Linda and Happy are also drawn into the cycle of denial. Willy vacillates, sometimes criticizing Biff's laziness and ineptitude, other times praising his physical abilities and ambition. Willy wants Biff's affection and adoration as before, but instead the two constantly argue. He cannot remember what happened, so naturally he does not understand why his relationship with Biff has changed. Until the end of the play, Willy effectively blocks the affair out of his memory and commits himself to a life of denial. This is certainly the case within the Loman family. Instead, Miller demonstrates how one individual can create a self-perpetuating cycle that expands to include other individuals. Even so, it would be incorrect to state that Miller solely criticizes Willy. Hence, Willy fantasizes about lost opportunities for wealth, fame, and notoriety. And he cannot acknowledge the fact that he is only marginally successful. Willy is not an invincible father or a loyal husband or a fantastically successful salesman like he wants everyone to believe. Biff realizes that Willy has created a false image of himself for his family, society, and even for himself.

For example, prior to discovering the affair, Willy's son Biff adored Willy, believed all Willy's stories, and even subscribed to Willy's philosophy that anything is possible as long as a person is 'well-liked.' The realization that Willy is unfaithful to Linda forces Biff to reevaluate Willy and Willy's perception of the world.

Willy had an affair over 15 years earlier than the real time within the play, and Miller focuses on the affair and its aftermath to reveal how individuals can be defined by a single event and their subsequent attempts to disguise or eradicate the event.

Miller uses the Loman family - Willy, Linda, Biff, and Happy - to construct a self-perpetuating cycle of denial, contradiction, and order versus disorder. The play concludes with Willy's suicide and subsequent funeral. The play is a montage of memories, dreams, confrontations, and arguments, all of which make up the last 24 hours of Willy Loman's life. Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman addresses loss of identity and a man's inability to accept change within himself and society.

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