Have you ever felt compelled to reconcile your past uncertainties and worries with new or present situations in the pursuit of a life full of sense ? Or in the case of Death of a Salesman, a pursuit of the American dream. In “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman, the protagonist, is a salesman blinded by his constructed societal ideals. Self-deception indirectly affects him and his environment, including the people around him. Willy's misconceptions affect the standards of a meaningful life that he has created throughout his life. These standards guide him towards an accentuated view of who he is and what he wants to achieve, subsequently negatively influencing his eldest son Biff Loman and adding stress towards himself. In this play, the distinction between the two characters and their contrasting sense of comfort describes how the past uncertainties of their lives are understood and, therefore, fuel the story. Arthur Miller describes that individuals are indeed born with ideals when they are faced with the demand to reconcile their past, which creates new uncertainties to which a solution must be found. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayWilly Loman was an unsuccessful salesman who was once revered by those around him. At the beginning of the play, it is evident that he is incapable of dictating the course of his life, which is why he constantly refutes himself to establish that no matter what happens, he is right and his opinion is accepted. These multiple contradictions show that Willy is indeed worried about the possibility of receiving negative comments and judgments. Willy has consciously constructed ideals that suggest that appearance goes a long way in determining the success of your future and advises his sons that they should be "well-liked" and "loved and (they) will never want it" . Willy remembers the time when his sons, Biff Loman and Happy Loman, were out cleaning his car, the Chevrolet. Willy explains to Biff and Happy how financially successful his business trips have been. He explains that because of the admiration he gets, he doesn't have to wait in line. Willy interprets having people "remember" him as the ultimate satisfaction, as he claims to his sons "they know me all over New England" and "I have friends." Ultimately, teaching your sons that being loved by others is the way to flourish. your life and eliminate all worries. Although Willy is a hardworking man, these ideals, that one does not have to work to succeed, demonstrate Willy's delusional belief that life is meaningful through the admiration and acceptance of others and turn out to be false when no one, except members of one's family, succeeds. his funeral. Willy constantly attempts to gain the acceptance of others through hypocritical and deceptive stories that present him in a bright light. Willy's lack of integrity seems to be influenced by Uncle Ben who "never fights fair." In the past, he lies to his wife, Linda, about his gross earnings this week, but in reality he receives Charlie's weekly sum and Linda, aware of his financial problems, keeps his lie to herself. Linda serves as his protection against the harsh realities of the modern world by constantly lying to him and maintaining his pride in herself. Willy Loman is depicted as a protagonist who inevitably destroys himself figuratively and literally to maintain his sense of dignity and gain the "rightful" place in society. Biff Loman, on the other hand, stands in stark contrast to