All My Sons Critical Lens

Most fairytales and fables tell people that truth is essential in life. However, truth can ruin one’s life and lead to a fall of communities. In Arthur Miller’s play All My Sons, theKeller family is ruined by the truth that they buried a long time ago. Keller’s dark truth about the faulty parts and 21 pilots’ death haunts the family and leads to a tragic ending. Truth is important, but it can be lethal because truth causes Chris to nearly lose Ann, destroys relationship between Chris and Joe, and it eventually leads to Joe’s suicide.

Truth is important but lethal because it causes Christ to nearly lose Ann. During the play, George Deever, Ann’s brother, visits the Keller’s house to stop Ann’s wedding and take her home. This

occurs because George finds out about the truth about the faulty parts.

George says, “Annie, you didn’t know what was done to that man. You don’t know what happened” (46). Truth about Joe’s faulty part is an inevitable truth that could take Ann away from Chris. Another truth that causes Chris to nearly lose Ann is Kate accidentally saying the truth about Joe’s health. It causes George to go mad and attempt to take Ann again. Also, Sue tells Ann about the Keller’s dark truth and this makes Ann hesitate about Chris for a moment. The truth that should resolve life’s conflict is creating more conflict, like how Chris nearly lose Ann and how he lose his relationship with his family later on.

Another reason why truth is lethal is because truth destroys Chris and Joe’s relationship. Kate tells Chris about the dark truth and it causes Chris to fight with Joe. Kate says “As long as you live, that boy is alive. God does not let a son be killed by his father. Now you see, don’t you?” (57). This quote is important quote because this triggers most of the events later. Also, Joe’s explanation on his true intention angers Chris because Chris’s survivor’s guilt was brought up again through the conversation. At last, Joe’s truth

causes Christ to be very disappointed at his father and he leaves the house. Dark truth about the person that someone really respects destroys relationship, like Chris and Joe. Finally, truth about Larry leads Joe taking his own life. Chris, who is still very mad, decides to show the letter from Larry to tell Joe about Larry’s truth. This makes Joe feel very guilty for unintentionally killing his own son. Also, Joe is encouraged to go to jail to redeem himself to Chris, and this gives big fear to Joe about going to prison. Another factor was that Joe becomes extremely depressed after hearing the letter. This leads to Joe’s demise because it makes Joe lethargic. In his scene, Joe says “Then what is this if it isn’t telling me? Sure, he was my son. But I think to him that they were all my sons” (68). This quote is the cluster of all the negative ideas that Joe had. At the end, Joe could not take all the negative feelings within him and commits suicide. Fairytales and fables tell that truth is essential to life, but it is not through case of the Kellers. Joe’s dark secret caused the family to fall apart breaks relationship between son and the father. Truth is important, but it is lethal because the truth causes Chris to nearly lose Ann, destroys relationship between Chris and Joe, and it eventually leads to Joe’s suicide. Truth is like a double edged sword; it is powerful weapon against denial and irresponsibility, but it can also inflict self-harm.