Howard Wagner Character Analysis in Death of a Salesman

Willy's boss and the son of Frank Wagner, who founded the company for which Willy works. A cold, selfish man, he inherits his success without building anything himself. He refuses to take the personal association between Willy and his father into account when he tells Willy there is no place for him at the New York office. He represents the new, impersonal face of the sales business.

Howard Wagner Quotes in Death of a Salesman

The Death of a Salesman quotes below are all either spoken by Howard Wagner or refer to Howard Wagner. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

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Willy: Your father came to me the day you were born and asked me what I thought of the name of Howard, may he rest in peace.

Howard: I appreciate that, Willy, but there just is no spot here for you.

Related Characters: Willy Loman (speaker), Howard Wagner (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 59-60

Explanation and Analysis:

Howard Wagner Character Timeline in Death of a Salesman

The timeline below shows where the character Howard Wagner appears in Death of a Salesman. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...though he adds that now the founder of the company is dead and his son, Howard Wagner, does not appreciate Willy's history of service. (full context)

...that night, Linda asks Willy what Biff has against him, and reminds him to ask Howard Wagner for a sales position in New York. He tells her he is too tired... (full context)

Linda then reminds Willy to ask Howard Wagner for a salaried non-traveling position in New York. She also tells him to ask... (full context)

Willy arrives at Howard Wagner's office, and timidly enters. Howard is playing with a wire recorder he bought for... (full context)

When Howard gets around to asking why Willy isn't in Boston, Willy explains that he doesn't want... (full context)

...honorable, full of potential, and "the greatest career a man could want." He complains to Howard that there is no friendship or respect in the business anymore. (full context)

Willy continues to mention Howard's father and lowers his salary requirement, but Howard is uninterested. He leaves his office to... (full context)

Howard comes back in and unplugs the tape recorder. He tells Willy that he is no... (full context)

Howard leaves, and Willy slips into a memory in which Ben is offering him an opportunity... (full context)