Miller uses this idea of conformity to contrast against the importance of being an individual; the world wouldn't work if everyone was the same. Willy needs new ideas to find new success, rather than feeding off the success of others. Miller mentions the idea of David Signleman to Willy several times throughout the play. David Signleman was a successful business man that lives an easy life and Willy's life is based around this disillusioned memory. A dream that Willy Loman can't quite catch because he continues to conform to the past and present, not to the future. As a father, Willy urges his sons, Biff and Happy, to follow the morals he lives by. He wants them to be a self-proclaimed successor in business; to conform to those that surround them. "Not finding yourself at the age of 34 is a disgrace" (pg. 11) Miller descripts the disgrace Willy shows towards Biff for not finding himself. When all Biff wants to be is someone different, someone unique to the morals of Willy Loman. Ben Loman is a character that tries to break away from the 'Willy code' and find himself and what he believes in. The character of Willy draws from the fact that he was abandoned when he was young. Conforming to what was around him and what he saw due to the fact he had no one to guide or lead him on his own path. .
Through the characterization of Willy Loman and is family, Miller is able to demonstrate to the audience that acceptance is more important than being popular to be successful. Willy Loman carried false hope throughout his life. He was disappointed every time his hopes did not come true. Linda gave more hope to Willy than anyone else. Effectively pushing his poor soul over the edge. Willy's hope of being popular was trying to land him in a wonderful palace of success and happiness, in fact, it pounded him until he could stand no more. He struggled to accept the things he could not change.
