In the play All My Sons, Joe Keller has a very strong opinion about the importance of family. When it is uncovered that he was guilty in shipping out over one hundred faulty cylinder heads that resulted in the death of 21 men, Keller attempts so justify his actions by stating his motive. He responded to the astonishment from his son Chris with, "Chris... Chris, I did it for you, it was a chance and I took it for you. I'm sixty-one years old, when would I have another chance to make something for you?" (70). Because Joe Keller thought that it was a sufficient excuse for his crime to have done it for his son, we see that in his mind he was doing the right thing. His definition of the "right thing" consists of caring for his own, so he would rather provide for his son than save the pilots and lose his business. In the case of George Deever, he also values his family over society. Because George found out that Joe Keller had ruined his own father's life, he thinks that it is more important to keep his family intact than to allow his sister Ann to marry into the Keller family. He makes this evident when he confronts Ann in front of Chris, "You're not marrying him... Because his father destroyed your family" (53). Society in this case is Ann and Chris, and although he loves his sister, George values keeping his family clean of the Kellers over anyone's emotions.
In life there is an appropriate time to value the needs of society over family, and a time to value the needs of a family over society. I believe that in most cases, the needs of society as a whole should be valued above family needs. I disagree with Joe Keller's ethical stance in All My Sons. Although he justified hurting society by helping his family, I believe that if there was ever a risk to someone's life who isn't family, then the choice should be made to put the wishes of the family aside to help society. I also believe that if one had to make the decision between causing the death of a large number of people they don't know, and a family member, they should be willing to sacrifice their family to save many more people. This is because all of those strangers have families too, and if fewer people had to mourn loss of life, that is better than being selfish and causing many people grief. However, it is necessary to put the needs of family over society when society is wrong. For example, during the Holocaust it would be better for people to take care of their families and hide them versus complying with society and getting killed. Although there is no distinct way to tell when to help society or family, I believe that a person's conscience will generally instruct them in the way they should go.
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4 comments:
I agree with your ideas on when to prioritize society over family, and I especially think that you made a good point by saying that sometimes this might mean risking one life of a family member for many other lives of strangers. This action would be ridiculously hard to take, and though I agree with it in principle, I don't know if I would have the guts to actually do it. Also, I think that your example of the Holocaust as a time when you shouldn't go along with society is a good one, but I think that in day to day situations, it would be very hard to decide when society is right and when it is wrong.
I also agree with you and Katherine. Your point about the Holocaust was very good, and I also agree that it takes alot of courage and strength to be able to make the right decision. However, if one is able to be brave and do this, then the future will turn out brighter for everyone involved.
I do agree with you on some parts that one should weigh society vs. family in life or death situations and then make the decision, but I disagree with the fact that there are more cases where one would value society over family. For me, unless its a life or death situation because in that all people are equal, the order of my priorities would be family then society.
I agree that Joe Keller justified what he did by saying that he did it for his family. However, I do that believe that that is justification for causing the death of others. You bring up an interesting point in talking about George Deever. Even though he could not change the past, and he had grown up with the Kellers. He just felt that he had to do something to make them pay for what had happened in the past, even if Chris, who was marrying Annie had no control over the decisions made by his father.
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