Joe key quotes Flashcards
The beast i was the beast monologue
30
pauses- dramatises story, enjoys being the centre of attention
exonerated- pre planned, idiolect
mocking tone ‘beast’
animalistic imagery
kid- diminutive
tone of arrogance
The major was whippin us monologue
little man
32
Focuses on business and production
- narrow respinsibility
- Representative of the American Dream
The man was a fool… but don’t make a murderer out of him- highlights Steve’s human fallibility
juxt between ‘fool’ and ‘murderer’
naive vs malicious
madhouse- metaphor and idiom
presents the environmemt as chaotic and frantic
A fine, hairline crack- Adjectives, hedge
minimise the severity of the crack
All right, so… so he’s a little man, your father…. but that’s what a little man does
diminuitive
repetition
victimises steve
exagerates his vulnerability
evokes a sense of sympathy
vs hegemonic figure of the major
Steves fragice masculinity
the monosyllabic tone creates a sense of certainty, lying is second nature to Joe? Sense of ease.
but in a post war audience, probably a lack of sympathy
A little man makes a mistake and they hang him by the thumbs; the big ones become ambassadors
63
Masculinity- exculpates
Miller uses Joe as a construct to criticise the govt
Joe understand the hierarchical nature os society, and takes issue with it, yet he does not reject it and deconstruct it throughout the play, he seeks to become the “big man”.
“Hang him by his thumbs” suggests cruelty, physical and emotional punishments, almost medieval form of torture = clear disregard for those without power and status.
“Ambassador” suggests furthered political power.
[ the beggining of a plea in his voice] He never flew a P-40 x2
68/69
prosodic- vulnerability
Repetition- filler, not pre-panned
symbolic of his narrow responsibility
Specific plane ‘P-40’ is contextually significant. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was the third most-produced American fighter of World War II- and it was produced by the Curtiss- Wright who had conspired with army inspection officers to approve defective aircraft engines destined for military use
juxt pg 32 C ‘So who flew those P-40s, pigs?’
I spoiled the both of you… Then he’d know how a buck is made in this world. Fogiven! I could live on a quarter a day myself, but i got a family so I …
76
Irony: K’s money is immoral
Narrow responsibility at a cost to society- defkection from soldiers death to family
War profiteering- unpatriotic
Tone of sarcasm and disbelief
Im his father and he’s my son and if there’s something bigger than that i’ll put a bullet in my head!
77
Family still comes first despite everything- narrow responsibility
Tone of anger and violence- evoke a reaction
Foreshadowing his moral awakening- significance of Larry’s letter
It’s dollars and cents, nickles and dimes, war and peace., its nickles and dimes, whats clean? Half the Goddam country gotta go if i go!
82
taboo lang
Exclamative
nickles and dimes- capitalist mindset
Miller admonishes war profiteering
[Pleading] Chris, a man can’t be a Jesus in this world!
83
Biblical allusion- ironic bc jesus took blame
Prosodic- voice of desperation
Doesnt understand ethical crime
DA- blames Chris
But to him they were all my sons. And i guess they were, I guess they were
83
Voice of realisation
Acknowledges failure of paternal duties
Reference to soliders as people
Collective responsibility
Saying he should have valued all life equally - valued it to the level he valued his sons
However, there is a lack of introspection, he only talk is about this through the eyes of “him” (Larry), and the hesitation, suggested through the repetition and tentative verbs, the capitalist values are so “imprinted” he is unable to change. Or perhaps he is still in shock over the news of his sons death.
“arresting gun” / a “hunting gun” (Act One)
“a shot is heard in the house” (Act Three)
Does Joe take responsibility?
“Arresting gun” = Police as an infallible symbol of justice would suggest consequences are appropriate and fitting. However, is is only an “arresting gun” in the infantile world and childish game with Bert. In reality = “hunting gun” = Joe killed by a symbol of unfair killing. Final suggestion that he’s the tragic hero, the prey to a predatory and cruel society. Also killed by a symbol of his own wealth.
