In Arthur Miller's drama All My Sons, many characters have to make tough decisions about whether to follow the path for a better family or society. This is best displayed by the disagreement between Joe Keller and his son Chris. Joe decided to let the faulty plane parts be shipped out to the war pilots, even though he knew they would not work in the planes. He desperately tries to justify himself to Chris, pleading to him, "I did it for you...when would I have another chance to make something for you...A business for you!" (70). Joe is reasoning that what he did was for the family and for Chris to have a promising future in the business. Despite Joe's insistence, Chris forcefully couters him, exclaiming, "For me! I was dying every day and you were killing my boys and you did it for me? What the hell do you think I was thinking of, the Goddam business?" (70). Chris can relate to the pilots who died because he was also fighting in the war. Based on his experiences, he obviously does not support his father and cares much more about the society and the people who paid for Joe's actions.
It is hard to draw a fine line that states when it's appropriate to help family or society. There are so many different situations to consider. On one hand, you're always supporting your family, but when society calls for help, you should answer, for one person could make the difference in victory or defeat. Then again, one person might not be able to make any difference at all and, instead, should help their family at almost any cost. In the case of Joe Keller, he was definitely unjustified in his decision, for murder is irreversible. There would certainly be other opportunities for the family to obtain money; besides, it would be more beneficial for Chris to go out on his own and start something with his money, not what his father gives him. We must always look out for our loved ones, yet at times we must go out of our way to help the greater people. One must always look at both sides of their situation: whether the family or society is in need the most.
~ Question #1
Miller, Arthur. All My Sons. New York: Penguin, 1947.
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3 comments:
Your point about one person possibly not making much difference in society but making a lot of difference to their family is something I had not thought of before. Although it doesn't justify killing others, it does justify other, smaller actions. This is because you might make up 25% of your family, less than 1% of a society.
I agree with your views on Joe and Chris.Joe insists that the reason he shipped out the faulty parts was because of his family. This is just an excuse and doesn't make what he did right. Chris doesn't see it that way and is shocked to hear his father.
i think you are absolutly right when you say it depends on the situation. I believe that it can never be one way or the other 100% of the time. In this situation, Joe and Chris each chose a different side of the issue and each one paid in someway or another for their decision.
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