All My Sons | Study Guide

Arthur Miller

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Study Guide
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Course Hero. "All My Sons Study Guide." Course Hero. 7 Feb. 2019. Web. 1 July 2022. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/All-My-Sons/>.

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(Course Hero)

APA

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Course Hero. (2019, February 7). All My Sons Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved July 1, 2022, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/All-My-Sons/

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(Course Hero, 2019)

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Bibliography

Course Hero. "All My Sons Study Guide." February 7, 2019. Accessed July 1, 2022. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/All-My-Sons/.

Footnote

Course Hero, "All My Sons Study Guide," February 7, 2019, accessed July 1, 2022, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/All-My-Sons/.

Overview

Author

Arthur Miller

First Performed

1947

Type

Play

Genre

Drama

About the Title

During the course of the play, an act of social and legal injustice is revealed and righted while the family patriarch, Joe Keller, simultaneously learns the meaning of solidarity. Claiming to have only shipped faulty aircraft parts to keep his business thriving for his own two sons, Joe realizes the 21 pilots who died because of his crime were also "his sons," and he was equally responsible for their lives.

Diagrams

Joe Keller Congenial, corrupt businessman; shifts blame to partner Spouses Spouses Son Neighbors Neighbors Siblings Seeks revenge Fears influence In love Mother Friends Kate Keller Manipulative, observant, emotional mother figure Chris Keller Idealistic, moral, naïve young man; admits to cowardice Dr. Jim Bayliss Disappointed physician; would rather do research George Deever Angry, weak-willed young lawyer; seeks retribution Ann Deever Determined, strong young woman; has a powerful secret Sue Bayliss Insecure, jealous, demanding, money-hungry wife
Character Map
timeline
Timeline
plot-diagram
Plot Diagram

Summary

This study guide for Arthur Miller's All My Sons offers summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.

Characters

Joe Keller Kate Keller Chris Keller Ann Deever George Deever Dr. Jim Bayliss Sue Bayliss

Symbols

Fallen Tree Damaged Airplane Parts Basement Jail Steve Deever's Hat

Themes

Fathers as Heads Personal versus Social Responsibility in a Competitive World Idealism versus Practicality
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