context all my sons Flashcards
the great depression and Miller
By 1928, his families garment manufacturing business began to fail. Witnessing the societal decay of the Depression and his father’s desperation due to business failures had an enormous effect on Miller.
parallels with his other plays
death of a salesmen: focuses on both desperation and paternal responsibility, “Death of a Salesman” tells the story of a failed businessman as he tries to remember and reconstruct his life. Eventually killing himself to leave his son insurance money, - eg leaves a legacy for his idealistic son
Biff lowman - Chris Keller, sons, idealistic
the crucible: it was clearly an indictment of the McCarthyism of the early 1950s, “The Crucible” was set in Salem during the witch-hunts of the late 17th century. The play, which deals with extraordinary tragedy in ordinary lives, expanded Miller’s voice and his concern for the physical and psychological wellbeing of the working class. was called to HUAC for this 3 years later
cultural supremacy
visual art
music
military supremacy eg. cold war nagasaki development of nuclear weapons. superpower
literary: eugene o’neill, T.S Eliot, William Faulkner
turbulence / prosperity
prosperity can only be born out of turbulence
eg. people making money out of the war in business which leads them to prosperity
war time profiteering
the rise of the suburbs
people moving out of towns to live in the suburbs living a typical american life - trying to fulfil the American Dream
support for soldiers
the GI bill, paid soldiers tuition and living fees encouraging veterans to retrain and go back into school after the war.
shows a new generation emerging, overtaking Keller’s old fashioned views
new counter cultures emerging and movements
civil rights movement
new women movement
context specific to all my sons
the great depression - Miller saw
world war 2
america emerging as a superpower
MIC
military industrial complex
a group of individuals and bussiness who provided military resources for the war time effort
usually seen as a vested interest in US life
Miller personal views on corruption within war
interview 1993
said everyone knew that people were selling junk to the army, and the average person was violating rationing but no one said anything about it (because they were doing it too)
miller personal life
grew up in a multicultural and racial neighbourhood in Harlem and comes from a Polish immigrant family. Feels strong connections to the working class and has worked in a factory especially after success of AMS and DOAS
focuses on uniting the physical and the psycological through didactic (inspired by Greek) plays
was called to HUAC in early fifties due to his socialist (perceived communist) messages in his play. was part of a group of journalists who wrote articles attacking McCarthy (who lead the red scare ‘witch hunt’)
AMS success
won new york drama critics circle awards best play
henrik ibsen
inspired Arthur Miller through his social plays
uses Ibsenesque technique of bringing the past into the present and using concrete actions to illustrate the truth
eg. Keller shoots himself as he can’t take responsibility for his actions
conflict between individual desire and social responsibility
the paradox of denial
Keller’s household is stuck in the paradox of denial
- reflection of WW2 germany which was what inspired him as everyone was in a state of denial over the holocaust
Keller, mother deny responsibility
miller on keller
joe keller cannot admit that he personally has an viable connection with his world, universe or society
