ALL MY SONS Flashcards
What at the main characters in All My Sons?
9 listed
- Joe Keller
- Kate Keller
- Chris Keller
- Ann Deever
- George Deever
- Jim Bayliss (Dr.)
- Sue Bayliss
- Steve Deever (imprisoned)
- Larry Keller (dead son)
What are the minor/supporting characters in All My Sons?
3 listed
- Frank Lubey (old neighbor)
- Lydia Lubey
- Bert (plays cops and robbers)
What are the main themes in All My Sons?
- Family and Familial Obligation
- THE AMERICAN DREAM (or the “white picket fence”)
- Loss and Memory (grief and PAST/PRESENT)
- Wealth and its accumulation (the rise of corrupt corporate society)
- War, MORALITY, and CONSEQUENCES
- Liability, culpability, and GUILT (RESPONSIBILITY)
- DENIAL AND SELF DECEPTION
- SACRIFICE
- IDEALISM vs PRACTICALITY
*
What are the symbols used in All My Sons?
- LARRYS TREE
- Dry socks (Chris’s war story)
Authors name + date published
Arthur Miller, 1947 (written in 1946)
What is Joe’s LITERAL CONFLICT(S)
- Airplane parts scandal
- Relationship with Chris (and Kate) being strained by the truth of his involvement in the scandal (Kate’s guilt)
- Legal repercussians and reputation ((avoiding imprisonment))
- Legacy and family
+ maintaining wealth/ his business (Chris is his legacy) ((“did it for the family”))
What is Joe’s LITERARY CONFLICT(S)
- Man vs. Man
(( Joe’s conflict with Chris…truth of scandal…shattering Chris’s idealization of his father.
((Steve Deever, took the blame for the scandal. + his family (George and Ann) - Man vs. Self:
Joe struggles with guilt and justification for his actions. He tries to reconcile his belief that he acted for his family’s benefit with the moral and ethical consequences of causing the deaths of 21 pilots. - Man vs. Society:
Joe faces the judgement of his community and the weight of societal condemnation for prioritizing profit over responsibility, which leads to his ultimate realization of accountability. - Man vs. Fate:
Joe’s choices are inextricably tied to the fate of his family, particularly the death of his son Larry, whose suicide was influenced by Joe’s actions. This conflict underlines the devastating ripple effects of Joe’s decisions.
Joe’s BEFORE (his conflict)
Successful business man
‘family man’…
focusing on the financial security of his family
(white picket fence)
bonus: (((Joe’s unwavering belief in his actions and dismissal of accountability hint at the moral and ethical conflict that will later unravel.
Joe’s DURING conflict (how he dealt with it)
How He Handles It:
- Dismisses(DENIAL)accusations and justifies his actions as being for his family.
- Manipulates those around him, including his wife Kate, to maintain the façade.
- Struggles with his own guilt internally but refuses to openly admit it.
Key Actions:
* Lies to Chris about his innocence.
* Attempts to protect the family’s reputation at all costs.
* Faces increasing pressure as the truth begins to unravel
Joe’s AFTER conflict (fail or success?)
FAILURE
Joe’s attempts to protect his family and preserve his image ultimately fail. The truth about his role in the airplane parts scandal is revealed, and his moral and legal guilt becomes undeniable.
- Joe cannot escape the consequences of his actions. His family is torn apart, especially his relationship with Chris. The emotional and psychological toll leads to Joe’s tragic decision to take his own life.
Realization:
* Joe finally faces the full weight of his choices and acknowledges his RESPONSIBILITY for the deaths of the pilots, including the indirect role his actions played in Larry’s suicide.
Key Result:
* Joe’s death symbolizes his ultimate failure to reconcile his desire for family security with the moral compromises he made. His tragic end highlights the devastating cost of his actions.
What is the “American Dream”? (+ the white picket fence)
The American Dream:
* The idea that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and a better life through hard work, determination, and opportunity. It often includes owning a home, having a stable job, raising a family, and living comfortably.
__________________________________________
The white picket fence:
* Symbolizes this dream—representing a safe, happy, and prosperous suburban life with a home, a family, and financial security. It’s an image of stability and idealized success.
modern tragedy progression
PROTAGONIST:
has a common/ middle class background + tragic situation
STORY:
ordinary people and their problems (ambition + aspirations)
Involves FATE
Ends with main character’s DEATH + recognition of wrongs
(order is restored, much like a shakespearian tragedy)
Catharsis Definition?
- the use of strong feelings in literature to engage the reader in a type of emotional purification…
- Going through the characters experiences with them… YOU don’t have to live it/ make the same mistake… learn from theirs.
Possible key context/examples to use for text (by theme)
KEY QUOTE 1 Joe (denial of motive)
“For you, a business for you!”
