All My Sons - How does Miller create dramatic tension in this extract from the play?

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Reina Hashash

Y11-5

All My Sons Exam Practice

How does Miller create dramatic tension in this extract from the play?

This extract begins with Chris and Ann deciding how they’re going to break the news to the Kellers. They start with Joe Keller, and he somewhat approves. The scene is lighthearted until Keller finds out the George is on the phone for Ann from Columbia. This drives is suspicions and gets him very protective. He begins to try and hint to Chris that Ann is here to try and convict him of the death of Larry. Chris then gets very angry with him, and Joe compensates by bringing out his extreme love and care for the success of his family. The tension of the scene gradually builds up until this part, where Joe Keller abruptly gets very content and jokes about how they will “get Kate so drunk that night they’ll all get married!”

Meanwhile Ann is very nervous about breaking the news to Kate. Miller creates a slight form of tension here, as the audience also feels anxious to see what would happen when the news is broken to Kate, as she says that she is “not very good in an argument” This nervousness hints that there will be great conflict when they announce their marriage to Kate. However, Chris gallantly and typically re-assures her and brings down the tension again when he says she should “just leave it to him”. She is on the phone with George finding out more details about Joe’s crime, after disowning their own father for the crime.

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This extract plays a significant role in the play, as it shows how Chris can become very defensive over the woman he loves, and how Joe is very paranoid, as he is troubled by the thoughts of his crime, and therefore begins to accuse Ann’s visit to be one of negative intentions. Miller creates dramatic tension between Chris and his father, as Chris begins to get very irate with Keller’s accusations and is aggressively protective and is very sure about his thoughts. The audience can sense this with the direct tone in Chris’ speech to his father.

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