In the popular play All My Sons by Arthur Miller, Miller uncovers how characters will make choices based upon how it will affect them and their own and put the needs of society behind their own. The character that most exemplifies this is Joe Keller. He decides to sell faulty parts to the U.S. army. Although he knows that theses parts could cause death, he elects to sell them anyway. When these faulty parts cause the deaths of 21 pilots, he places the blame of this mistake on his partner and neighbor. When his neighbor goes to jail for this (for which he is innocent), Keller gets off scot free. When his son Chris finds out about this, Joe justifies his involvement in the crime by tell Chris, " For you! The business was for you!" (70) Joe vindicates himself by telling himself that the crime was for his family. He places his family's need above the needs of society.
I don't like Joe. He exemplifies everything I hate in society. Because of his decision, he caused the death of 21 pilots, and whats more, he split up another family by sending Mr. Deever to jail for a crime he didn't commit. This is just wrong. Also, its not that his family would die if they had to work jobs.
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2 comments:
I agree with you 100%. Joe Keller's decision to send out faulty parts to cover his own behind sickens me. His selfishness cost 21 innocent men their lives, which is a price no one should have to pay. And might i add, nice use of the word vindicate. =]
I feel the same way about Joe Keller as you do. He says that he does it all for Chris, but clearly he didn't think of anybody else but Chris. because he sent out those cracked engine heads he caused greef for not only the Deever family but for the families of the 21 fallen pilots.
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