All My Sons Questions on Act 2

1. The Start of Act 2 Read pages (until George’s entrance) 1.How does Miller continue to add to the dramatic build-up to George’s arrival? 2.What revelations are there in this section of the play about the neighbourhood’s attitude towards Keller? 3.How is Keller’s growing anxiety about George’s arrival exhibited? 4.Consider Sue’s line at the top of page 44: “... you’re [Ann] the female version of him [Chris].” To what extent do you agree with this statement? Support all answers with close reference to the text.

2. George Deever (pages 49 to 65) Consider from George’s entrance on page 49 to his speeches on page 52: 1.What hints does George give to pre-empt the revelation that he has learned the truth about Joe’s involvement in the shipping of the machine-heads? Consider from page 52 to Kate’s entrance on page 55: 2.How does Miller’s language in this section of the play demonstrate George’s utter conviction that Joe is responsible for allowing the machine-heads to be shipped? 3.Consider George’s assertion at the bottom of page 55: “Oh, Chris, you’re a liar to yourself!” To what extent do you believe this to be the case? Consider from Kate’s entrance on page 55 to the bottom of page 62: 4.Why reasons are there for George relenting in his accusations about Keller here? 5.Comment on the irony on Keller’s assertion that “There are certain men in the world who would rather see everybody hung before they’ll take blame” (page 62). 6.What causes George to resume his accusations about Keller on page 63? Consider this section of the play as a whole (pages 49 to 65): 7.What clues are there to suggest the relationship George had with Chris, Kate and Joe Keller before the incident involving the machine-heads? 8.What clues are there to suggest the sort of life George would have had if he hadn’t gone to war?

Consider from George’s entrance on page 49 to his speeches on page 52: 1.What hints does George give to pre-empt the revelation that he has learned the truth about Joe’s involvement in the shipping of the machine-heads? Consider from page 52 to Kate’s entrance on page 55: 2.How does Miller’s language in this section of the play demonstrate George’s utter conviction that Joe is responsible for allowing the machine-heads to be shipped? 3.Consider George’s assertion at the bottom of page 53: “Oh, Chris, you’re a liar to yourself!” To what extent do you believe this to be the case? Consider from Kate’s entrance on page 55 to the bottom of page 62: 4.Why reasons are there for George relenting in his accusations about Keller here? 5.Comment on the irony on Keller’s assertion that “There are certain men in the world who would rather see everybody hung before they’ll take blame” (page 62). 6.What causes George to resume his accusations about Keller on page 63?

Act 2 – Notes on George Deever 4.Consider from Kate’s entrance on page 55 to the bottom of page 62: What reasons are there for George relenting in his accusations about Keller here? George doesn’t want to hurt Kate, as he clearly has strong feelings for her: “he has always liked her” (stage direction). He goes on to say to Kate “You haven’t changed at all.” George’s encounter with Lydia seems to make him nostalgic for the time in his life when he lived next door to the Kellers and both families were extremely close, as he remarks when Lydia leaves: “She makes it seem so nice around here.”, and is described as saying so “softly, with a catch in his throat”. This suggests that he allows himself to be persuaded that Keller is innocent, as it is much easier to put aside his concerns and resume his old relationship with the Kellers. For all George’s insistence on Keller’s guilt and his determination to make him face up to his crimes in the earlier part of the scene, once Keller starts to talk to him about his father, George’s resolve seems to falter. This can be seen by the way George continually allows himself to be cut off by Keller, simply muttering partially formed sentences such as “Well, I – ”, “Yes, but – ”, “I know that, I – ”. He is much less articulate about Keller’s guilt than he is at the start of the scene, suggesting that he is gradually being won over by Keller’s force of personality and reasoning.

Act 2 – Notes on George Deever 5.Consider from Kate’s entrance on page 55 to the bottom of page 62: Comment on the irony on Keller’s assertion that “There are certain men in the world who would rather see everybody hung before they’ll take blame” (page 62). The irony here is that Keller is happy to see other men metaphorically “hung” before he takes the blame, as Steve is currently serving a prison sentence for crimes that Keller is ultimately responsible for. Keller makes a similar comment earlier when he remarks to George that “A little man makes a mistake and they hang him by the thumbs; the big ones become ambassadors”

Act 2 – Notes on George Deever 6.What causes George to resume his accusations about Keller on page 63? George’s accusations appear to have all but vanished, and he seems on the verge of accompanying Ann and the Kellers out to dinner. The stage directions describe him as “laughing” and the conversation shifts to more light-hearted matters, such as finding George a date and getting him something suitable to wear. George remarks that “I never felt at home anywhere but here.”, suggesting that he is giving in to the allure of the Kellers’ warm personalities and pleasant lifestyle. However, George abruptly resumes his accusation when Kate remarks that Joe has never been sick in the last fifteen years. This suggests that he was not, in fact, ill on the day he instructed Steve to ship the faulty machine-heads, and that this was simply a ruse to prevent him from having to take responsibility in person. Although Joe recognises Kate’s slip quickly and tries to cover it up, George picks up on it, asserting that “He simply told your father to kill pilots, and covered himself in bed!”