Characters and Motivations
Who is the protagonist of All My Sons?
Joe Keller
What major historical event sets the context for All My Sons?
World War II
Where does the entire play take place?
In the backyard of the Keller family home.
True or False: Chris Keller knew about his father’s guilt from the beginning of the play.
False
Why does Kate Keller refuse to believe that Larry is dead?
She believes that if Larry is dead, it means Joe is guilty and responsible for his death.
What is the play’s main critique of the American Dream?
The play critiques the pursuit of financial success at the cost of moral integrity and human lives.
What event caused Larry to take his own life?
Larry killed himself after discovering his father’s role in the deaths of the pilots.
What moral conflict does Chris Keller face regarding his father’s actions?
Chris struggles between loyalty to his father and his moral responsibility to hold him accountable for the deaths of the pilots.
Why does Ann Deever come back to visit the Keller family?
She comes back to marry Chris and to confront the family with Larry’s letter.
What message does the title All My Sons convey about responsibility?
The title suggests that Joe Keller’s responsibility extends beyond his own family to the broader community, including the young pilots who died.
hat evidence does Ann Deever bring to the Keller family that forces them to confront the truth about Larry?
Larry’s letter, which reveals that he committed suicide out of shame for his father’s actions.
How is Joe Keller’s belief that he did everything for his family morally flawed?
Joe’s actions, meant to protect his family, result in the deaths of 21 pilots and the eventual destruction of his own family.
What motivates Chris Keller’s decision to confront his father about the faulty airplane parts?
Chris is driven by his moral idealism and the realization that Joe’s actions caused the deaths of 21 pilots.
How does the setting in the Keller family’s backyard symbolize the themes of the play?
The backyard setting symbolizes the facade of normalcy, hiding the deeper moral corruption and global consequences of Joe’s actions.
What does Joe Keller claim as his justification for shipping faulty airplane parts during the war?
Joe claims he did it to protect his business and family financially.
How does Larry Keller's suicide reflect his moral integrity?
Larry cannot live with the shame of his father’s crime and believes that his own life is tainted by it, leading him to take responsibility by ending his life.
How does George Deever change after visiting his father in prison?
After visiting Steve Deever in prison, George becomes convinced that Joe, not his father, was responsible for the faulty parts and wants justice.
How does the play explore the theme of denial, especially through Kate Keller?
Kate uses denial to protect herself from the truth about Larry’s death and Joe’s guilt, allowing her to avoid confronting the moral implications of Joe’s actions.
How does the play end for Joe Keller, and what leads to his final decision?
Joe commits suicide after realizing his actions caused the death of his son Larry and the pilots. He can no longer escape the guilt.
Why can Ann Deever also be seen as ethically flawed despite not directly causing harm like Joe?
Ann withholds Larry’s letter, which reveals the truth about his death, for personal reasons, delaying the confrontation of the truth for the Kellers.