All My Sons-A Tragedy of Betrayal and Guilt

Summary:

Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” tells the story of Joe Keller’s descent into guilt and suicide after ordering the dispatch of defective cylinder heads to the Air Force. The play examines the implications of personal responsibility, the corrosive effect of lies, and the disastrous results of a lack of accountability. Kate, Joe’s wife, knows the truth, but her loyalty to her husband and her family remains steadfast, leading to a rift with her daughter-in-law, Annie. When George, Steve’s son, confronts the Keller family with the facts, Chris, Joe’s son, initially resists the truth, leading to an explosive confrontation. As the play progresses, Chris begins to understand the gravity of his father’s actions, and Joe’s confession and subsequent suicide bring the play to a poignant and tragic conclusion. Through its exploration of these themes, “All My Sons” challenges audiences to consider the value of honesty, responsibility, and the cost of silence.

Excerpt:

All My Sons-A Tragedy of Betrayal and Guilt

Write a brief account of the events leading to Joe Keller’s suicide in All My Sons.

A Serious Crime, Committed By Joe Keller

Joe Keller had committed a serious crime by ordering the despatch of a number of defective cylinder heads to the Air Force. But he had escaped the consequences of his crime by telling a lie in court and by passing on
the blame to his partner, Steve Deever. Joe Keller’s wife, Kate, had been in the know of the actual situation, but she had been, and is still, conniving at her husband’s guilt. Steve Deever’s son, George, and daughter, Annie, had
accepted the findings of the court, which had tried the two partners on a charge of fraud and cheating; and they had both terminated their relations with their father because of their sense of shame at what their father was supposed to have done.