LINDA (To Willy, while Ben laughs): Why must everybody conquer the world? You’re well liked, and the boys love you and someday – (to Ben) – why, old man Wagner told him just the other day that if he keeps it up he’ll be a member of the firm, didn’t he, Willy?
– Arthur Miller
Death of a Salesman, Act 2. In offering these words of encouragement to Willy, Linda shows that she shares the same world of make-believe as her husband. She doesn’t want Willy to take up his brother Ben’s invitation to leave his family and go to work for him in Alaska. Instead she deceives herself into believing that Willy is well liked in the job, his sons love him and he has a promising future with the company he works for.