How far can we say that 'All My Sons' is a tragedy?

At first glance, I would agree with this statement because of the events that occur in the play, and themes that surround them. Larry's disappearance and presumed death hangs over the family from the opening moments of the play, immediately creating a gloomy atmosphere. What is even worse for the Keller family is that this creates conflict. Kate refuses to believe that he is dead, and therefore seeks neighbour Jim's help in creating a horoscope, creating a sense of optimism, but false optimism. Also, the stage directions aid in creating this tragic atmosphere. The opening page described the Keller land as being a 'secluded atmosphere' which creates the impression that the land is sealed off from the wider world. Even more tragic as the land is a hot spot for conflict, as I earlier stated. Combined with the stage directions, this creates the impression the conflict is present only to this piece of land, and once you are involved in conflict, no one else can hear it, because the land is shut off from the outside world.

With this in mind, it doesn't mean that world outside is insignificant. In fact, it is the damage inflicted on the outside world which is caused by Joe Keller's fight for what he thinks is best for his family. He has good intentions, but the outcomes are tragic on those around him, much like Hamlet, who's acts of madness had a devastating effect on Ophelia, where he actually intended to take focus and suspicion away from her. However, this creates Joe's fatal flaw, and it is similar to Hamlet's. He damages those around him, but with what he thinks is a morally good aim. Compared to Greek tragedy, the minor characters in 'All My Sons', such as Jim, Sue and Lydia, are strongly reminiscent of a Chorus, who would appear on-stage to comment on the action of others and/or use storytelling to explain a little bit about the characters that appeared on/off-stage, and this is evident where Sue explains to Ann that "Men are like little boys; for the neighbours they'll always cut the grass".

At the end of Shakespearean tragedies, we are often left with a form of resolution for the future, despite the severe outcomes of the tragedy. In 'Romeo and Juliet', for example, the two families decide to resolve their differences and end the conflict between them, despite the loss of their son and daughter, respectively. A tragic outcome, but there is a glimmer of hope for the future nonetheless. At the end of 'All My Sons' Joe commits suicide, leaving his family in much distraught, but also, as a means of his own form of punishment. The world is rid of a man who commit ed a crime, which seems positive but it appears that nothing else that is positive can be drawn from this. Like 'Romeo and Juliet', the positive aspect is only a glimmer.

'All My Sons' reading journal, act three

The initial stage directions for this act indicate that 'A light shows from upstairs bedroom, lower floor windows being dark' which I think has been put in place to further represent isolation in the Keller land. the house itself is in a secluded, claustrophobic location, as noted in the opening of the play, and I think Miller has added this stage direction in to remind us of these feelings. A conversation the occurs between Jim and Kate, with a sentence from Jim drenched in irony when compared to Joe - "...money-money-money. You say it long enough it doesn't mean anything". I think this because of Joe's arguments about continuing the business despite selling faulty pane parts. He wanted to keep the business alive for his son above anything else. He probably didn't even take account of the money earned from selling the faulty parts. Again, however, Jim offers us a piece of moral comment for us to ponder "every man does have a star. The star of one's honesty...He probably wanted to be alone to watch his star go out." - This creates the impression that all men, regardless of age or morals, are all the same. Everyone man has ambition or something to look up to, but in the end, it shatters. In Chris' case, it was the respect and love he had for his farther. As delusion is also a keep theme in the play, maybe the starts that Jim talks of are a symbol of these lies, that clatter the sky and provide a roof for the Kellers. As the lies are realized, one by one, the truth of the sky can be revealed again. However, focusing on my first interpretation of this, we get a small insight as to what Jim's ambitions were, and how domestic life has shattered them - "...studied a certain disease. It was beautiful...And now I live in the usual darkness", Suggesting that becoming domesticated is a form of giving up, as if it is 'the back-up plan'.

