Thursday, December 4, 2008

Ethics is a big issue in the play All My Sons by Arthur Miller. Joe Keller is a man whose family matters most to him, even before society. He knowingly sent out faulty parts from the factory he owned with another man, Herbert "Steve" Deever. Steve was sent to jail, and Joe went free. Joe thought that since he had done it for his family, it was alright. "For you, a business for you." (70) was how Joe pleaded with his son Chris after the truth came out. When Chris' fiancee ,Ann, says that she doesn't want to talk to her father, Joe reasons with her saying " A daughter is a daughter and a father is a father" (49) It's as if he thinks that by having Ann make amends with the man he sent to prison will make his case of selling Deever out for his family better.
In Joe's situation, I would not have shipped out the parts. And, if for some reason I had, I would accept responsibility. What Joe did what ethically wrong. He endangered the lives of men who were risking their lives to defeat Japan and the Axis. I would definantly choose to help society rather than my family. But, if the situation were different I would respond differently. A situation where I would do the unethical thing would be if say, somone killed all the members of my family. (It's unlikely, but for the purposes of this hypothetical situation it happened) I would most certainly go after whoever killed them vigilanty style and kill them. My code of ethivs really depends on the situation, but with Joe, I think what he did was wrong.

2 comments:

Paige J. said...

Molly you did a great job with your opinion on this issue. I agree that most peoples decisions will depend on the situation. I too wouldn't have sent out the parts, but if I was in the situation to pick between a stranger and my sister I don't think I could live with myself if I let my sister die. You did a wonderful job voicing your opinion and while reading this I could really envision you saying this. Great job!

Mary Nymark said...

Molly, good job making your position on the subject clear. You think of society first, and that seems to be your ethical standpoint. I agree with you in the sense that ethical choices rely solely on the situation. I don't think I could ship out the parts either.