Quotes from All My Sons by Arthur Miller Essay

CHARACTORSJoe KellerI saw your f symbolizeory on the way from the stations. It looks identical general motorsp150Allusion-Savy businessmanWell thats n constantlytheless your business, Chrisp100Inability to stand up to Katein hopeless fury, looks at her, turns around, goes up the porch, and into the house slamming screen door violently behind him p126Shows he can be neuroticChris Chris, I did it for youFor you A business for you.p158Keller deals with guilt by blaming others and unfortunately taints his love for his intelligenceA man cant be a Jesus in this worldp169Allusion He is realistic but slightly jaded you can try to fulfil your trusty and social righteousnessIm his produce and hes my son and if in that respects virtuallything bigger than that Ill dictate a bullet in my headp163 melodramatic satire and prolepsis- family is the most important thing for him comm curiosity open but leads to his down finalize as he convinces himself that he shipped the cylinder heads for his family rather than himself(Chris with admiration) Joe McGutsp116He is very audaciousBut I mean to him they were all my sons. And I surmise they were p170Recognition that he has social prudentness cant digest with the realisationI cant sleep here Ill feel better if I gop170He shows determination there is a metaphorical perception that he needs to die he is admir adequate to(p) evening in deathTheman who chouses how many minutes a mean solar day his workers spend in the toilet p59He has worked hard to be successful he has tried to follow the American inhalationIm surprised you remember his birthday, discourteous. Thats nice.p91Exudes self-confidence and alike(p)abilityI unavoidableness a cracking start for you, Chris p124Does love his sonJoe requisites to pay off you into the business when you collar proscribedp135Emphaises his benign record by referring to himself in the 3rd person-When he gets scargond he tries to buy bulk offKate KellerIf I tell this to M other and she has a fit nearly it p100Shows Kate is mentally unstable, has not accepted that Larry is all in(p) and is protected by Joe and Chris. Adds to the tension of the play as we realise she might not be able to hold it togetherYour brothers bouncy, darling, because if hes dead, your tiro slaughtered himGod does not let a son be cancel outed by his father p156Dramatic irony Kate reveals her supposition and her desperation to keep Larry alive in her mind as her argument is not a good one(Mother smashes him across the face)p155Onomatopoeia-Shows she is capable of emphasisIt takes a certain talent-for lying. You have it and I do. But not him p160Shows that Kate has known almost Kellers deceit all along. Highlights the theme of deceit(She finds herself r for each oneing out for the glass of water and aspirin) p109From a Freudian view point her emotional turmoil is manifesting itself as natural illnessBe smart now, Joe. The boy is coming. Be smart p126Repetion-Shows that she wants to manipulate George(frightened at the supposition you cant say that to her) p99Shows she is a difficult char moulder to understand and is neurotic as even her hubby and son presumet know how shes going away to reactHe hasnt been laid up in fifteen years p152Colloquial-Shows her offhanded side and shows she is a little bit stupidThe minute theres trouble you have no strengthp162Uses illness to manipulate characters to act benignly towards her block now. Livep171Clearly loves ChrisI m smarter than any of youp148Shows she knows she can manipulate themIll find you a girl and put a smile on your face.. You remember Mr Macys daughter p149Clichd-Shows her manipulation can be a benign forceChris KellerBecause some cartridge holders I think youre ashamed of the moneyp124Hesitation dosent want to talk about crime Reveals Kellers suspicion that Chris is aw be of his crime. It shows that Chris is an idealistOh, Chris, youre a liar to yourselfp143Shows Chris is self-deceivingEver ytime I reach out for something I have to pull thorn because other people will sufferp100Shows he is selflessOh Annie, Im going to make a fortune for youp122Hypocritical of Chris shows an idealism commercialism clashIts time she realised that nobody believes Larry is alive anymore but acts on his idealism when it suits him has let Kate pretend that Larry is alive for the last three years until he wants to marry his wife shows his hypocrisyBut Im just like everyone else nowp166Shows Chris arrogance in thinking that he was specialIm operable now. You made me practical(a)p166Repetition of practical highlights its significanceSignals Chriss con magnetic variation from Idealism to pragmatismA man can be a Jesus in this worldp169Idea of Chris as the Nazarene figure if you take his name metaphorically just add t to his name this is reinforced by this quotationAnn DeverId like you to tell him that Larry is dead and you know it p165Stands up for what she thinks is rightIts wrong to