When Joe enters the scene, the stage directions note that 'his voice is husky' as if, after being exposed to the tragic reality of the situation caused by selling the faulty plane parts, he has become, like a machine, rusty on the inside. His reputation has been damaged. Kate urges him that he "better be smart now" but again, I can't help but question - is this possible for him? Once again I will refer back to the opening stage directions of the play, where he is described as being 'uneducated', creating the impression that he cannot catch-up with his family's expectations of him. However, I feel that all of these expectations are thrown at him because of what he is; a father and a businessman. H earns for his family, so therefore responsibility is automatically placed on him, which is another example of tragedy being caused by domestication - it places responsibility on those who don't know what to do with it. "whenever there's trouble you yell at me and you think that settles it" says Kate, as a means of protecting herself, but in doing so, creates a fine example of hypocrisy. This because of the conflict caused by her throughout the play, where she would often shout or speak loudly in order to control the emotions on display in front of her. Next, we see what is at first a tragic theory which soon becomes a tragic reality "I mean if you told him you were willing to play for what you did" says Kate to Joe, in the hope that Chris will realize that Chris will then think that his father is once again a decent man, However, Chris is prepared to take the theory into practice and go against his family, creating moral conflict between farther and son: Joe, thinking of what is best for the family, and Chris, thinking of what implications that actions will have on those around them.

Raising a family and earning a steady income is everything to Joe, it is his idea of an ideal life. Because of this, he is also hedonistic, and the thought of there being something more important that family life is something he cannot relate to. "I'll put a bullet in my head!" he says in anger of this idea, which, as we soon learn, is a tragically ironic statement, and an instant foreshadowing effect. Kate states that Chris was "such a killer" during the war, but at home, "he was always afraid of mice"which creates a questionable contrast in his character, as if being involved in war has taught him to how to deal with his own form of justice against the enemy. Was the enemy more recognisable at war? Or has domestic life altogether shadowed Chris in disillusionment, so that the enemy cannot be recognised? Ann the reveals to have a letter from Larry, written to her by Larry on the day he died and how this happened comes as a genuine, tragic surprise. In dong this, she sets up a dirty compromise with Kate "I want you to set him free" referring to the truth about Larry and how this will ease Chris' mind "And then I promise you, everything will end" - In order for Chris and Ann to lave together peacefully, Kate will have to learn of the horrifying truth about Larry's death. There is no winning option for her. "I didn't bring this to hurt you" she pleads - her intentions were good, an attempt to relax Kate, but the outcome of this has been tragic, and since the content of the letter was tragic anyway, there really was no room for happiness. It would have tragic for the Kellers to continue living a lie, but just as tragic to accept the truth of the situation.

As Joe's tragic fate rapidly approaches, he continues to cloak himself in foreshadowed irony, "I'm a dead man, I'm an old dead man, nothings mine" but also, I think he is referring to the Keller business when he says this. It is as if feels that the business is no longer his and that it now belong to Chris. Everything he earned from it does not belong to him ("It's your money, that's not my money") and by doing so has infuriated Chris, but has forced hypocrisy upon himself by trying to shift the blame, something he criticized Steve for earlier in the play. He tells Chris that "Half the goddam country is gotta go if I go!" and what I interpret this as is his explanation of being part of the wider world. He is no different than any other man out there, and this is what shatters Chris, who saw him as his farther, rather than an ordinary man. It hurts so much more because it is personal. In Larry's letter, it is revealed that Larry felt just as devastated by what Joe had done by selling the faulty parts - "if I had had him there now I could kill him" and tragically, the truth is what drew him to suicide, creating the impression that tragedy surround the world, be it a truthful one, or a false one. After hearing this, the stage directions note that Joe is speaking 'almost inaudibly'. On stage, I can vision this as taking place after a long, suspending silence, and the action itself, as noted, is essential silent anyway, a representation of what the truth can do. Joe recognises the tragic impact that his actions have placed on the wider world, and takes matters of justice into his own hands - 'A shot is heard in the house'. I think that Miller has placed this action off-stage so that the audience can create their own vision of the shooting and also, as a means of taking audience attention away from what is happening on-stage. It is this death, however, that sends Chris into a state of upsetting shock, begging for forgiveness ("Mother, I didn't mean to-"). He thought he would be doing a nice thing for society by putting a guilty man behind bars, but because Joe took justice into his own hands, tragedy has been caused once more, just like Joe caused by selling the parts, which he had intended to be a good thing, but the results, however, were tragic. Like father, like son.

