A major theme in the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is the adverse effects pride has on the mind resulting in self-deception. For example, Miller uses a conversation between Happy and Biff early in the play to establish that Happy is not only making good money at his work, but he is so close to a promotion that “all [he] can do now is wait for the merchandise manager to die” while also having his “own apartment, a car, and plenty of women” (Miller 13). Eventually Biff shines a light exposing Happy’s self-deception, revealing the truth that Happy is “one of the two assistants to the assistant…[that Happy is] practically full of it!” (Miller 98). Miller’s portrayal of pride in Happy’s life causes the character to embellish his own