pit y a man like that. forefather or no sirep117Ashamed of her Fathers role in the shop incident and deludes herself that Keller is right based on very little evidenceI want you to set him free and hence I promise you everything will endp164Ann tires of moral responsibility like Chris she loses her idealism and develops more realistic she abandons her father for a chance to be happyThe female version of Chrisp132Gives up her idealism for pragmatism (starting a new bread and butter with Chris) is responsible for tragedyThis is filthy, didnt you bring another shirt?p138Ann acts as a maternal force for GeorgeYou understand me? Im not going out of here alone. Theres no life for me that way. P164Determined to get what she wants wont listen to othersGeorge Deversay, youve gotten a little nervous, havent youp139Uncomfortable in the role of nicetyBecause you believed it p143Trusts ChrisIll find you a girl and put a smile on your facep149Clichd-He is swayed by the promise of a happy and ea sy lifeYou look terrible, Georgep150Standing up for his father has taken a tollI told you to marry that girlLost out by existence in the warJim and Sue BaylissIt takes a certain talent for lying. You have it and I do. But not himp160Jim wants to be idealistic but has sold out to become a good fatherI studied a certain disease. It was beautiful. And then she came, and she cried. And I went back home with her. And now I live in the familiar darkness p160Repetition of she and her Jim sacrifices his pipe dream of being a researcher and his idealismI told her to take up the guitar. Itd be a putting green int easement for them p110Kate believes the Bayliss have too little in commonEverybody knows Joe pul conduct a fast one to get out of Jail p131Colloquial-Show that the neighbourhood think Joes culpable foreshadows revelation that he is adds tensionThey give him credit for being smart p132Colloquial-Show that Keller is well liked and respectedFrank and Lydia LubeyIve studied the sta rs of his life somewhere in this world your brother is alivep154Satirical and dramatic irony Discredits fate as a force in this play as Larry is deadDoes dad give birth a parole soon? p114Both have a habit of making tactless comments which makes them disagreeable despite their amicable natureYoure still making your own clothes? Aint she classy p147Demonstrative of a couple life story the American dreamTHEMES excuseThe structure of a play is evermore the story of how the birds come home to roost MillerThere is always the discoery of the past and a justification this is what makes a good tragedyForget Now. Livep171Short scentances-The confession is for the betterDesperately. Lostp164The confession evokes pity/fearThe star of ones honesty he (Chris) probably just wanted to be alone to watch his star go outp160This is the effect a confession has on othershopless furyp126 simile Causes angerI was afraidp158Difficult to confess emphasised by short sentencesIm not trying to hurt you K ate My Godp165-166 exculpation usually causes painGuilt and ShameIts wrong to pity a man like that. Father or no Fatherp117Colloquial-Ashamed of her Fathers role in the shop incidentChris Chris, I did it for youFor you A business for you.p158Keller deals with guilt by blaming othersWhat am I, a stranger? I thought I had a family here, what happened to my family?p161Repetition of family Guilt and shame plays a role in the development of Kellers relationship with his fatherI cant look at you this way, I cant look at myselfp168Kellers confession leads to shame for Chris(She finds herself reaching out for the glass of water and aspirin)p109Kate is so ashamed of her deception she has a mental and physical breakdown from a Freudian viewpoint(a shot is heard in the house)p171Shame and guilt over the cylinder heads could arguably lead to this but I think If this had been the case Keller would have killed himself a long time ago instead I think larry and Chriss disownal of him and his realis ation that he has a social responsibility cause him to kill himself he tries to make amends by killing himself and thus exonerating steeve and his familyI cant live with myself anymorep169Larry kills himself because of guilt that he has helped build a business that has killed American pilots and shame that his father and father-in-law have made a decision that kills his compatriots.They killed themselves for each otherp121Chris has survivors guilt he feels responsible for everyoneDeceptionI suspected my father and did nothing about itp166Chris is self-deceivingBut theres God so certain thing s can neer happenAnn, you know Im right p113Dramatic irony-Kate is self deceiving she gives a flimsy argument and clearly doesnt truly believe that Larry will come back as shes horrible to Ann so if he ever does come back Ann will not want Kate to be part of their lifeIt takes a certain talent for lying. You have it and I do. But he (Chris) doesntp160This is Chris tragic flawPoplars cut off vie w