“Death of a Salesman” salesman

LOMAN

This tragic protagonist shares his last name with a struggling traveler who believes charm alone will bring success. Think of a four-letter surname that sounds like "low man.

This clue refers to the main character in Arthur Miller’s famous play Death of a Salesman. The salesman’s last name is Loman—Willy Loman—so the answer is simply his surname. The play is a well-known tragedy about the American Dream, making the name instantly recognizable to many. No wordplay here, just a direct reference to the title’s protagonist.