All My Sons - What do you believe to be the social, moral message

All My Sons - What do you believe to be the social, moral message

of the play? How does Miller convey this to his audience?

Arthur Miller’s play, ‘All my sons’ contains many different social,

moral messages. Within this play Miller has successfully portrayed the

moral dilemma as to where responsibility begins and where it ends.

Choices and decisions occur throughout the play, with each character

having to make their own decision. Miller questions forgiveness

through all the characters especially the Keller family. Can any one

be truly forgiven? Guilt is also a huge theme within this play. In

‘all my sons’ Miller confronts the issue of a sinner accepting his sin

and recognising what he has done wrong. In this case, Joe Keller

realises what he has done wrong and punishes himself for this. Miller

puts forward the idea of ‘birds coming home to roost’. Meaning that

Joe was always going to have to pay for what he did in the long run.

Is there something bigger than the relationship between a Father and

Son?

‘Keller: Nothin’s bigger than that. And you’re going to tell him, you

understand? I’m his father and he’s my son, and if there’s something

bigger than that I’ll put a bullet in my head!’

With this idea Miller gives both Keller and his son Chris opposing

views. Keller believes he has an ultimate duty to his family. He

believes he is to set a good example and provide for his family in

return for love and devotion from them. He loves his family so much so

that he is blind to what he has done wrong. ‘Keller [as though

throwing his whole nature open before Chris] : How could I kill

anybody?’. Keller is a very business orientated man who believes

that there is nothing bigger than the relationship between a...

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... him for being able to

‘scheme’ his way out of trouble. Jim tries to be selfless but is

looked down upon. His dream was to give him life to science, but the

attitude of the American dream made him stay home. ‘He is only worth

while if he is making money’.

Miller also approaches surrealism in the play. He does this through

the characters Kate and Frank. Frank believes greatly in fate, he

believes he is a higher person but he is also a very successful

character. He convinces Kate that Larry couldn’t have died on his

‘favourable day’ that of course is ridiculous as Larry in fact

committed suicide.

In conclusion I feel that Miller wrote this play to show the truth to

the American dream and how it can be completely un-realistic. Perhaps

if the American dream had small print then there would be no need for

mishaps and blunders due to distorted perceptions.