p89Delusion that Keller can cut himself off from the world overtakingIm practical now. You made me Practicalp166Repetition of practical Chris sacrifices his idealism for his familyI studied a certain disease. It was beautiful. And then she came, and she cried. And I went back home with her. And now I live in the usual darkness p160Repetition of she and her Jim sacrifices his dream of being a researcherChris, I did it for you p158Keller sacrifices his morality for his familyI thought I had a family here. What happened to my family? P161Loss of relationship between Keller and Chris and KateI told you to marry that girl p148Loss of future between George and LydiaIts wrong to pity a man like that. Father or no fatherp117Colloquial Loss of relationship between Ann and SteveI was going to tell them it was too late p157Clichd Loss of opportunity to warn about the faulty partsfour-foot high stump p89Symbolises the loss of LarryBecause if hes not coming back, then Ill kill myself p107 sent imentality How Kate deals with loss of Larry = loss of mental stabilityWere like at a railway station waiting for a train that never comes in p106Simile Chris deals with loss of Larry by trying to move onIncreasing demandp113Conflict over different ways of dealing with the past and the loss of Larry each character tries to get their point acrossThose dear dead days beyond recallp110alliterationLoss of the benign pastI want a clean start for you, Chris p124Idiom Deals with loss of past by breaking from itLets raise some hell around here, like we used to earlier Larry went p110idiomAnn deals with past by resurrecting itSuicideI cant bear to live any more I read about dad being convictedp169Larry commits suicide because of guilt does this make him a coward or a tragic hero?If hes not coming back Ill kill myselfp107Bathos Irony as Larry has killed himself foreshadows this discoveryIm his father and hes my son and if theres something bigger than that Ill put a bullet in my headp163Batho s Dramatic ironyYou stop that p163Short scentance emphaises shockMothers reaction to suicideA shot is heard in the house p171Kellers reaction to Larrys suicideThey killed themselves for each otherp121Chris has a different attitude to suicide than his parentsWar profiteeringWhat you have is loot and it has blood on itp121Metaphor Chris is ashamed of itDid they ship a gun or a truck out of Detroit before they got their price?p168Allusion-Realism argument it is too idealistic to expect people to work for nothingChris, I did it for you p158Kellers attitude is that war profiteering is fine if it is done for the familyBut I think to him they were all my sons. And I guess they were p170Shows Kellers change of mind he can no longer justify war profiteering through his family he now believes he has social and moral responsibilityMoral ResponsibilityI studied a certain disease. It was beautiful. And then she came, and she cried. And I went back home with her. And now I live in the usual darkn ess p160Repetition of she and her Jim neglected being true to himselfThe star of ones honesty he probably just wanted to be alone to watch his star go outp160Simile Lack of honesty from all characters even eventually ChrisIts wrong to pity a man like that. Father or no fatherp117Colloquial Lack of forgiveness from Ann and initially GeorgeI said hes dead.I knowp165Ann shows moral responsibility when she bravely tries to convince broken pscyotic women that her son is dead as she has found outI cant bear to live anymorep169Larry cant forgiveI want you to set him free and then I promise you everything will be at an endp164Metaphor Ann tires of moral responsibilityI cant look at you this way. I cant look at myselfp169Cant emphasised Chris finds it hard to forgive and stay true to himselfA man cant be a Jesus in this worldp169Allusion Keller lies about Steve and his involvement with the faulty partsSocial responsibilityIm his father and hes my son and if theres something bigger than that then Ill put a bullet through my headp163Irony and bathos Kellers initial delusion about social responsibility his go through the play is the discovery that there is more than thisBut I think to him they were all my sons. And I guess they were p170Recognition that he has social responsibility cant live with the realisationTo him the world had a forty-foot confront it ended at the building linep163Shows Larry initially ignored his social responsibilityI cant bear to live any morep169Realises he has social responsibility and that he has been indirectly forced by his father to neglect this but does he neglect his social responsibility by killing himself taking a pilot away from benefiting his country?HeroismA hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself Joseph Campbell (American folklorist)A tragic hero is A man not pre-eminently virtuous and just, whose disaster however, is brought upon him not by vice or depravity but by some error of judgement Ar istotleMiller