MILLER’S PRESENTATION OF DIFFERENT ATTITUDES TO THE
PAST
Joe Keller
- He is guilty of the crime for which Steve was convicted and he
has spent much of three years in making sure his lie remains intact and
doesn’t unravel. He continues to tell others that he was not aware of
the shipment of faulty plane parts, Steve sent them out because the
latter was worried how it would affect the company. But, in reality,
Steve had tried to contact Joe, and Joe told him to cover up the
cracks and ship them; he assured Steve that if anything were to
happen, he would take the responsibility. But he didn't, which wound up
Steve in jail.
- In his conversation with Ann, Joe offers to bury the hatchet, and
offer Steve a job at J.O.Keller AND he would help George get a job in
the town so he wouldn’t waste away in New York. There are multiple
reasons behind this. If Steve accepts the offer, then he won’t be able
to say anything bad about Joe. Joe is also aware of the truth, he is
aware that he is the reason for the rift in the Deever family and he
wants to do something to help them out, and of course the only way he
can express sentiments is through money. Potentially, another reason
could be that he is trying to appear as the ‘good guy’ to the people, by
offering Steve a job (aka a second chance) Joe essentially establishes
himself as the one who had no hand in the murder of 21 pilots.
- Joe believes that since everyone in the neighborhood who used to
yell ‘murderer’ at him, not play poker with him. The reality as revealed
by Sue is that they all suspect the truth but they admire him for his
, cleverness. He thinks he has managed to wipe the past from everyone’s
mind through money.
- Like his son, Chris, Joe believes that Larry is dead. At the
beginning, he didn't consider himself to be the reason (direct or
indirect) behind Larry’s death – as Larry never flew a P-40. But after
three years, he is pretty certain that Larry is not coming back. He
however does not openly support Chris when it comes to telling Kate
because he knows what she suspects and he knows her believing Larry
is dead could be the first step to unraveling his intricate web of lies.
- He tries every moment to keep up the lie. George came to the
Keller’s home with a desire for revenge. But, Joe saying that his father
was one of those men who’d rather see a 1000 men hanged before they
took the blame, George agrees with him, and they’re all about to have a
meal when Joe happens to talk about his ‘flu’ during the war. Joe’s
comment makes his ears prick as his father, Steve, had told him the
same story. Joe meant the comment to be perceived as an off-hand
comment – the real reason is that he is guilty and tries consciously to
make sure his lies don’t unravel. Steve had told George the lie Joe had
told him, and Kate’s comment about how Joe has never fallen sick, along
with Joe’s ‘off-hand’ comment makes it easy for George to connect the
dots and he is enraged and this is the beginning of Joe’s lies
unravelling.
- –
Chris Keller
- Chris has always looked out for the people in his family, putting
their needs before his. He loved his brother dearly and was deeply
PAST
Joe Keller
- He is guilty of the crime for which Steve was convicted and he
has spent much of three years in making sure his lie remains intact and
doesn’t unravel. He continues to tell others that he was not aware of
the shipment of faulty plane parts, Steve sent them out because the
latter was worried how it would affect the company. But, in reality,
Steve had tried to contact Joe, and Joe told him to cover up the
cracks and ship them; he assured Steve that if anything were to
happen, he would take the responsibility. But he didn't, which wound up
Steve in jail.
- In his conversation with Ann, Joe offers to bury the hatchet, and
offer Steve a job at J.O.Keller AND he would help George get a job in
the town so he wouldn’t waste away in New York. There are multiple
reasons behind this. If Steve accepts the offer, then he won’t be able
to say anything bad about Joe. Joe is also aware of the truth, he is
aware that he is the reason for the rift in the Deever family and he
wants to do something to help them out, and of course the only way he
can express sentiments is through money. Potentially, another reason
could be that he is trying to appear as the ‘good guy’ to the people, by
offering Steve a job (aka a second chance) Joe essentially establishes
himself as the one who had no hand in the murder of 21 pilots.
- Joe believes that since everyone in the neighborhood who used to
yell ‘murderer’ at him, not play poker with him. The reality as revealed
by Sue is that they all suspect the truth but they admire him for his
, cleverness. He thinks he has managed to wipe the past from everyone’s
mind through money.
- Like his son, Chris, Joe believes that Larry is dead. At the
beginning, he didn't consider himself to be the reason (direct or
indirect) behind Larry’s death – as Larry never flew a P-40. But after
three years, he is pretty certain that Larry is not coming back. He
however does not openly support Chris when it comes to telling Kate
because he knows what she suspects and he knows her believing Larry
is dead could be the first step to unraveling his intricate web of lies.
- He tries every moment to keep up the lie. George came to the
Keller’s home with a desire for revenge. But, Joe saying that his father
was one of those men who’d rather see a 1000 men hanged before they
took the blame, George agrees with him, and they’re all about to have a
meal when Joe happens to talk about his ‘flu’ during the war. Joe’s
comment makes his ears prick as his father, Steve, had told him the
same story. Joe meant the comment to be perceived as an off-hand
comment – the real reason is that he is guilty and tries consciously to
make sure his lies don’t unravel. Steve had told George the lie Joe had
told him, and Kate’s comment about how Joe has never fallen sick, along
with Joe’s ‘off-hand’ comment makes it easy for George to connect the
dots and he is enraged and this is the beginning of Joe’s lies
unravelling.
- –
Chris Keller
- Chris has always looked out for the people in his family, putting
their needs before his. He loved his brother dearly and was deeply
