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Differing attitudes to social responsibilty through Joe and Chris Keller (A. Miller's - page 7
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: 7 of 9 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9sets Chris up for a major fall when the reality of his father’s situation is exposed.
One of Chris’ more favourable qualities is his deficiency of avarice. Throughout the play, he remains adamant that the Keller business doesn’t “inspire” him, implying that he appreciates true happiness in life, and would rather be financially challenged than miserable. Keller offers an insight to his son’s mentality concerning his business, thinking that Chris is “ashamed of the money”. Although Chris conceals his feelings about the money made via Keller’s company, the audience are aware of his resentment towards the trade in which his father is involved, knowing that his money is made through wartime profiteering.
When engaged in conversation with Ann, Chris delivers his attitude towards post-war society, telling of how he feels “wrong to be alive”. He feels guilty and ashamed of what he has been given, remaining conscious of all the other men who have died in battle. The remorse that Chris is subjected to leads Miller’s audience to believe that he is a character who fervently opposes materialism, and carries an air of humility about him. His altruistic ethics are what pilot his intolerance for those who compromise his principles. We see this through Chris’ attitude to Steve Deever early on in the play. Keller attempts to convince both Chris and Ann that Steve was no killer, rather a ‘little man’ who was scared enough to commit an atrocity as he did. We witness Chris’ unforgiving temperament in reaction to this, as he refuses to accept such an excuse and states that Steve “murdered twenty-one pilots”. His reactions to Keller are ever more livid when the truth is uncovered. His respect for his father is revoked, and replaced with rants of how he could “jail him”. He refuses to negotiate his morals for any injustice, no matter how hurtful it may be; even after this brings Joe Keller to take his own life.
Chris’ key role in Miller’s play is to personify social responsibility in contrast to his father. This is done largely through dialogue, in which Chris expresses his views on the importance of communal consciousness. It is his chief opinion that “there’s a universe of people outside and you’re responsible to it”; showing us that he believes everyone is his brother (or sister) and he is in some way accountable for them. We can see that Chris’ selflessness stems from his
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