The play begins with Willy Loman, a 63-year-old salesman, returning home from a failed business trip. He is exhausted and discouraged, and he has just been fired from his job. Willy's wife, Linda, tries to comfort him, but he is inconsolable. He feels like a failure, and he is afraid that he will never be able to provide for his family.
Willy's two sons, Biff and Happy, are also home. Biff is a 34-year-old man who has never been able to find a steady job. Happy is a 32-year-old man who is more successful than his brother, but he is also unhappy. He feels like he is living in his father's shadow, and he is not sure what he wants to do with his life.
The act ends with Willy having a hallucination of his brother, Ben. Ben tells Willy that he should commit suicide so that his family can collect on his life insurance policy.
Act 2
The second act takes place in the past, when Willy and Linda were first married. Willy is a young man full of hope and ambition. He believes that he is going to be a great salesman, and he is determined to provide for his family. Linda is a young woman who is in love with Willy. She believes in him, and she is confident that he will achieve his dreams.
The act ends with Willy and Linda having a fight. Willy is angry because Linda has been criticizing him. He tells her that he is not a failure, and that he will prove her wrong.
Act 3
The third act takes place in the present day. Willy's condition is deteriorating, and he is becoming increasingly delusional. He has hallucinations of Ben and other people from his past. He also begins to lose track of reality, and he starts to believe that he is still a young man.
The act ends with Willy committing suicide. He drives his car off a bridge, and he is killed.
The Death of a Salesman is a tragedy about the American dream. Willy Loman is a man who has devoted his life to pursuing the American dream, but he has ultimately failed to achieve it. He is a victim of the American system, which emphasizes materialism and success. Willy's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of pursuing the American dream at all costs.