone and he’s making his living and you know why?” ( Miller, Act 2,997-998)
4.2.5 Bernard’s Outer Conflict
After he has been fired, Willy goes to Charley’s office. He meets Bernard
there. Bernard Is the classmate of biff but Biff doesn’t has the thing like Bernard has a
family with two sons and all of his friends are rich, but why biff doesn’t have it. In
Willy’s mind Biff is more popular than Bernard when they are in the senior high school
especially in sport. Biff is one of the best baseball & football player at that time and
Willy thinks at Biff’s life is ended because his failure in the Ebbet Field game. Bernard
doesn’t get the same opinion with Willy. The biggest failure in life is he doesn’t attend
the iniversity because he has flunked by the math teacher. Willy rememorizes all the
things that happen at that time and suddenly he becomes angry to Bernard because he
remembers on something and he realizes that is absolutely his false.
Willy : (angrily) “Nothing. What do you mean, ‘what happened?’ what’s that got to do with anything?” Bernard : “Well, don’t get sore.”
Willy : “What are you trying to do, blame it on me? If a boy lays do is that my fault?”
Bernard :” Now, Willy, don’t get…”
Willy : “Well, don’t, don’t talk to me that way! What does that mean ‘ what happened?” (Miller, Act 2, 1003)
Outer conflict can be divided into four :
1) The conflict between character and other character
2) The conflict between character and nature
The conflict between character and other character
In this play, Willy is in conflict with :
Biff Loman, he is the oldest son of Willy.
Actually willy loves and proud of Biff. But after biff becomes an adult, he and
biff don’t like each other. He thinks that Biff has bad behaviour. He is a lazy person. On
the other hand, Biff also has the reason why he hates his father. Biff thinks that his
father has no character. His father already has a woman who loves him much, Linda
who is also his mother. But why he does not feel satisfaction with it. Willy has an affair
with other woman in Boston.
Charley, as Willy’s neighbor.
Willy likes to underestimated Charley. Willy is jealous to Charley because
charley has his own business. Charley doesn’t need to spent te time in the road and
along time to earn money but he must do it and only earns a small amount of money.
Anyway, Charley is the best friend of him and always helps him.
Happy, the youngest son of Willy.
Willy also has the conflict with Happy but the conflict is not as big as the
conflict with Biff. Willy only underestimated Happy by saying that Happy’s income
cannot fulfill their needs. Willy thinks how Happy’s low income can retire him from his
job.
Howard Wagner, the boss of Willy.
Willy has the conflict with Howard because Howard refuses his request to
having a New York job. Howard is not only refuses Willy’s favor to work in New York
Bernard, the son of Charley and also the classmate of Biff.
Willy has the conflict with Bernard because Bernard says that Biff will flunk
math. Willy doesn’t like Bernard says it to him because he thinks that Biff is a clever
boy and three of University are waiting for him.
The conflict between Character and Nature
Willy has the conflict with the nature. According to the nature law, human
being will be old and of course Willy as a human being will get older. When human
being is getting old he will lose the ability for doing something. For example his sight is
not clear as before and he will easy to get tired. Willy also gets this problem but he does
not realize it.
Linda : “but you’re sixty year old. They can expect you to keep traveling every week.”
Willy : “I’ll have to send a wire to Portland. I’m supposed to see brown and Morrison tomorrow morning at ten o’clock to show the line. Good admit, I could sell them!” (he starts putting on his jacket). (Miller, Act 1, 953)
When Willy leaves home at the morning, he forgets to take his glasses. Linda
notices him about his glasses because Linda knows that he will find difficulties in his
sight if he does not wear the glasses. After Linda reminds him, he realizes that glasses
are very important for him. In his sixty year old, Willy often forgets to take his things.
Linda : (calling after him a she runs to the kitchen table for a handkerchief). “You got your glasses?” Willy : (feel for them, then comes back in). “Yeah, yeah, got my glasses.”
Linda : “ And your saccharine?”
Willy : “Yeah, my saccharine.” ( Miller, Act 2, 990)
Willy is the New England man. So, he thinks that he may not do his job in
New York because New York is not him home town. New york is not suit him to do a
job. So, he should travel out of New York to earn money. This is a conflict with the
nature, Willy argue that New York is not unfamiliar with him.
Linda : “Willy, dear. Talk to them again. There’s no reason why you can’t work in New York.”
Willy : “They don’t need me in New York. I’m the New England man. I’m vital in New England.” (Miller, Act 1, 952)
Willy has never realized that he is old. Every time Linda tell him not to travel
again, he doesn’t listen to Linda’s advice. He thinks that he is still a young Willy who
can do all the things including for traveling everyday. On fact, he needs glasses to make
his sight clear. From this conditions, it means will is old his sight has a little of problem.
Willy states that New York is not his place for doing business. He is a New England
man. He’s vital in New England. In this case, Willy has the conflict with the nature,
that’s New York.
