WILLY: They laugh at me, heh? Go to Filene’s, go to the Hub, go to Slattery’s, Boston. Call out the name Willy Loman and see what happens! Big shot!
BIFF: All right, Pop.
WILLY: Big!
BIFF: All right!

– Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman, Act 1. In an argument with his son Biff, Willy goes off on another flight of fancy. Blinding himself to reality, he puffs himself up with pride in the belief that he is a very successful salesman. This of course is not true. Willy is a mediocre salesman who has fallen on hard times and is lying to himself.