<Li> William "Willy" Loman: The salesman . He is 63 years old and unstable, insecure, and self - deluded . Willy tends to re-imagine events from the past as if they were real . He vacillates between different eras of his life . Willy seems childlike and relies on others for support, coupled with his recurring flashbacks to various moments throughout his career . His first name, Willy, reflects this childlike aspect as well as sounding like the question "Will he?" His last name gives the feel of Willy's being a "low man", someone who won't succeed; however, this popular interpretation of his last name was dismissed by Miller, who stated his name is this due to his relation to the English queen . </Li> <Li> Linda Loman: Willy's loyal and loving wife . Linda is passively supportive and docile when Willy talks unrealistically about hopes for the future, although she seems to have a good knowledge of what is really going on . She chides her sons, particularly Biff, for not helping Willy more, and supports Willy lovingly even though Willy sometimes treats her poorly, ignoring her opinions over those of others . She is the first to realize that Willy is contemplating suicide at the beginning of the play, and urges Biff to make something of himself, while expecting Willy to help Biff do so . </Li> <Li> Biff Loman: Willy's elder son . Biff was a football star with a lot of potential in high school, but failed math his senior year and dropped out of summer school when he saw Willy with another woman while visiting him in Boston . He wavers between going home to try to fulfill Willy's dream for him as a businessman or ignoring his father by going out West to be a farmhand where he feels happy . He likes being outdoors and working with his hands, yet wants to do something worthwhile so Willy will be proud of him . Biff steals because he wants evidence of success, even if it is false evidence, but overall Biff remains a realist and informs Willy that he is just a normal guy and will not be a great man . </Li> <Li> Harold "Happy" Loman: Willy's younger son . He's lived in the shadow of his older brother Biff most of his life and seems to be almost ignored, but he still tries to be supportive towards his family . He has a restless lifestyle as a womanizer and dreams of moving beyond his current job as an assistant to the assistant buyer at the local store, but he is willing to cheat a little in order to do so, by taking bribes . He is always looking for approval from his parents, but he rarely gets any, and he even goes as far as to make things up just for attention, such as telling his parents he is going to get married . He tries often to keep his family's perceptions of each other positive or "happy" by defending each of them during their many arguments, but still has the most turbulent relationship with Linda, who looks down on him for his lifestyle and apparent cheapness, despite his giving them money . </Li>

Synopsis of the play death of a salesman