was aware of this definitionIm his father and hes my son and if theres something bigger than that then Ill put a bullet through my headp163Bathos and irony Joe is a hero according to Campbells definitionForget now. Livep171Short scentances show shock Through death he is able to save his family from long term sufferingI cant sleep here Ill feel better if I gop170He shows determination there is a metaphorical recognition that he needs to dieWell thats only your business Chrisp100He doesnt want to confront his wife so he becomes alienated from his sonChris knows Keller is no worse than no men. I thought you were better. I never saw you as a man. I saw you as my fatherp168Cylinder heads cause break with Chris and tragedyI suspected my father and did nothing about itp166Chris is self-deceiving although it could be argued that fate takes a part as Kellers deception could have remained hidden from the outside world through the court paper. Kellers mistake has already destroye d his family the real tragedy as everything hes worked for has been for them for you, a business for youShe finds herself reaching out for the glass of water and asprinp109Causes a mental and physical deterioration for KateOh my Godp166Refuses to believe her son is dead despite all the evidenceId hoped that if I waited, mother would forget Larry and then wed have a regular wedding and everything happy, but if that cant happen then Ill have to get out of herep101ironically Mother drives Chris away by refusing to agree with the evidenceIts wrong to pity a man like that. Father or no fatherp117Abandons her father and believes Joe only to find out she was wrong to do soOh Chris, Ive been ready for a long, long time p120Repetition of long Although she is not responsible for Larrys death a great tragedy in her life she does kill his memory by getting engaged with ChrisThe female version of Chrisp132Gives up her idealism for pragmatism (starting a new life with Chris) is responsible for tr agedyHe won the war, Frankp148George lost the love of his life to FrankI told you when you went away, dont try for medalsp145Aphorism He was initially eager to get away from the neighbourhood and become a soldierI studied a certain disease. It was beautiful. And then she came, and she cried. And I went back home with her. And now I live in the usual darkness p160Repetition of she and her Jim is responsible for his own tragedy but is a hero as he remains a good husband and conformed to the prosaicThe world had a forty-foot front it ended at the building linep163Larry recognises that this is not the case and tries to make amends for it by suicidially fighting for his countryReturn of the PastThe past is always present and cannot be ignored, forgotten or denied CentolaIdealism vs. CommercialismChris, Jim, George and Ann vs. Joe and SueWhen you marry never count your husbands money p110Aphorism The bulk of the characters advocate idealism over commercialismBecause sometimes I think your e ashamed of the moneyp124Hesitation shows conflict Keller thinks Commercialism can act as a benign forceOh Annie, Im going to make a fortune for youp122Hypocritical of ChrisFor you, a business for youp158Keller and Chris have the aforesaid(prenominal) attitude when they have a family they both ultimately want to work for themThe business The business doesnt inspire mep102More interested in idealism but has still sold out for money but in denial that hes done soAnd hes got money. Thats important, you knowp130Suggests that Chris can afford to be idealistic sue values materialismAs soon as a woman supports a man, he owes her something. You can never owe somebody something without resenting themp130Money affects relationshipsI studied a certain disease. It was beautiful. And then she came, and she cried. And I went back home with her. And now I live in the usual darkness p160Repetition of she and her Jim has made a compromise between the twoJoe wants to bring you into the business whe n you get out p135Uses the third person Compromise between commercialism and idealism he knows Steve will not want to work for the better of the businessIm practical now. You made me Practicalp166Repetition of practical Chris sacrifices his idealism for his familyFamily RelationshipsKeller FamilyKeller and LarryIf Larry were alive he wouldnt act like this. That was a boy we lost. Larry.p163Irony Larry is his favourite son he understands himI think to him they were all my sons. And I guess they werep170Keller is prepared to change his views for LarryKeller and ChrisIve been a good son too long, a good suckerp102Colloquial They dont understand each other but are ultimately prepared to make compromises for each otherChrisChris, I did it for youp154Keller taints there relationship by trying to put the blame for the cylinder heads on ChrisIm his father and hes my son and if theres something bigger than that then Ill put a bullet through my headp163Irony and bathos Shows that he does love