What describes one of the central tensions in Death a Salesman?

One of the central tensions in Death of a Salesman is between Willy Loman's self-delusion and the reality of his situation. Willy clings to the belief that he is a successful businessman and will soon reap the rewards of his hard work. However, his actions (like lying to the company to cover up not working, cheating on his wife when in the restaurant after being fired, or believing his sons will pay back the loan instead of collecting money to support the funeral) tell a different story. He seems convinced of his illusions of grand success despite clear obstacles and disappointments which make his ultimate despair feel both heartbreaking and somewhat inevitable.