'All My Sons' reading journal, act two

At the beginning of the act, So much more is said about George before he actually appears on-stage, which, just as it did for Annie in act 1, fills me with desperation and curiosity to see him, in particular the comments " George is just a damn fool, Mother" and "There's blood in his eye". These suggest that George will come bringing strong conflict, but Chris thinks this will all be pointless. He thinks that his arguments will have no sense or relevance. Speaking of Chris, we learn something about him, which makes him very comparable to the Mother: He is hedonistic. This is evident the Mother says to him "You think just because you like everybody, they like you!" - he has trapped himself into thinking that everyone around him is good, and that nothing can be bad, much like the Mother's thoughts on Larry returning. Reality is against both of them. A striking phrase, however is "the sicker they get the longer they live". I sense tragedy in this sentence because it suggests that rather than dieing peacefully, a person has to keep on living with pain and suffering, and the strength of this only increases as they get more and more ill. Peaceful rest is not an option.

In my reading journal of act 1, I discussed that the writer had had included many pieces of stage direction and dialogue that provided an opportunity for irony to occur later in the story. Now, I think that I have found an example of this coming to life. Sue says to Ann "Men are like little boys; for the neighbors they'll always cut the grass." to which Ann replies with "People like to do things for the Kellers. Been that way since I can remember." It is the mention of little boys and doing things for the Kellers: When Bert appeared in act 1, although of a jokey nature, He was acting as the police officer of the street for Joe, which was doing something for the Kellers. Where Ann says that things have been like this for as long as she can remember, it is as if this cycle has been going for a long time. Theory was put to life earlier in the play. Next, once more, conflict is present. This time, it is wealth v.s. personality. Ann wants to by with Chris purely because he "relaxes", which poses a sweet, loving nature. However, Sue points out that "And he's got money. That's important" This poses the question, however: What, out of those two options, is more important? Once more, this action takes place in the Keller property: even the neighbours cannot avoid bickering in this territory. Sue does have a method of distancing herself from this, however, by making a comparison between her house and the Keller's: "...Living next door to the Holy Family. It makes me look like a bum..." - she thinks that, because of Kate's (Mother) Religious beliefs, they appear as if they are a better family than her own. However, I would disagree with this because of what I commented on in my journal of act one. Religion has cause Kate to become trapped in her own optimistic (and hedonistic, in the sense that she is pleasing herself only) bubble, away from society. Sue's family, however are aware of what is taking place around them, and they can develop with it, unlike the Kellers, who have "put their lives on hold" as Joe earlier commented.

Elements of Chris' hedonistic nature again crop up, to Ann's displeasure. He comments that Sue is a "great nurse", prompting Ann to criticise and obliterate his personal bubble: "As soon as you know somebody you find a distinction for them... She despises you!". However, is this Chris' way of dealing with loss? to create his own world, in order to escape the tragedy or the reality that surrounds him? Speaking of which, Joe then makes some interesting, yet tragic comments about the real world and how it will affect him - "everybody's gettin' so goddam educated in this country they'll be nobody to take away the garbage". Joe was earlier described as an "uneducated man", so this suggests that the world will continue to develop and progress around him; society will continue to develop and progress around him; humankind will continue to develop and progress around him, so where does that leave him? Tragedy, because of his limited knowledge, I would think that continuing with the path that society takes would be too much for him to interpret. Also, despite his lack of education, it appears that Joe always has good intentions for his family and those close to him; "I could set George up here..." is proof of this. However, tragedy occurs later when his kind gestures are shattered, even worse, not only by George, whose arrival is now upon us. the stage directions that come with his arrival suggests a shaken-up character, clinging on to emotional turbulence ('...afraid to find himself screaming', '...forced appreciation), which suggests that George's presence is one to be cautious of. When he does speak, he speaks of the tragedy that exists in the current society, in particular "outside there doesn't seem to be a law" which suggests that society has become care-free, leaving those who where meant to be dealt with, undealt with, and "On the telephone you can't have responsibility" meaning that advances in technology have lead to a decline in human decency. However, George himself, we learn, almost faced a tragic birth, as revealed by Kate: "The day you were born and the water got shut off..." Society, on that day, appeared to be collapsing, which could partially explain his uneasy presence (I say partially because of his suspicions of the Keller family and there involvement in putting his farther, Steve, in prison).

