Dave Singleman, like Willy, is a salesman in this play. However, unlike Willy, Dave Singleman is a very successful salesman who could make living just by calling buyers and selling products. At first, the name appeared to be ironic, because his last name is Singleman, and I thought it represents loneliness and isolation. Considering that Dave Singleman is such a great salesman, I realize that the last name “Singleman” actually was supposed to represent the fact that Dave Singleman was a remarkably influential salesman who could sell products with his own power (single man’s power).
As mentioned above, Dave Singleman is a successful salesman, unlike Willy. As a salesman, Willy knows well about Dave Singleman and admires him. The reason why Willy admires Dave Singleman is that Singleman is well-liked. Throughout the play, Willy frequently emphasizes the importance of being well-liked to his sons, Biff and Happy. Even though Willy is not a very well-liked salesman, he wants his sons to be well-liked, but the sons are not well-liked, either.
This is why Willy admires Dave Singleman, being well-liked. Willy went to Dave Singleman’s funeral and actually saw how well-liked he was. In Dave Singleman’s funeral, there were thousands of other salesman and buyers. Willy was strongly impressed by this funeral and highly admires Dave Singleman, for his being well-liked.
Apparently, as a salesman, being admired by other salesmen and being well-liked by buyers are great honors. While Willy is the case of achieving neither of the honors, Dave Singleman is the one who actually achieved both, so Willy finds Dave Singleman especially admirable, regarding salesman profession. However, just because Willy admires Dave Singleman and thinks that’s the way salesman could honorably die, it doesn’t mean Willy is only pursuing a way of dying. Of course, Willy hopes to be admired after his death, but his motivation for salesmanship also has to do with a way of living, rather than a way of dying, because he wants to be well-liked and wants to sell products well in his career.