All My Sons was penned in 1947. It had a total of 328 performances on Broadway, and it won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and Tony Awards for best authored play, best play and best directed play.
Famously, Millar claimed that this was his last-ditch attempt at finding commercial success and stated that if All My Sons was a failure he would give up playwriting.
All My Sons tells the story of the Kellers, who are ostensibly the perfect all-American family. However, there are secrets which threaten to tear this perfect family apart. The question, therefore, becomes: How long can they keep pretending?
Miller's Influences
The play takes place during one Sunday, on the Kellers’ front lawn. There are numerous comparisons to be drawn with Ancient Greek theatre, in that the action of the play takes place in the course of one day. It could also be said that neighbours play the role of ‘chorus’. Additionally, Greek tragedies often take place in front of the temple, in this instance the temple is the Keller family home.
Miller was also heavily influenced by Ibsen, even writing an adaptation of The Enemy of The People. The themes of this and other Ibsen plays are obviously present within All My Sons.
Tragically, the play is based on a true story that Miller read in a newspaper. In fact, there were many cases of war-time profiteering. Cleverly, in All My Sons, Miller presents Keller's actions as those of a careless man under pressure, rather than malicious and avaricious.
Synopsis of The Play
Joe Keller is the owner of a manufacturing plant. Keller and his business partner, Deever, were both accused of shipping faulty aircraft parts which caused the deaths of twenty one pilots. As the play takes place Deever is in jail. Keller denied all knowledge of the shipment and was exonerated.
Joe and his wife, Kate, have two sons, Larry and Chris. Larry never appears in the play as he died during the war. Chris survived and is amazed at the way in which people are able to carry on with the banalities of life.
Deever also has two children, Ann and George. Ann feels guilt over her father’s actions and she disowns him. George, on the other hand, is less convinced about his father's guilt. His entrance in the play is the catalyst for the inevitable truth to immerge.
In the second act of the play it is revealed that Joe was in fact entirely responsible for shipping the faulty parts. Chris, who idolizes his father cannot bear this news and leaves.
Eventually, Joe finally realises the responsibility he had to all of the young men who lost their lives. So, he determines to turn himself in. Joe goes into the house to retrieve his coat, and the audience hears a gunshot.
Analysis of The Play
Despite the fact that this play is obviously a product of its era it, nevertheless, still resonates. The important message of the play is just as relevant now as it was in the late 1940s. In fact, if anything the need for social responsibility and social conscience is more prevalent than ever.
Recently, the play was revived on Broadway by Simon McBurney. The production starred John Lithgow, Patrick Wilson and Katie Holmes. This adaptation received mixed reviews. Notably, 'The New York Theater' magazine dubbed it "bombastic".
- More information can be found at the Arthur Miller Society's website
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