The overly depressing nature of George's past doesn't end there, however. We learn that George dismissed the idea of marrying Lydia, only now, to regret doing so ("I told you to marry that girl"). Irritatingly, Kate enhances his already tragic presence by adding insult to injury when the stage directions indicate that she is 'in pursuit of this mood' as if she doesn't just want to leave his regrets standing alone; she wants to rub them in the dirt and then on his face. All of this negativity is soon met with a slither of comedy, where Joe says "I wear the pants ans she beats me with the belt", when talking of Kate. We can tell that, is performed on stage, this line would probably trigger a comic response from an audience. However, the subtext of this is fortunately true - Kate is far more dominant and intelligent than Joe, so, tragically, he is forced to feed off of making a joke out of everything around him, which is his form of hedonism.

We have now been intrigued by two characters being talked of while they were offstage (Annie and George) and we are going to be interested even further by the Joe's upcoming comments on Steve, farther to George and Ann who is currently in jail. "he damn near blew us all up with that heater he left burning for two days without water. He wouldn't admit that was his fault, either...rather see everybody hung before they'll take blame", Suggest that he a is weak, cautious character whose actions have inflected tragedies and damage to reputations, but is Joe saying this to try and shift away George's suspicions of him? We soon learn that this was basically completely true. As well as this, it is at this point that my previous comments about opportunities for tragic irony take on another interpretation - there have been so many sayings in this fashion throughout the story, so maybe this is intentionally a philosophical play. With this aside, optimism again has it's silver lining through the cloud when Frank enters 'briskly', carrying Larry's completed horoscope. Chris asks "Can't you pick a better time than this?" but the tragic reality of the situation is that there probably isn't ever a suitable time for this, in the Keller's land of conflict and forced emotion. The horoscope has revealed that November 25th was a "favorable day" for Larry, and that "a man won't die on his favorable day" After he leaves, as expected, conflict resumes. Optimism then appears in it's most violent, turbulent form yet when the stage directions indicate that Kate 'smashes' Joe 'across the face' after yet another bicker about Larry's existence. This is the level to which false hope has dragged her; she won't accept any other viewpoint. I have previously said that the Kellers have their own world of tragedy sealed off from the rest of society. The cause of this, however, is about to be heavily expanded.

Kate states to Chris that "God does not let a son be killed by his farther" giving the clearest indications that the accusations thrown at Joe earlier are true: it was him who caused 21 pilots to be killed because of selling faulty parts, and this may-well have included Larry, despite Joe's claims that "He never flew a P-40". However, it is his reason for selling the false parts in the first place that are truly tragic - "You lay forty years into a business and they knock out in five minutes, what could I do...", choosing the smooth-flow of his business over risking innocent lives, made even worse by the fact that he did it for good and considerate intentions - (to Chris) "I did it for you, it was a chance and I took it for you" - He thought he was doing a nice thing for his family, but the results were catastrophic to the world outside of there family, and Chris interprets this intended act of kindness as being selfish and against humanity - "Don't you have a country? Don't you live in the world?". The tragic ending of this act is clear: conflict surrounds the Kellers, and it doesn't matter if you lie or not.