Linda comforts Willy

Linda Loman, Willy's devoted wife, tries to soothe him after his early return. She suggests he ask his boss, Howard Wagner, for a job in New York so he won't have to travel. Willy reminisces about the old days when the company was run by Howard's father, Frank Wagner, a man he admired. He complains about the modern world, the apartment houses that have boxed in his home, and the lack of fresh air. Linda gently tries to manage his mood, offering him cheese and urging him to rest. Their conversation reveals the couple's financial strain and Willy's deep-seated anxiety about his worth.