‘Keller: Nothin’s bigger than that. And you’re going to tell him, you understand? I’m his father and he’s my son, and if there’s something bigger than that I’ll put a bullet in my head!’
With this idea Miller gives both Keller and his son Chris opposing views. Keller believes he has an ultimate duty to his family. He believes he is to set a good example and provide for his family in return for love and devotion from them. He loves his family so much so that he is blind to what he has done wrong. ‘Keller [as though throwing his whole nature open before Chris] : How could I kill anybody?’. Keller is a very business orientated man who believes that there is nothing bigger than the relationship between a father and son. Chris proves him wrong. Chris’ character is quite different. The experience of war has changed him. He doesn’t follow the traditional American dream like his father. Chris’ eyes are open to reality.
The American dream is to “do what you must to achieve your goal.” Miller attacks this and conveys his views upon the American dream by the consequences of Keller’s actions. You cannot displace morals and do what you wish to get what you want. You have to remember the ripple effect and this is what Miller shows his audience. What you do affects other people too. Keller sacrifices the lives of others to keep what he had achieved. If he hadn’t followed his distorted perception of the American dream he would of lost everything but the soldiers would of survived.
Although there are many moral issues, I personally feel that the most important issue is that if during your pursuit for success you hurt or endanger others. You are not a success you have failed, failed to live morally right.
Miller conveys the issues of the play in a theatrical tradition similar to that of the ancient Greek plays. Each action in they play has repercussions throughout and each section entwines with another. With the use of stage directions and dramatic speeches Miller makes sure the play is performed in a way that catches the audiences attention and draws them in. The three acts all take place over the course of one day and whole play is acted on the same set. This makes the audience feel more involved with the play and they can relate to it more realistically as there is a less dramatic time scale to that of normal plays. The actions represent the change between wars. These are projected to the audience by helping them to relate themselves to the issues of the Keller family.
George and Lydia represent the aspect of future. They are the next generation. Jim compromised his possible future and what he wanted to do in life by living up to his duties as a loyal husband and father. ‘Jim: and your trouble is that you believe in anything.’ He lives in darkness, shadowed by regret at what he could have been. Chris Keller is his light, his hope and his insight into leading a life of your own choices. Chris is the voice of the new generation. Miller also shows a theme of ‘survival of the fittest’. The neighbours all know that Joe committed the crime but they all respect him for being able to ‘scheme’ his way out of trouble. Jim tries to be selfless but is looked down upon. His dream was to give him life to science, but the attitude of the American dream made him stay home. ‘He is only worth while if he is making money’.
Miller also approaches surrealism in the play. He does this through the characters Kate and Frank. Frank believes greatly in fate, he believes he is a higher person but he is also a very successful character. He convinces Kate that Larry couldn’t have died on his ‘favourable day’ that of course is ridiculous as Larry in fact committed suicide.
In conclusion I feel that Miller wrote this play to show the truth to the American dream and how it can be completely un-realistic. Perhaps if the American dream had small print then there would be no need for mishaps and blunders due to distorted perceptions.
