The best example of physical action in Death of a Salesman is the scene between Willy and Biff involving the woman. In this scene Willy and the woman are in a hotel room together when a knock is heard. Willy does everything he can to avoid answering the door, but eventually has to. Before he answers the door he orders the woman into the bathroom. When he answers the door Biff is there. To Biffs surprise there was a half-dressed woman in his father hotel room. Willy, in an attempt not to ruin what little respect his son has for him, makes up a lie to cover himself, but the woman blows it. After the woman leaves Willy tells Biff that she is a buyer, but Biff knows better and Willy begins to break down. At this point I think that Willy knows he has lost the respect of his son, the respect that meant so much to him. I think the loss of respect and the feeling of uselessness eventually leads to his death. There are many examples of psychological action in this play. One of the best examples is the scene between Willy and Howard when Willy loses his job. Being a salesman is all that Willy has ever known. He knew it wasnt the most respectable job, but it put food on the table. Willy goes in to tell Howard that he does not want to travel anymore. Howard tells him that there are no other positions available for him. Willy offers to take several pay cuts, but Howard will not give him another job. At this point Willy has realized that he just lost everything that his boys respected him for. After this he starts hallucinating about the opportunity that he has to go to Alaska and make money. Because he can no longer make a living and support his children he begins to think about killing himself so that Linda could pay off the house with the money she would get from the life insurance policy. He believes that they need the money more than they need him. Willy is so passionate about achieving the American dream that in the end ...
