Summary Death of a Salesman- Act Two

Death of a Salesman
Act Two Revision
Characters in DOAS:
 Willy Loman
 Linda
 Biff
 Happy
 Charley
 Bernard
 Howard Wagner
 Uncle Ben
 The Woman
 Miss Forsythe
 Letta
 Jenny
 Stanley
 Bill Oliver (has no lines)

, Plot Summary:

Loman Household
 Willy awakes in high spirits, hopeful about Biff’s meeting with Bill Oliver.
 Willy speaks of his plans to ask Howard Wagner to take him off of the road.
 Linda reminds Willy to ask for an advancement because bills are piling up.
 Boosting Willy’s confidence, Linda tells Willy that Biff and Happy are taking him out
for dinner.

Howard’s Office
 Willy arrives at Howard’s office to find that Howard is distracted by his new tape
recorder.
 Howard rejects Willy’s request and tells him that there’s no place for him in the
team.
 Willy reminds Howard that he worked with his father and that he has been at the
company for a long time.
 Howard continues to refuse.
 Howard tells Willy that the firm would be better without him.
 Willy continues to beg Howard, offering himself at lower and lower pay rates.

 The situation distresses Willy to the point that he’s talking with Ben in his imaginary
world.
 Ben asks Willy to join him in Alaska and Willy tries to convince imaginary Linda to get
on board with the scheme.
 Imaginary Linda refuses.
 Young Biff and Happy enter as Willy’s boasting to Ben about how his sons are
attractive and well-liked.
 Willy then begs Ben to stay and help him raise Biff and Happy. Ben leaves.
 Young Bernard and Charley enter. Charley teases Willy about his enthusiasm. This
annoys Willy.

Charley’s Office
 Willy visits Charley to ask for money.
 Bernard, now a successful attorney, chats with Willy and asks about Biff.
 Willy asks Bernard his secret to success and confesses that Biff isn’t accomplishing
anything.
 Bernard recalls Biff failing maths and then intending to take the summer course to
get himself into college.
 Bernard describes how Biff visited Willy in Boston before going to summer school. He
then goes on to say that Biff was different when he returned.
 Willy becomes angry and defensive, stating that nothing happened and that he isn’t
to blame.
 Charley enters and tells Willy about the case Bernard is going to argue. Willy is
shocked by Bernard’s accomplishment.
 Charley offers Willy a stable job after Willy asks him to increase the money sum.
 Willy insists that he has a good job (even though he has been fired).
 Willy takes Charley’s offer as an attack and breaks down after arguing with him.