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Differing attitudes to social responsibilty through Joe and Chris Keller (A. Miller's - page 1
Keywords: social responsibility arthur miller all my sons world war two ii 2 drama chris joe keller
By exploiit on 19/06/2010
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 1 of 9 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9All My Sons is the successful second Broadway production created by Arthur Miller, an American playwright and dramatist. Written in 1947, it focuses on post-war America and the social consequences that occurred after the country’s forced involvement in World War II. America had remained impartial throughout the early stages of the war, including the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939, before they began to supply their Allie countries, Britain, France, etc., in 1941, through the Land-Lease programme. In December of the same year, after a surprise attack on Pearl Harbour by the Japanese, America joined its Allies against the Axis Powers (Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan and Fascist Italy). This war was the most costly to have ever been endured in American history, but led to a quick and impressive economic boost, through capital investment and the creation of more jobs. This is employed throughout Miller’s play as he uses it to deliver his own specific context. The influx of new jobs, new businesses and further opportunity was a direct result of America’s involvement and seems to suggest that the war had a silver lining. To most people in America these ‘bonuses’ meant little as an underlying sense of regret and grief lingered. The human cost of war left no room for America to properly benefit however, some people continued to make money from such tragedy. It is this historical context that presents the backdrop of the themes which Miller examines in his play, and we become aware of these themes through the characters that Miller has created. He offers each character as a representation, and we can see very clearly a divide between two kinds of characters; the patriots, and those who are unpatriotic.
The play is based on the conflicting responsibilities of Joe Keller, a successful businessman, whose first priority in life is to serve his family and to leave them living comfortably. From an early point in the play, we acknowledge Joe’s desire to have his business passed down to his son, Chris, in order to benefit his son in the future. Through conversation between the father and son, we become aware of Joe’s determination to have Chris run the company, when Chris tells of how he may move to New York. Keller becomes adamant that he cannot leave, reminding him “you’ve got a business here”, and questioning his decision. Keller is violent at the thought of his work not
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