ChrisChris and Larry(Chris is discovered sawing the broken-off tree, go forth stump standing alone)p127Tries to clear away Larrys memoryMother and ChrisShes Larrys girlp155Colloquial Seems to care about Larry moreForget now. Livep171Short scentances Her maternal side comes out to Chris once Larry is deadMother and LarryIrony and bathos Because if hes not coming back then Ill kill myselfp107Cant let go of LarryI knew I could stop himp105Irony Believes she can save LarryKeller and KateI dampen the pants and she beats me with the beltp150Kate emotionally blackmails KellerDeever FamilyAnn, George and their absent father might be viewed as the opposite of the KellersAnn and SteveIts wrong to pity a man like that. Father or no fatherp117Colloquial Abandons her father and believes Joe with little evidenceIll do nothing about Joe p164Sacrifices Steve being exonerated for her future happinessAnn and GeorgeYoure coming with mep144He is prepared to sacrifice her happiness for his idealism t hey dont have a very strong relationshipThis is filthy, didnt you bring another shirt?p138Ann acts as a maternal force for GeorgeSteve and GeorgeI didnt see him once when I got home from the warp141George initially chooses idealism over his fatherWears (your fathers) hat139Eventually compromises and wears his hat as he loves himLubey FamilyI dont know wherefore you cant hire to turn on a simple thing like a toaster p94Demonstrative of the perfect family without idealism living the American dreamAmerican DreamThe American dream is a subjective term usually implying a successful and satisfying life. Perceptions of the American dream are usually framed in foothold of American capitalism, and the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Bill of rightsIll get out. Ill get married and live some place elsep101FreedomI want a family, I want some kids, I want to build something I can give myself top102Tricolon of want Belief that you can achieve what ever you want if you work hard for itI dont kno w why you cant learn to turn on a simple thing like a toaster p94Demonstrative of the perfect family without idealism living the American dreamI studied a certain disease. It was beautiful. And then she came, and she cried. And I went back home with her. And now I live in the usual darkness p160Repetition of she and her Jim sacrifices his dream of being a researcher he is not living the American dreamI was the beast Except I wasnt Fourteen months afterwards I had of the best shops in the state again, a respected man again bigger than ever. P116Metaphor Failure of American dream should be in prison as has broken the lawHopeShes dreaming about him againp99Kate hopes that Larry will returnI want a family, I want some kids, I want to build something I can give myself top102Tricolon-Ann and Chris want to marry and be successful-live the American dreamChrisChris, I did it for youp158Keller wants to allow a significant amount for his familyHumourI would love to help humanity on a Warner Brothers salaryp93Foils provide comic relief in act 1 contrast to posterior tragedyMy love, My lightp93Sarcasm from JimI like to keep abreast of my ignorancep96Major character is introduced through climate contrast to his serious and idealistic natureDont talk dirty (They laugh)p134Keller provides comic relief in act two and makes him more good-heartedJusticeJustice is a main theme within the play All My Sons, and an example of justice being symbolised is the idea of Joe telling the children that he has a jail in the basement of his house.Although simple, this metaphor is quite powerful, as it suggests to the audience that he could be hiding more than just a basement to the people of the street. It could also suggest that he is keeping justice locked away within the Keller house, and as the children keep asking about the jail, there is an underlying idea that the fairness about Joe could surface sometime within the play.I spoiled the both of you several(prenominal)thing that is apparent throughout the book is the amount of money that Joe has earned through his business. Some may assume that Keller bribed his way out of prison, due his frequent reference to, as well as his constant reliance on money. He uses this later in the play as a way to try and justify to his family that if he had gone to jail then he wouldnt have been able to make all this money for them.Everybody knows Joe pulled a fast one to get out of jail.Whilst this may first seem as a sixpenny dig at the Kellers, this is confirmed when Jim says (to Kate) Ive always known. This would be negatively viewed, as because of these actions an innocent man (Steve) is in jail instead of Joe. Therefore, the characters are just as guilty as Joe for letting an innocent man rot in jail.if George and Anne wanted to open up the case again.Joes prediction is actually correct though, and it is the arrival of George which helps to uncover the truth about the cylinder heads. George therefore does a