Vocabulary in Death of a Salesman

In an unpredictable, uncontrolled way — here describing driving that keeps drifting or stopping without reason, signaling that Willy is losing his grip on reality.

Showing that you think something or someone is worthless and beneath you; here Willy uses it to describe the humiliating, groveling behavior he hates himself for performing at work.

A demand that a person's suffering not be ignored or dismissed — Linda insists Willy deserves serious, respectful notice from those around him, not indifference.

To amount to a meaningful, worthwhile life — the idea that a man's efforts and years should produce a legacy or achievement that can be measured and respected.

Genuinely popular and admired by many people; in the play this is Willy's central belief — that being personally liked is the key to business and life success.

Admired and worshipped someone so intensely that you placed them on a pedestal, seeing no faults in them; Willy treated Biff's talent as proof of guaranteed greatness.

A scene that interrupts the present action to show events from the past; in this play the past bleeds into the present as Willy hears and relives earlier moments.

Falling asleep unintentionally, especially at a moment when you need to stay awake — Willy admits he kept falling asleep while driving, which is why he came home early.

The outer skin of a fruit, discarded after the fruit is eaten; Willy uses it as a metaphor for being used up and thrown away once you are no longer profitable.

So common and ordinary as to have almost no individual value — Biff uses this idiom to reject Willy's belief that the Lomans are special or destined for greatness.

The act of being fired from a job; here it refers to Howard Wagner ending Willy's employment after decades of service, without sympathy or gratitude.

Easily broken or destroyed; used to describe Willy's optimism, which is thin and unstable, likely to collapse the moment reality pushes back against it.

Originally a Catholic Mass for the dead; here it is the title Miller gives to the final graveside scene, treating it as a formal, mournful farewell to Willy.

An archaic or dialect form of 'dare' — 'nobody dast blame this man' means nobody should dare to blame him, spoken in the plain, old-fashioned speech of Charley.

Is an unavoidable part of a particular job or way of life — Charley means that dreaming is not a flaw but an inescapable condition of being a salesman.

A long-term loan taken out to buy a house, repaid in monthly installments over many years; Linda's final payment means the house is at last fully owned — but Willy is gone.

Deliberately arranged to look like an accident; Willy's car crash is 'staged' because he intentionally causes it to appear accidental so his family can collect the insurance money.

A policy that pays a sum of money to a person's family after their death; Willy plans to kill himself so Biff can collect the payout and have the capital to succeed.

A request to be moved from a traveling sales job to a desk-based position in the home office — Willy asks for this because he can no longer safely drive long distances.

A strong, long-held hope or ambition for the future; here it refers to Willy's lifelong desire to be admired, successful, and remembered as a great man.