As we read/discuss All My Sons, consider how many of the characters make choices on how to act depending on whether it benefits their family or society. In your blog post this week, discuss how characters in the play decide what is more important (needs of family or needs of society). Please cite examples from the play to support your answer (1 paragraph). In your second paragraph, discuss your personal opinions on the matter. When is it appropriate to put the needs of your family before society (and vice versa)?
The first few pages gave me the impression that this play was utterly pointless. However, it proved to be quite twisted by the pistol shot that ended it. Joe Keller is protrayed as "A man of stolid mind and build" (1). He seems like a guy whose got everything figured out, but when I thought about his habits, he seemed like that was just an image. His distaste for the news section seems sensible to me because I too don't like reading the news. Its all bad news... But I read the want/for sale ads on cars every day over a bowl of Lucky Charms so I can relate. But as the story moves we find Kelly to be the other side of this normal person. He runs a production plants that sold cylinder heads to the army (Go V12 monsters! Anyone but me know what heads are?). A batch came out crack (if you're curious I can tell you why this is bad), and he decided to send them to the military anyway. Why? "You wanted money," (76). "I'm in business; you got a process, the process don't work you're out of business; you don't know how to operate, your stuff is no good; they close you up, they tear up your contracts, what the hell's it to them? ... I never thought they'd install them. I swear to God. I thought they'd stop 'em before anybody took off," (69). Keller was pinned completely. He tries to blame it on money. Which is a good arguement. Money is everything in material world we live in. But for lives? "Chris I did it for you, it was a chance and I took if for you. I'm sixty one years old, when would I have another chance to make something for you? Sixty one years old and you don't get another chance do ya?" (70). Now he brings Chris in. The guts start to hurt at this part. Keller was cuaght between what he wanted and what was right. This is where I Wouldn't have done what he did.
When Keller put them on shipment I wouldn't have. He boxed those heads and sent them out because of what he wanted. What one wants is not more important then another man's entire life. One has no right to take another's life for any reason of his own unless the other cooperates, like a fight to the death (Yes, patronize me for my rediculousness). There are times when you can stand out against society. When others are benefitted from the standout then it is appropriate. If there are others who would follow you in a stand out the you should start one. But in the case of personal gain, there is no right to buck the trend. In the case of the 35W bridge. The gusset plates used were too small, endangering many people, but no one came out in fear of the money it would cost and the reputation that would be destroyed. Well it collapsed so it didn't really matter in the end, and thats what it amounts to. Keller didn't win in the end, the bridge builders didn't, the Challenger builders didn't. Those who have aren't known.
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2 comments:
I agree with what you are saying, that there are times to go against society and "start a movement." But if you are putting someone else's life in danger, let alone for your own personal gain, it is not acceptable. Keller not only says that his welfare is more important than all the boys lives he is putting in danger, he also makes Steve pay for the decisions that he made. Instead of standing behind what he did, he weaseled his way out of punishment and sought excuses that in his mind exempted him from any wrongdoing.
I think that Joe Keller thought his actions were wrong at the time, but as time went on, he slowly convinced himself of new reasons why that decision was justified and grew shallower and shallower. He sacrificed men's lives just so he could provide a slightly better life for his son, who cared about those men more than his financial future.
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