very good job or prosecuting Joe. A clever inclusion into the play is that George is actually involved with the law, as opposed to it just being a metaphor, like the other parts of the courtroom analogy. We get this idea through Chris question to him Hows the law.Youre not even an animal, no animal kills his own, what are you? Im not going to do anything about itThroughout almost all of the play Chris, Anne and Kate represent Joes defence.Chris suddenly becomes a prosecutor, voicing his fury and shame to his father perchance here we see a highly uncaring side of Anne, as she will gladly let her father rot in prison even though she now knows that he is innocent.ReligionEvery Sunday ought to be like thisp90The play starts on a sunday morning which is a apparitional time of the weekchrisChris name could be interpreted as Christ which would suggest a kind of moral superiority that he at least(prenominal) tries to achievedownstage, stands the four-foot high stump of a slender apple-tree whose uppe r branches lie toppled beside it, fruit still clinging to its branchesp89The apple tree is incredibly important in terms of religious symbolism. It obviously has connotations of the tree of companionship the tree which was in the story of Adam and Eve. Its significant that its there as it is an indication of the fall thats about to happen (in the same way that eve fell from gods grace by eating the apple). It represents in this sense the knowledge of Larrys death and the real causes.living next door to the holy family p131The tree is a holy symbol however it is broken.the broken tree signifies that in reality, the Kellers arent as holy as they seem.the trouble with you is that you dont believe in anything now I live in the usual darknessMy personal opinion is that Jim represents non belief in terms of religion. The idea that he lives in darkness suggests that there is no light from religion in his life. And perhaps his unhappiness is a result of this non belief. Although, as an al ternative interpretation, you could say that the way he admires Chris (he meets a man and makes a statue out of him p131) and the circumstance that Chris could be interpreted as Christ means that he isnt a total non believer.Nobody in this house dast take her faith away, Joe p 107Although this is a references to Anns faith in Larry, it potentially has further reaching meaning. The use of dast is not in keeping with the general colloquial tone of the discourse in the play, so it stands out. It almost sounds as if it could have been quoted from the bible. It is keeping with the idea that Mother is hijacking religion as reasoning behind her argument that Larry is aliveI never believed in crucifying people p117Keller says this, and although its clearly a view that he has gained because he is guilty, its also representative of a benevolent figure. However, its also incredibly ironical since hes put Steve through jail for something he didnt do which is worse than crucifiction .He was in correctly accussed once and it put him through hell p133Chris says this to Ann and the irony is that Keller lied and put Steve in prison actions that Christians believe would put him through hell the next time he is accused he will commit suicide an action Christians also believe will result in the perpetrater going to hellGeorge, you dont want to be the voice of God, do you? p140And truer love hath no man p 148it has biblical echoes.Is it junk to feel that that theres a greater power than ourselves? p 154Thats all, nothing more til Christ comes. P155Theres great irony in this statement from Chris. By til Christ comes hes refering to Judgement day (and therefore implying that they should never talk about the problem again). But in reality, judgement day is approaching (the day when the truth emerges and the day of Kellers death).God does not let a son be killed by his father p 156This is the whole concept that has led to Kates adamant belief that Larry is still alive.PlayAct OneThe Kellers home is describe as a secluded atmosphere and something about poplar trees. This creates he effect of the Kellers home in having something to hide perhaps, which is reinforced by annes comment that the poplars have gotten thick. Also Their house is draw as on the outskirts of an american town. Well an could suggest that this does not only apply to the Kellers, but the whole of american society including the audience who are viewing the play. Also look at Frank entrance. He saunters in creating a sense of mystery and slowness about the place. Also look at the introduction to the materialistic goods such as the malt mixer, something which would have been fairly new, considering the context. Also there is a lot in Chris war speech, you could essentially write a page on that single section and it is also good for linking in with the section ou have been asked. Remeber, always link this section to the rest of the play, without this you wont get an A.Act TwoAct Three