This content is from Wikipedia. We do not consider this content professional or citable. Please use your discretion when relying on it. GradeSaver also offers a professionally written study guide by one of our staff editors.

Characters

Major characters: The Loman Family

Willy Loman

An old salesman (63 years old) who is no longer able to earn a living. He receives only a small commission as he ages, and he slowly loses his mind and attempts to kill himself by inhaling gas from the water heater or from crashing his Studebaker. Idolizes Dave Singleman to become well liked and rich. He spends most of his time dreaming instead of doing anything to improve his life. He is obsessed with the post-war interpretation of the American Dream. In the end he kills himself by crashing his car, hoping to get the life insurance money for his family (although specifically Biff).

Linda Loman

Willy's wife who aids in shielding Willy from reality. Linda enables Willy and despite obvious faults, she continues to allow Willy to make mistakes and does not help him. She also tries to rationalize many of Willy's actions, including his attempted suicide.

Biff Loman

The older son of Willy and Linda and the all-star athlete of the family. After discovering his father had an affair, he abandoned all of his dreams and set out to make his own way. Unfortunately he cannot escape his past or what he was taught as a child. He comes to realize that he was only fooling himself into believing in lies about his life.

Happy Loman

The younger son of Willy and Linda, epitomizes all of Willy's negative points, such as Willy's blind following of the American dream, as mentioned above. Happy is generally supportive of his father. He seems to only worry about making his parents notice him even if it means making up lies.

Ben Loman

Willy's wealthy and recently deceased older brother, who only appears during his time shifts. Willy looks up to him and his successful tapping of diamonds from Africa. He is the subject of many of Willy's hallucinations.

Other characters

• Charley: Willy's neighbour. Sympathetic to Willy's plight, his job offer to Willy was rejected mainly out of hubris. He is forced to stand by and watch Willy's death as his help is rejected.
• Bernard: Charley's son. Is the antithesis of Biff, mostly due to the parenting of his father. An "anaemic", worried, "worm" of a boy, he grows to become a successful lawyer and gets to the top of his profession. He tries to help Biff by asking him to study before his Regent's exam, but is shunned by Willy, who emphasises likeability and personality above intelligence. As an adult, he doesn't push his success into Willy's face when he encounters him, but remains sympathetic and tactful.
• Dave Singleman: Willy's model. As Willy puts it, "he died the death of a salesman" (from which the play's title comes). Singleman has long since passed away by the time the play begins. He was an eighty-four-year-old salesman who died on a train, wearing his slippers. Willy noticed that numerous businessmen attended Singleman's funeral, and concluded that Singleman had been well-liked and popular, the two traits that Willy values above all else.
• Howard Wagner: Willy's boss. Inherited company from father; fires Willy shortly before the end of the play. Insensitive, he parades a tape recorder before Willy which he knows he is unable to afford - a symbol of the modern businessman.
• Stanley: A waiter. Refuses Willy's money and lends a hand to help Willy return home after his sons leave him.
• Miss Forsythe: A woman who Biff and Happy meet in the restaurant where Stanley works. She draws Biff and Happy away from the dinner they planned with their father.
• Letta: A woman that Biff and Happy meet, friend of Miss Forsythe.
• The Woman: Willy's mistress, referred to by Willy as "Miss Francis". Sight of her with Willy forever scars Biff.
• Jenny: Charley's secretary.