"All My Sons" is actually a play written by American playwright Arthur Miller, not a novel. It was first performed in 1947 and explores themes of morality, family, and the American Dream. The play is set in the aftermath of World War II and centers around the Keller family, whose patriarch Joe Keller is a successful businessman. The play's plot revolves around the revelation that Joe knowingly sold defective airplane parts to the military during the war, resulting in the deaths of 21 pilots.
Through the characters' interactions and dialogue, Miller explores the complex moral issues surrounding Joe's actions and the impact they have on his family, particularly his son Chris, who is struggling to come to terms with his father's culpability. The play also touches on broader themes of social responsibility, the ethics of business, and the tension between individual and collective morality.
"All My Sons" is considered a classic of American theater and has been performed countless times around the world. It has been adapted for film, television, and radio, and has been translated into numerous languages.
Biography of Arthur Miller:
Arthur Miller was an American playwright and essayist, widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in American theater. He was born on October 17, 1915, in Harlem, New York City, to a family of Jewish immigrants from Poland. Miller grew up during the Great Depression and worked several odd jobs to support his family.
Miller attended the University of Michigan, where he studied English and began writing plays. His first play, "No Villain," won a prize and was produced in 1936 while he was still a student. After graduation, Miller returned to New York City and began working as a scriptwriter for radio programs.
In 1944, Miller wrote his breakthrough play, "The Man Who Had All the Luck." The play received mixed reviews and lasted only four performances on Broadway. However, it won the Theatre Guild's National Award, which helped establish Miller's reputation as a playwright.
In 1947, Miller wrote what is considered his masterpiece, "Death of a Salesman." The play tells the story of Willy Loman, a struggling salesman who is delusional about his success and the success of his two sons. "Death of a Salesman" won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, solidifying Miller's place as a major force in American theater.
Miller's next play, "The Crucible," premiered in 1953. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials of the late 17th century, but also serves as an allegory for the McCarthy hearings of the early 1950s, during which many prominent Americans were accused of being communists. "The Crucible" received mixed reviews but is now regarded as a classic of American theater.
In addition to his plays, Miller wrote several essays on politics, culture, and society. He was a vocal critic of McCarthyism and testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1956. He was found guilty of contempt of Congress but the conviction was later overturned.
Miller's personal life was also a source of public interest. He was married three times, including to actress Marilyn Monroe from 1956 to 1961. Miller's 1964 play, "After the Fall," is widely believed to be inspired by his marriage to Monroe and her subsequent death in 1962.
Miller continued to write plays throughout his career, including "A View from the Bridge" (1955), "All My Sons" (1947), "The Price" (1968), and "Broken Glass" (1994). He received numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2001.
Arthur Miller died on February 10, 2005, at the age of 89, in Roxbury, Connecticut. He is remembered as one of America's greatest playwrights and a voice of conscience during a tumultuous period in American history.
Summary of the play :
Act 1:
The play opens in the backyard of the Keller's house in the suburbs of an American town. The Keller family includes Joe, his wife Kate, and their two sons, Chris and Larry, who are both war veterans. The Kellers are awaiting the arrival of Ann Deever, the daughter of Joe's former business partner, Steve Deever, who is in prison for selling faulty airplane parts to the US military during the war. Joe and Steve were both in business together during the war and had used the faulty parts to make a quick profit. This act had resulted in the deaths of 21 pilots.
Kate is still in denial about the disappearance of Larry, who was declared missing in action three years prior. She insists that he is still alive and will return home. Chris, who is in love with Ann, tells her that he plans to propose to her. As the family waits for Ann's arrival, Joe and Kate argue about Larry. Kate believes that he is still alive and will come home, but Joe knows the truth that Larry is dead. Chris tells Ann that he believes Larry is dead, but he does not want to upset his mother.
When Ann arrives, she and Chris reminisce about their childhood and their fondness for each other. However, when Ann tells the Kellers that she plans to marry Chris, Kate becomes upset and accuses Ann of being a "jailbird's daughter."
Act 2:
The second act takes place the next day in the same setting. Joe and Chris have a conversation about the war, and Joe reveals that he is not proud of what he did during the war. Joe then asks Chris what he thinks about his plan to pass on the family business to him. Chris tells his father that he does not want the business because he is not sure it was earned honestly.
Ann visits Kate, and they talk about Larry. Ann reveals that Larry had written her a letter before he died, saying that he knew what his father had done and that he could not live with it. Ann and Kate then realize that Joe is guilty of selling the faulty parts to the military.
Later that day, a neighbor, Frank, visits and tells Joe and Chris that he has been called to testify against Steve Deever, and that Ann is also expected to testify. Joe becomes agitated and warns Chris not to marry Ann, saying that it would be a betrayal of the family. He also reveals that he knows that Larry had committed suicide because of his guilt over the faulty airplane parts.
Act 3:
In the final act, the scene shifts to the same setting during a violent thunderstorm. Joe confesses to Chris and Ann that he had sold the faulty airplane parts to the military, causing the death of 21 pilots. Joe explains that he had done it to save his business and provide for his family. Chris becomes furious and accuses his father of being responsible for Larry's death.
Kate reveals that she had known about Joe's involvement in the scandal all along, but had kept quiet to protect him. Chris is devastated by the news and tells Ann that he cannot marry her because he cannot live with the guilt of what his father had done.
In the final moments of the play, Joe cannot live with the guilt of what he had done and shoots himself. The family is left to deal with the aftermath of his actions.
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