Inner Conflict in Death of a Salesman The main conflict in Death of a Salesman has to do with Willy Lowman's confusion and frustration. These feelings are caused by his inability to deal with the realities of modern society. Willy's most important illusion is that success depends on popularity and personal attractiveness. Willy builds his entire life around this idea and teaches it to his children. When Willy was young, he met a man named Dave Singleman who was so well-liked that he could make a living simply by staying in his hotel room and calling buyers. When Dave Singleman died, buyers and sellers from all over the country came to his funeral. This is what Willy has tried to emulate his entire life. Willy's need to feel well-liked is so strong that he often makes up lies about his popularity and success. Sometimes Willy believes these lies too. At one point in the play, Willy tells his family how much he is appreciated in all his towns and how vital he is to New England. Later, however, he tells Linda that no one remembers him and that people laugh at him behind his back. As this shows, Willy's need to feel well-liked also makes him intensely paranoid. When his son Biff, for example, tries to explain why he cannot succeed, Willy believes that Biff is just trying to spite him. Unfortunately, Willy never realizes that his values ​​are wrong. As Biff points out at the end of the play, "he had the wrong dreams." In many ways Biff is similar to his father. At the beginning of the show we see that Biff shares many of the same ideas as Willy. He values ​​being well-liked above all else and sees little value in being intelligent or honest. One of... middle of the card... really loves it. Death of a Salesman chronicles Willy Lowman's frustration and his inability to deal with the realities of modern society. Willy believes that success depends on popularity and personal attractiveness. Willy builds his entire life around this idea and teaches it to his children. He later discovers that he has built his life around an illusion. Works consulted Eisinger, Chester E. "Focus on Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman': The Wrong Dreams", in American Dreams, American Nightmares, (1970 rpt In clc. Detroit: Gale Research. 1976 vol. 6:331Foster, Richard J. (Confusion and Tragedy: The Failure of Miller's 'Salesman' (1959) rpt in clc. Detroit: Gale Research. 1983 vol. 26:316Gardner, R.H. "Tragedy of the Lowest Man," in his Splintered Stage: (1965 ) rpt in clc. Detroit: Gale Research 1983 vol6:320