Discuss Millers dramatic presentation of tension between George and Keller in this extract from "All My Sons".

by amandasmiththerapisthotmailcom (student)

With close reference to detail of language and action, discuss Miller’s dramatic presentation of tension between George and Keller in the following extract.

Miller begins the extract with George and Keller, who seem to be having a normal conversation. This however, soon escalates to more than an innocent discussion and we as the audience can already distinguish the tension rising between both characters within the first few lines. With the use of certain devices like stage directions and dialogue, Miller not only makes this scene gripping, but he also successfully portrays George and Keller in a new light the audience had not yet seen, perfectly conveying the tension they have between them.

Immediately into the extract Keller says “A little man makes a mistake and they hang him by the thumbs” as if he is trying to reassure himself that the crime he committed was not as bad as it really was by saying “makes a mistake”. He is accounting for his own actions through poor Steeve Deever. George makes sure Keller knows how much hatred Steve has for Joe, which causes a backlash from Joe stating that he is “sad to see he hasn’t changed. After 25 years he still hasn’t learned to take the blame.” It is clear at this point Joe is starting to feel threatened by George and feels as though he needs to clarify that it was Steve that caused the death of the airmen to make himself feel better. To the audience it seems as though Keller is trying to convince himself more than anyone else that it wasn’t his fault. This charactersiastion of Joe done by Miller adds to Keller’s character that makes him seem all the more tragic. He was willing to lie to even himself because its easier than accepting the truth. He refuses to own up to his actions and will do anything to not face them. Just the opening scene already leaves the audience anticipating more and want to know what is going to happen next.

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Almost instantly into the extract, Miller allows the audience to see the hostility George has against Keller. George is cautious around Keller and we observe him “studying him”. The scene seems to be an interrogation and we see Keller seem very “interested” at the fact George visited his father. In normal circumstances, it shouldn’t seem like a shock when a child visits their incarcerated father, however, the fact Keller was so interested that George went to see Steve Deever makes the scene feel like it is structured to insinuate Keller’s guilt and fear of being caught. We are also left to wonder if Keller is worried that George will believe his father claiming Keller is just as much guilty as he is. To attempt to conceal these secrets over and perhaps convince George that Keller is the good guy, we see Him tell George that “as far as (he’s) concerned… he’s got a place with (him)”, meaning George’s father. This is not only manipulative but also in some ways ironic. Here is the man who shifted the entire blame onto another person, a close colleague and longtime neigbour, to get out of facing justice, yet claiming to be concerned about him and in other words ‘always have is back’. George spitefully responds back to Keller “he hates your guts Joe. Don’t you know”. The use of a rhetorical question not only engages the audience and flawlessly displays the rising atmosphere but it also is used by George as a tactic to almost belittle Keller, and humble him. Quite often in America, people out of respect will refer to someone older than them as ‘Sir’ or “Ma’am’, George referring to “Joe” by his name rather than sir, strips Keller of his superiority and hits Joe with the relisastion than George isn’t falling for his lies and creeping around him which he perhaps previously may have expected, and could be seen as an indirect threat. This scene in the extract is not only significant in the presentation of tension bur Miller has expertly created it to make the audience feel as though they are there and can feel the tension crawling up their back, awaiting for something big to happen.

Additionally, the use of stage directions illuminates tension further. “With bitterness dominant” adds to the growing presentation of tension throughout this extract. Miller using stage directions successfully shows the audience the contrast between Joe’s brevity and George’s flippancy and bitterness towards him. Another example of stage directions being useful in the text would be when George and Keller’s discussion becomes heated and Keller keeps interrupting George, which causes George to become “distressed”, this shows the audience how the conversation is emotionally affecting the men and likely wouldn’t have been so successfully interpreted if it was told through discussion or conversation.

Miller’s dramatic tension is easily identifiable in extract and is clearly weaved through out it. With the use of certain techniques and devices he is able to expose the tension between George and Keller to the audience effortlessly. This scene draws the audience’s attention whilst also allowing them to feel the same emotions the characters are facing in this extract.