Joe is in pursuit of a dream; money is the desire that drives him. He believes he will be judged according to the success he achieves, he says, ‘I am going to build you a house, stone, with a driveway from the road. I want you to spread out, Chris, I want you to use what I have made for you.’ Joe believes that if he builds his son a house, it will show to the world how successful he has been, how he can afford to construct a substantial property.
Chris is a troubled man, more willing to empathise with others and much more sensitive than his father, ‘for instance, one time it’d been raining several days and this kid came to me, and gave me his last pair of dry socks.’ This shows how this almost insignificant act had a profound effect on Chris; he cares more for personal gestures than grand ideas.
Joe is trying to live up to the American dream so that others can see that he has been successful and had a ‘perfect’ life whereas Chris wants to live a non-ceremonial life and does not crave success and money like Joe.
Joe is a self-made man and wants people to know about it, as in the way he rebuilt his reputation after his release from jail. He talks about the way he rebuilt success and respect with, ‘Every Saturday night the whole gang is playin’ poker in this arbour. All the ones who yelled murderer takin’ my money now.’ This shows his confidence is regained.
Chris tells us about his experiences during the war such as his hate for Ann’s father after he caused the death of twenty-one pilots in the war. He is remorseless when he says, ‘He murdered twenty-one pilots,’ referring to Ann’s father.
Unlike Joe, Chris does not want to forgive Ann’s dad. Joe seems to value the thought of a second chance and would like to see him, ‘ move back right on this block,’ and he would support him.
Arthur Miller uses stage directions to show differences between the characters in terms of drama. He shows how much Chris admires his dad as when Joe makes a little speech he responds, ‘(with admiration).’ Also it shows Joe’s regard for Ann’s father as he is shocked when Ann says that, ‘I don’t write him,’ as Keller is, ‘(struck),’ by this as it says in the stage directions.
The script starts with a full description of the Keller’s house, which is an excellent idea as almost all the play is based in or around it, so it gives a good foundation.
Larry’s tree in the garden meant a lot to mother so, in terms of the whole script, when the tree blew down it brought deep upset to mother, as she was the only person still expecting Larry to return.
The inclusion of Frank and Jim is an obvious way to enhance the audiences perception of Joe and Chris’s views as both Frank and Jim seem to be products of the American dream, with Jim concealing a desire to partake in greater things. This shows how much Joe is a true product of the American dream and how far away Chris is from being so, although of course he has been influenced because of his upbringing.
George uncovers Joe’s secret almost single-handedly due to the forthcoming release of his father. His coming with new facts to the family, which Joe finds hard to eventually deny, puts the family into dispute.
Bert, a bit-part character who only appears momentarily, shows the problems between mother and Joe that they try to cover up. Mother turns on, ‘(…Keller furiously),’ and shouts at him, ‘there’s no jail here!’ showing how strained this subject is.
The structure of the play shows how, slowly, Joe’s lies start unravelling and justice inevitably is catching up with him. He starts to panic but finally, at the end of the play, admits that his time is up.
In the play Miller gradually reveals more and more information to the audience as at the start, and throughout most of the play, it is thought that Joe is innocent but towards the end, when George is brought into the picture, and more evidence is brought to the audience, it seems Joe is guilty, rather like in a detective story.
It is clear throughout much of the play that Joe is a product and chaser of the American dream whilst Chris, although also being a product of the American dream rather unwillingly, does not want to chase it and live the ‘perfect’ life.
