3.1. One of the driving inspirations for Willy's ambition to pursue the American dream. Singleman works from home, and has many connections all around the United States.
4. The Woman
4.1. Willy's fragile mind is fully uncovered when we discover his affair. The woman represents his lack of self evaluation in trying to pursue success. Willy never speaks of it again to Biff, showing his inability to overcome his mistakes.
5. Uncle Ben
5.1. Ben is who Willy longs to be. different from Dave Singleman, Ben is able to escape the urban grind and get rich quick from diamonds in Africa. After opting to stay in New York instead of going with him to Alaska, it is only until Willy discovers his success that he regrets not going, showing Willy's unhealthy desire for success and fame.
6. Howard Wagner
6.1. Howard Wagner is another contradiction to Willy's dream. Wagner inherited his company from his father, taking it in a new direction that is not forgiving to Willy. Howard represents the worlds changing ways, and its abandonment of Willy.
7. Biff
7.1. Oldest Son. Biff is compelled to get to the bottom of the failure of the Loman household. He feels as though they are misguided and seeks redemption from the fall he suffered after highschool. Biff represents the side of Willy that longs for self understanding, however Biff is not driven mad by illusions and flash backs as Willy is.
8. Happy
8.1. Youngest Son. Happy is not a particularly elegant person. A womanizer, he lies himself through the world in an attempt to reconcile the sidekick status he has had to Biff his whole life by replicating Biffs lifestyle during Highschool. In a way, Happy represents the worst side of Willy, the part that is unable to see mistakes, continuing to create a false sense of worth, instead of evaluating failure.
9. Linda
9.1. Wife. All Linda wants is for Willy to be happy, and is a force of reason in the Loman family.
10. Charley
10.1. Best friend. Charley loans money to Willy every week, which he plays off as his salary. Charley offers Willy a job, but he declines.
11. Bernard
11.1. Bernard is the son of charley, and a successful lawyer. Bernard exposes the misguided nature of Willy's idea of success, as Willy passes him off for a nerd, telling Biff that he will never succeed in the business world, but ends up becoming a hard working lawyer, and not even participating in the field of business.
12. Symbols
13. Themes
14. The American Dream
14.1. Willy is convinced of the idea that an individual who is "well liked", and "personally attractive", will acquire the resources to achieve material success in the business world. This causes issues for Willy such as only seeing the value in work that tries at fame and glory.
15. Abandonment
15.1. When Willy and his brother Ben were very young, their father abandoned them, leaving behind no money, and no notable legacy, leaving Willy to compensate by trying to overprovide for his family.
16. Betrayal
16.1. Willy believes that Biff owes him full commitment to the American dream. However, Biff disagrees, instead longing to work in the Midwest. Willy sees this as Biffs betrayal of him.
17. Diamonds
17.1. Diamonds represent the material possessions that Willy seeks. They represent the quantifiable result of achieving success like his brother Ben, and the desire the flaunt that wealth to others.
18. Rubber Hose
18.1. Willy's attempts to asphyxiate himself demonstrate his lust for material success and how, like oxygen, is essential to his survival.
19. Seeds
19.1. Seeds are shown at the end of the play where Willy attempts to plant carrots in their backyard in the dark of night, symbolizing Willy's desire to provide for his family, in his misguided view of success.
20. Stockings
20.1. Stockings in the play represent Willy's betrayal of Linda and Biff, as well as his desire to show his material worth.
21. Madness
21.1. Willy is incapable of accepting the fact that he is a mediocre salesman, and is in constant denial of his failures both in his personal, and business life, bringing him to the brink of madness.
