The Loman Brothers' Business Dream
Death of a SalesmanFollows the fantasy of Biff and Happy going into business together as the Loman Brothers, a plan that never materializes but reveals their shared aspirations.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
The Idea Is Born

A Dream of Partnership
Happy's Suggestion
Happy proposes that he and Biff form a sporting goods business, with exhibitions and promotions. He calls it the Loman Brothers. Biff is enthusiastic, and Willy is ecstatic.
The Fantasy Grows
Willy envisions them as a team that could lick the civilized world. The plan becomes a symbol of the family's hope for redemption. It is a pipe dream, but it momentarily unites them.
The Flawed Foundation
The plan is based on Biff's fictional relationship with Bill Oliver and Happy's desire to escape his dead-end job. It has no real substance, but it provides a temporary escape from reality.
The Dream Dies

The Illusion Shatters
Biff's Failure
Biff's failed attempt to get a loan from Oliver destroys the plan. He admits that he never was a salesman, and the Loman Brothers idea is revealed as a fantasy.
Happy's Clinging
Despite the failure, Happy continues to cling to the dream. At the funeral, he vows to win the racket for Willy and mentions the Loman Brothers again. He refuses to let go.
The Diverging Paths
Biff abandons the dream, while Happy insists on carrying it forward. The brothers' split reflects their different responses to their father's legacy: one chooses self-knowledge, the other chooses denial.
First night, present day
Later that night, after the restaurant