Summaries and Analyses of Lit - Death of a Salesman

This play was written by Arthur Miller in 1949. The play is set in New York. Throughout the play, we see a hotel in Boston, the Loman's house, the office of Willy's boss, and Charlie's office, although the house is most important set. Many of these settings are seen through Willy's flashbacks, which are numerous and give us a good idea of life before the play starts as well as introduces us to Willy's brother, Ben. Ben, now deceased,  supposedly got rich in Alaska and is a role model for Willy, almost a god-like figure in Willy's life. Willy Loman is the main character. He is a traveling salesman through New England. To Willy, the most important things in life are being financially secure and well-liked, a belief he imposes on his sons. His eldest son, Biff, is back at home, trying to find a job in business in the City. We learn that Biff is not meant for business as he wants to be out west.  The younger son, Happy, tries constantly to please his parents, saying "I'm getting married, Mom". Their mother, Linda, is also only trying to please Willy, despite him constantly yelling at her. The plot follows Willy's deterioration, as he loses his job and slips further and further into his flashbacks.
Symbols are important in Death of a Salesman. For example, stockings are representative of infidelity and betrayal on Willy's part as he is buying new stockings for the woman he is sleeping with, in order to make a sale, which means he cannot buy new stockings for Linda. There are important motifs in the play, as well, such as the American West, the jungle, and Alaska. These are referenced when talking about Biff or Ben. The jungle and Alaska have to do with Willy's failure where his father and brother succeeded. The American West is a part of Biff's potential, as it is the place where he feels most like himself and the happiest.
"I want you to know... that you cut down your life for spite!" Willy says this to Biff and it is a great example of Willy's selfishness. Even when he is angry at Biff for something that Biff wants, he believes it is all about him, done simply to spite him.
"Isn't that - isn't that remarkable? Biff - he likes me!" Willy says that after fighting with Biff. This shows Willy's intense need to be well-liked as well as his desire to be a good father.
THEME: Miller is telling his audience that success comes from being true to yourself, not from financial success and being well-liked, as Willy believes.
Things to support theme: 
Setting - Willy, who has worked all his life to be wealthy and well-liked, finds himself living in a dreary house with little money to speak of.
Motifs - The motifs of Alaska and the jungle help us to understand Willy's failure, especially financially. The west, on the other hand, represents Biff's potential. If he stays true to himself and what he wants, he will go west and be able to meet his full potential as a human being.