“All My Sons” – By Arthur Miller

About Play Writer:

Arthur Miller was born on October 17, 1915, New York City, the second children of Polish – Jewish immigrants. In 1940 Miller wrote The Man Who Had All The Luck, which was produced in New Jersey in 1940 and won the Theatre Guild’s National Award. In All My Sons, the writing of which had commenced in 1941, was a success on Brodway, earning him his first Tony Award for Best Author. So, Miller’s career as a writer spanned over seven decades, and at the time of his death in 2005, he was considered one of the greatest dramatist of the twentieth century. 

About The Play:

All My Sons as a American Dream:

“All My Sons” can be read as a criticism of the American Dream and was one reason why Arthur Miller was called to appear before the house Un – American activities committee during the 1950s, when America was gripped by Anti – communist hysterla. Miller sent a copy of the play to Eliza Kazan who directed the original stage version and a former member of the communist party who shared Miller’s left – wing views. In All My Sons, Writer clearly alludes to aspects of the history of American culture and social ideas that are still present today. And he suggests that living y an ideal such as the American Dream, does not lead to success.

Character Overview:

Joe Keller – Main character, very respected by everyone

Kate Keller – Can’t get over the loss of her and Joe’s son Larry

Chris Keller – Idealist , believes in American ideas and strong morals, etc..

Conflict:

Joe places his responsibility below everything else and his family above everything else, including his responsibility to all the men who rely on the integrity of his work for survival; leading to kill 21 pilots and not taking the blame.

Themes:

1)    The American Dream

2)    War Profiting

3)    Social Responsibility

4)    Impact of past on future and present

5)    Capitalism

6)    Idealism

The set of All My Sons is simple and uncomplicated with few props. However, there are a number of objects which can e seen to have greater significance, symbolising a wider meaning to the audience with certain associations.

All My Sons follows the lives of the individuals in the Keller family. Joe keller, supplies faulty cylinder heads to the army during the second World War, but frames his business partner Steve, sending him to prison. Throughout the play, he lives in self – deception, hiding his guilty secret in order to save his business. Now, his son is about to marry the partners daughter, the affair is revisited, and his guilty secret is exposed. So, by this play Arthur Miller suggests that the dream can’t really be successful because it call for fulfilment and no one can ever be truly fulfilled.