The conflict between Character and Societies
Willy also has the conflict with the societies. As a salesman Willy need
customers to buy something from him. Although Willy is proud of himself because he
knows a lot of people but he has only a few of customers. The customers just pass him
income by buying his goods. Customers are a society. Willy doesn’t like the costumers,
it means he has the conflict with the society.
The society calls him as Walrus. Willy is fat and they think that Willy is look
likes the sea animal – Walrus. Willy doesn’t like they call him with the animal name.
So, when Christmas and he comes to F.H Steward, he cracked across the face of one of
a salesman because he hears that he calls him Walrus.
Willy thinks that the society in present is not like the society in the past. The
society in past is kind and more respect to other persons. He knows it when he meets
the old salesman, Dave Singleman. Dave is a eighty-four years old salesman but he still
can sell his goods because the customers are respect him. When Dave died, his funeral
is very crowned. But now all of the respect, comradeship are cut and dried. From will’s
statements about the society in present, we know how the feeling of Willy’s. Willy
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusions
There are two kinds of conflict in this play, inner conflict and outer conflict.
Inner conflict is the conflict which goes on the mind of the hero and between him and a
goal he has set himself. Outer conflict is the conflict between characters in a play.
Willy and biff have two kinds of conflict in their life, inner conflict and outer
conflict. Willy has the outer conflict with :
Biff Loman, his oldest son,
Charley, his neighbor,
Happy, his youngest son,
Howard Wagner, his boss,
Bernard, Biff’s classmates.
Willy Loman has the inner conflict. There are many causes that make Willy fall
into inner conflict. One of them is because he gets paid very low. His lowincome makes
him depressed and this low income is no appropriate for an average American after
World War II. Jealous is the prime factor that makes Willy fall into outer conflict. Biff
is attacked by inner conflict because he is a son that his father too much. Because of he
knows that his father has an affair with another woman in Boston, he hates his father.
Every time, he wants to talk to his father, he will remember to the woman in the
Boston’s hotel room. Actually he doesn’t hate his father.
As a final point, I would like to give several suggestions after analyzing the play
completely. Based on the analyzing of Arthur Miller’s play, I recognizes that Arthur
Miller’s play entitled Death of A Salesman deals with conflict.
I want to remind the readers to minimize conflict in their life because conflict
will gave the bad effect for them, and other persons. Another, committing suicide by the
person who has the problem in his life is not the best solution. He may think that his
life and his problem will and after he died. But his family will be sad all the time and
feel regret of his action in committing suicide.
I realizes that it is essential to recognize the moral teaching from a literary work.
Good knowledge about the similar problem would bring benefit for all the community.
For this reasons, I hopes this thesis may educate the young generations in the right
viewpoint. Therefore, I suggest the students of English Literature to write their thesis
dealing with Arthur Miller on Death of A Salesman from other plays. They bring many
benefits in knowledge, and also improve the English Languange comprehension. In
closing this thesis, I hopes that this thesis can be of some help for students of English
Literature who wish to enrich their knowledge about English literature especially about
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brook. C, Purser, J.T., and Warren, R.P. 1964. An Approach to Literature. New Jersey : Prentice Hall.
Cicero. 1929. European Theorities of the Drama. Revised Edition. New York.
Collin, William. 1984. Collins Dictionary of English Language. London :
William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.
Corrigan, W. Robert. 1817. Comedy Meaning and Form. Second Edition. New York : Harper and Row.
Gassner, John. 1952. Best American Plays. New York : Crown.
Hatlen W. Theodore. 1928. Drama Principles and Plays. New York : Meredith Publishing Company.
Horstein. 1968. The Readers Companion to World Literature. New York : Peter Davis London
Judith A. Stanford. 2003. Responding to Literary : Stories, Poems, Plays and Essay. New York : The Graw Hill Companies, Inc.
Miller, Arthur. 1949. Death of A Salesman . England : Viking Penguin.
Palmer, D.J. 1984. Comedy : Developments in Criticis. Macmilan.
Styan, J. L. 1968. The Dark Comedy : The Development of Modern Comic Tragedy. England : Cambridge University Press
. A Brief History of Drama – Life 123
APPENDIX I
SUMMARY
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Willy loman, a mercurial sixty-years old salesman with calluses on his hands,
returns home tired and confused. His wife Linda greets him,but worries that he has
smashed the car. He reassures her that nothing has happened, but tells her that he only
got as far as Yonkers and does not remember all of the details of his trip, he kept
swerving into the shoulder of the road, and had to drive slowly to return home. Linda
tells him that he needs to rest his mind, and that he should work in New York, but he
feels that he is not needed there. He thinks that if Frank Wagner were alive he would be
in charge of New York., but his son, Howard, does not appreciate him as much. Linda
tells him how Happy, his younger son, took Biff, his oldest son, out on a double-date,
and it was nice to see them both at home. She reminds Willy not to losehis temper with
Biff, but willy feels that there is an undercurrent of resentment in Biff. Linda says that
Biff is crestfallen and admires Willy. They argue about whether or not Biff is lazy, and
Willy believes that Biff is a a person who will get started later in life, and Willy believes
that biff is a person who will get started later in life, like as Edison or B.F. Goodrich.
