Kelly Paulson
Lit 132
Essay Topic 3
All My Sons: A Modern Tragedy
Tragedy is defined as a dramatic composition, often in verse, showing action
of a serious or somber theme. More often than not a person of great magnitude in a
societal structure faces a struggle with an overpowering force, such as fate, or
society itself. Ultimately this action leads to the downfall or destruction of a
character. This definition is based upon the ideal structure for the writing of tragedy
[put in place] by Aristotle. Arthur Millers All My Sons takes this definition, and molds
it into a modern play. With all the elements that make tragedy intriguing and
emotionally riveting, Arthur Miller created an ideal modern tragedy with All My
Sons, almost following the exact form of tragedy put in place by Aristotle, with only a
few subtle, more modern changes.
Plot, characters, thought, diction, melody and spectacle. These are Aristotle’s
six elements of tragedy, and all lead to a catharsis, or cleansing. Starting with plot,
Aristotle believed that plot refers to a cause and effect storyline. All My Sons sets up
a chain of events that leads to Joe’s self-destruction. Starting with Joe’s decision to
send the faulty equipment, a series of lies and secrets build up. Joe blaming the
incident on Stephen although it was his okay that sent out the faulty heads was the
first mistake of Joe. Then comes Larry’s death. Joe knew it was his mistake that
killed his son, and this fact made coming clean about sending out the equipment
impossible for Joe to do. Joe’s decision then leads his wife to become depressed, and
somewhat delirious, expecting the return of her son Larry any day. Chris is not
willing to bear the burden of a mother who plans every step of her life around the
chances of her dead sons return. This causes tension between Chris and Joe, finally
leading to the self-destruction of Joe after his lies and secrecy betray him. Once he
admits his wrong doings, he commits suicide. This plot is a perfect example of action
and consequence, or chain effect.
Next we deal with characters, thought, and diction. Characters must all reside
with certain qualities. Joe is true to type, trying to play the role of a good father,
taking care of the family and making sure that no matter what he has to do the
family will benefit. Chris is realistic, always trying to convince his mother that Larry
is in fact dead, and will not be returning. Mother, who is true to herself, she believes
in Larry’s return despite the odds and what other people tell her. Chris and Joe both
fit a necessary and probably character, because they have their beliefs, and they do
what they have to in order to achieve a goal or certain outcome. Then we have the
true to life characters, which all can embody.
Thought is the element that plays the “if or if not”. A good example of this is
Mother’s contemplation of Larry’s death. Mother cannot accept that Joe committed
this crime, because if he did, then Larry is dead because of it. Diction, the explaining
of words in tragedy is important to be shown through metaphor and simile. In the
beginning of the play Chris explains how he saw the instance of Larry’s tree
breaking. “I heard it cracking and I woke up and looked out. She [mother] was
standing right here when it cracked.” (13) This is a metaphor for how Mother
watched her family crumble for this mistake. A family built on truth can stand
strong, like a tree. Once this honesty is disrupted, destruction will follow. This also
foreshadows Joe’s tragic end.
Finally comes melody and spectacle. In traditional tragedy there is a chorus.
The chorus is responsible for explaining the action that is happening through song
or poem. Though the All My Sons is missing a chorus, the action is absolutely
rhythmic. Rhythm is defined as a repeated pattern or sound. Repetition can be
expected. We know when to expect a climax of action, usually anytime Joe and Chris
are involved in a conversation, or if mother is speaking of Larry’s return again.
There is a collision of opinion, and thought, and that is what makes the action in All
My Sons rhythmic. Spectacle is the creation of interaction with an audience. Aristotle
felt this should not only be pursued through stage mechanics but through inner
workings of a play itself. When reading All My Sons, the emotions of the reader are
twisted and confused and ultimately as a reader you either side with the idea that
Joe did the right thing by his family, or that Joe was morally incorrect. This
emotional interaction is what creates the spectacle for the play.
Lastly comes the catharsis. A catharsis is a cleansing at the end of tragedy,
where wrong doings are repented, usually with a dramatic fall. After admitting his
wrongs, and reading Larry’s letter, Joe cleanses his conscience. “…Sure, he was my
son. But I think to him they were all my sons. And I guess they were, I guess they
were…” (68) This realization and repenting follows with Joe’s suicide. Joe; an
ordinary man who lived a tragic life.
Arthur Miller constructed a modern tragedy with all elements but one. Joe is
an average man, he is no king, no god, and he is not worshipped other than as a
father. The reason why this can be called a modern tragedy is because it makes
tragedy more relatable to the reader. Modernization is just that, of or relating to the
present or recent times as opposed to the past. We have no kings like the Greeks. We
have gods, but none of whom we call upon a plague from. It is not relatable to
subject a reader to tragedy of men only with stature of this kind. According to
scholar Gerald Weales, “[Arthur Miller’s] plays are family centered…his heroes
however, are more than failed husbands and fathers because he has recognized that
the most impressive family plays…[deal with] the family and of the individual under
the pressure of society.” The relate ability is what makes All My Sons so tragic. This
twist on tragedy is different from Aristotle, but altering this definition gave Arthur
Miller reason to be called a modern tragedy playwright.
Works Cited
Langer, Susanne. “Expressiveness in Art”. Problems of Art: Ten Philosophical
Lectures, New York, Scribner, 1957
Miller, Arthur. All My Sons: Drama in Three Acts. New York: Dramatist Play Service
1974. Print.
Weales, Gerad. Arthur Miller: Man and His Image. The Tulane Drama Review.
Copyright 1962