Initial Exposition
The Setting
The play takes place in 1947, 2 years after the World War II in New York City. The events occur between Sunday morning and a little after 2 o’clock the following morning. The Keller’s backyard is hedged in, offering no escape for its habitants. There is a broken apple tree in the backyard, which becomes increasingly significant as the play progresses. It is an opulent yard, and whoever owns it, is a financial success.
Joe’s Character
Keller is uneducated, “when he reads, when he speaks, when he listens, it is with the terrible concentration of the uneducated man for whom there is still wonder in many commonly known things, a man whose judgements must be dredged out of experience and a peasant-like common sense.” Keller is also known as a “man among men”, because he has “made it” in this society. Keller is a businessman whose business has taken over his life. Even on a Sunday morning, he cannot separate himself from commerce as he reads the want ads section in the paper while sitting in his yard. He is eager to pass his business on to his sons, because he loves them. Keller’s regard for his sons is undeniable. He tells Chris that, “What the hell did I work this for? That’s only for you, Chris, the while shooting match is for you!” He is also eager to include Chris in his business. When Chris threatens him that he is going to leave, Keller immediately confess his meaning of life to his family. Keller feels that he has the responsibility to pass the business firm to his son and it worries him deeply that Chris may not accept it. “The business doesn’t inspire me…I’ll have to get out.” This desire to bond with his son, is probably because of the “American Dream”, in a sense, is what frees him from moral responsibility and allows him to ship those faulty parts with a clear conscience. Keller always defends Steve by explaining how the parts got shipped in the first place. They were under pressure to produce and couldn’t afford to lose a day’s productions, so the hairline cracks got covered up. Keller’s explanation of Steve’s behaviour seems so convincing; this is partly because Keller himself seems to believe it as well.