Biff loman, at thirty-four, is well-built but not at self-assured. Happy, two years
younger, is equally tall and powerful, but is confused because he has never risked
faiure. The two brothers discuss their father, thinking that his condition is deteriorating.
Biff wonders why his father mocks him, but Happy says that he merely wants Biff to
live up to his potential. Biff claims he has had twenty or thirty different jobs since he
left home before the war, but has been fired from each. He reminisces about herding
cattle and wistfully remembers working outdoors. Biff worries that he is still merely a
boy, while happy says that despite the fact that he has his own car, apartment, and
plenty of woman he is still unfulfilled. Happy believes that he should not have to take
orders at work from men over whom he is physically superior. He also talks about how
he has no respect for the woman he seduces, and really wants a woman with character,
such as their mother. Biff thinks that he may try again to work for Bill Oliver, for
The play shifts in time to the loman house years before, when Biff and Happy
were teenagers. Willy reminds the teenage Biff not to make promises to any girls,
because they will always believe what you tell them I too young to consider them
seriously. Happy brags that he is losing weight, while Biff shows Willy he took from
the locker room. Willy claims that someday he’ll have his own business like Charley,
their next door neighbor. His business will be bigger than Charley’s, because Charley is
“liked, but not well-liked.” Willy brags about meeting the mayor of providence and
knowing the finest people in New England. Bernard, Charley’s son, enters and tells
Willy that he is worried that Biff will fail math class and not to be able to attend UVA.
Willy tells Bernard not to be a pest and to leave. After bernard leaves, Willy tells his
sons that bernard, like Charley, is liked but not well-liked. Willy claims that, although
Bernard gets the best grades in school, in the business world it is personality that
matters and that his sons will succeed. After the boys leave, Linda enters and Willy
discusses his wory that people don’t respect him. Linda reassures him and points out
that his sons idolize him.
Miller returns to the more recent past for a short scene that takes place in a hotel
room in Boston. A nameless woman puts on a scarf and willy tells her that he gets
lonely and worries about his business. The woman claims that she picked willy for his
sense of humor, and willy promises to see her the next time he is in Boston.
Willy, back in the kitchen with Linda, scolds her for mending her own stockings,
claiming that she should not have to do such menial things. He goes out on the porch,
where he tells Bernard to give Biff the answers to the regents exam. Bernard refuses
because it is a state exam. Linda tells willy that Biff is too rough with the girls, while
Bernard says that Biff is driving without a license and will flunk math. Willy, who hears
the voice of the woman from the hotel room, screams at linda that there is nothing
wrong with Biff, and asks her if she wants her son to be a worm like Bernard. Linda, in
tears exit into the living room.
The play returns to the past, where Willy introduces his sons to ben, whom he
calls a great man. Ben in turn boasts that his father was a great man and inventor. Willy
shows off his sons to Ben, who tells them never to fight fair with a stranger, for they
steal from the nearby construction site, but Willy says that his kids are a couple of
“fearless characters”. While Charley says that the jails are full of fearless characters,
ben says that so is the stock exchange.
The play returns to the present, where Happy and Biff ask Linda how long Willy
has been talking to himself, Linda claims that this has been going on for years, and she
would have told Biff if she had an address at which she could contact him. She
confronts Biff about his animosity toward Willy, but Biff claims that he is trying to
change his behaviour. He tells linda that she should dye her hair again, for the doesn’t
want his mother to look old. Linda asks Biff if he cares about Willy for if he doesn’t he
cannot care about her. Finally, she tells her sons that willy has attempted suicide by
trying to drive his car off a bridge, and by hooking a tube up to the gas heater in the
basement. She says that willy is not a great man, but is a human being and “attention
must be paid” to him. Biff relents and promises not to fight with his father. He tells his
parents that he will go to see Bill Oliver to talk about a sporting goods business he could
start with Happy. Willy claims that if biff had stayed with Oliver he would be on top by
now.
The next day, Willy sits in the kitchen, feeling rested for the first time in months,
Linda claims that biff has a new, hopeful attitude, and the two dram about buying a
little place in the country. Willy says that he will talk to Howard Wagner today and ask
to be taken off the road. As soon as Willy leaves, Linda gets a phone call from Biff.
She tells him that the pipe Willy connected to the gas heater is gone.
At the office of Howard Wagner, Willy’s boss. Howard shows Willy his new
wire recorder as willy attempts to ask for a job in New York. Howard insists that is a
road man, but Willy claims that it is time for him to be more settled. He has the right to
it because he has been in the firm since howard was achild, and even named him. Willy
claims that there is is no room for personality or friendship in the salesman position
anymore, and begs for any sort of salary, giving lower and lower figures. Willy insists
that howard’s father made promises to him. Howard leaves, and Willy leans on his desk,
turning on the wire recorder. This frighten Willy, who shouts for howard. Howard
