Through Linda Loman, Arthur Miller is trying to prove the theme that the Loman's actually are average. Miller uses Linda's character to repeatedly reinforce this fact. He shows her continually trying to both protect Willy from the truth as well as facilitating him in his delusion.
             Willy Loman, Linda's husband, tries to make himself, and the family, believe/seem to be more than average and well liked. Linda helps him to believe this by agreeing and playing along, even though she knows that the Loman's are just "a dime a dozen (132)." When Linda and Willy discuss Biff, she contends that he is just lost about what he wants in life. Willy, on the other hand, argues that Biff can't be lost because of his personal attractiveness and hard workmanship. Willy feels that a Loman is above average, therefore, they can't get lost. This is shown by the following quote, "Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such-personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There's one thing about Biff-he's not lazy (16)." In the quote, "He's the dearest man in the world to me, and I won't have anyone making him feel unwanted and low and blue (55)," Linda shows that she will play along with Willy about being well liked and above average because she doesn't want him to fell unwanted or low.
             Linda doesn't want her son Happy to know the truth of the matter, even though he does know it and plays along for the better of his father, just like Linda does. Happy sees what Linda does to keep Willy happy. For example, "He's going to see Bill Oliver, Pop (62)," Happy mentions this to Willy so that Willy feels that the Loman's are well liked because Biff is getting a bigger chance to make it big in the business world. When Happy is planning the celebration for Biff, possibly making a big deal with ...