Sunday, December 13, 2015

In Act 1 of "All My Sons", how does George's visit affect the various characters?

The announcement of George's visit in Act I creates a level of tension for Ann, Chris, Kate and especially Joe Keller.  It serves to open the past events and bring the incident with the faulty airplane parts into the present moment.  George's actual visit is a very significant turning point in the play.   

George's visit is the catalyst that ignites the tragic ending of the play.  For Ann, George's visit brings both heartache and hope. Heartache, because once the truth is told about Joe Keller's framing of Steve, Ann could never marry Chris.  Hope because now she can embrace her father once more, she has not spoken to him or seen him for a long time.

George's visit serves to initiate the unveiling of the truth for both Kate and Chris, and leads to the overwhelming sense of guilt that Joe Keller feels which  results in his committing suicide.

Kate must face the truth about her son Larry's death, something that she has refused to do until the end of the play.

Chris, who has been idealistic throughout the play, comes face to face with his father's immorality and guilt over the death of the pilots and the suicide of his brother Larry. 

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