The American Dream and the Myth of Athens are not so different. For decades the American Dream has been a symbol for the opportunity and freedom that only the USA provides and the Myth of Athens presents the view that Athens is sui generis: unique and superior to all states around it. This may be why Arthur Miller drew such profound inspiration from Greek tragedies to make a commentary of the American Dream in his play All My Sons. The beginning of the play introduces the Keller family: Joe, Kate, their son Chris and their son Larry who disappeared in war. Steve is in jail because he let faulty cylinder heads through to airplanes according to Joe. Steve’s son George comes to town and reveals that it was in fact Joe who let the parts through. …show more content…
The act of shame is any action that violates the universal moral code established at the beginning of the play. Miller chooses the act of shame to be Joe’s decision to not stop the defective cylinder heads from being used in soldier’s airplanes and then putting the blame on his longtime partner and friend Steve Deever in order to maintain his family business. However, like in Sophocles’ Odeipus Rex, the play does not take place immediately after this act but instead many years afterwards. In putting the plot near the end of Joe’s story, Miller is able to satisfy the Unities by putting the action in a time period of less then twenty-four hours, maintaining the setting in the backyard of the Keller’s household as well as focusing mainly on the major dramatic question of whether or not Joe’s secret will be revealed with few other subplots. Miller uses these elements to heighten the stakes of the situation through powerful moments of recognition, giving him the liberty to use Joe and Chris to voice the constant opposition of the need to provide for one’s family and the need for one to sacrifice for the good of