Responsibility and Guilt

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that a contrastive analysis of the two plays, "All My Sons" by Arthur Miller and "Long Time since Yesterday" by P. J. Gibson and the short story entitled "The Kidnapped Wife and the Dream Helper" by Susan Hazen Hammond, reveals that, despite the entirely different backgrounds, these three works share common themes: responsibility and guilt. In particular, the paper looks at how the main characters of the three stories are all confronted with the consequences of a past decision, for which they have to pay the price.

From the Paper:

"Miller's play is very similar with respect to its main theme. Joe Keller also makes an economical decision at one point in his life: being in charge of the military equipment of the Air Force planes during the Second World War he provides the army with 121 defective cracked cylinder heads. As a result, twenty one of the planes crash and all the pilots die. Thus, faithful to the American Dream of prosperity and wary of his family's finances, Joe knowingly ignores the possible consequences of his act. Years after this tragedy, Joe is still in denial, refusing to acknowledge any personal responsibility or guilt. Thus, the structure of the play is almost identical with that of the short story previously discussed. Joe refuses to take responsibility in two situations, not just one: first for the pilots, and then for the death of his own son, Larry who commits suicide out of shame for his father's immoral act. The self-interest and selfishness are also present in Miller's play. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hammond, Susan Hazen. The Kidnapped Wife and the Dream Helper.
• Gibson, P. J. Long Time Since Yesterday. New York: Samuel French, 1985.
• Miller, Arthur. All My Sons. New York: The Modern Library, 1987.

More papers on Responsibility and Guilt:

• Analytical Essay # 112590 : "Lady Macbeth and Guilt"
• Analytical Essay # 29224 : "Shame and Guilt"
• Comparison Essay # 16655 : "Guilt and Responsibility"

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