First performed in 1949, Death of a Salesman is a play by Arthur Miller that explores the promises and perils of the American Dream. As the Loman family struggles with what it means to be successful and happy in post-war America, its members serve as symbolic representations of the struggle to define that dream. Explore a character analysis of Willy Loman, the plot summary, and important quotes.

Summary

Read one-minute Sparklet summaries, the detailed scene-by-scene Summary & Analysis, the Full Play Summary, or the Full Play Analysis of Death of a Salesman.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Death of a Salesman and in-depth analyses of Willy Loman, Biff Loman, Happy Loman, and more.

Literary Devices

Here's where you will find analysis of the key literary devices in Death of a Salesman.

Questions & Answers

Explore our selection of frequently asked questions about Death of a Salesman and find the answers you need.

Quick Quizzes

Test your knowledge of Death of a Salesman with quizzes about every section, major characters, themes, symbols, and more.

Essays

Learn more about Death of a Salesman by reading a sample essay, mini-essays, and suggested essay topics.

Further Study

Go further in your study of Death of a Salesman with background information about William Shakespeare and the novel, as well as suggestions for further reading.