Flashbacks

Throughout The Death of Salesman there are many instances where flashbacks are used. It seems like every time Will tries have a legitimate conversation with someone in his family, he recalls a memory from his life where he is a different person. It's kind of like he's scitsafrantic or something. His alter ego seems to just rip into his present reality and drag him through this memory. Willy is trying to live "the American dream" but he realizes, from these memories that he isn't cut out to live it. These flashbacks also contain Willy's sons. It seems in these flashbacks, that they are only seeking their father's approval and acceptance but Willy finds a way not to give it to them.