In All My Sons, Arthur Miller explores the theme of the American Dream, highlighting its potential to corrupt and distort moral values. The play examines how the pursuit of material success and personal gain can lead to ethical compromises and tragic consequences. Through the character of Joe Keller, Miller critiques the notion that achieving the American Dream justifies any means, even at the expense of integrity and communal responsibility.

The setting of the play, Joe Keller's backyard, symbolizes his pursuit of the American Dream. It represents comfort and isolation, a space where Joe feels justified in his actions to provide for his family and secure his business legacy. The backyard becomes the stage where his moral failings are exposed, as external forces and characters challenge his self-image as a hard-working family man. The fallen tree, planted in memory of his missing son Larry, foreshadows the unraveling of Joe's world and the fragility of his achievements.

"The setting of All My Sons, the Keller's backyard in a small Midwestern town shortly after World War II has a significant role in the play. The setting suggests comfort and isolation from the community."

Miller critiques the American Dream by illustrating its corrupting influence through Joe Keller. Joe embodies the dream, achieving financial success and community respect, but at a moral cost. He compromises his integrity by shipping defective parts to the military, leading to the deaths of 21 pilots. This act of deceit reveals the dark side of the American Dream, where the pursuit of profit overrides ethical considerations, corrupting a fundamentally decent man.

The play further explores the theme by presenting Joe as a victim of his own ambitions. His relentless pursuit of success blinds him to the moral responsibility he owes to others, including the young pilots who lost their lives. Joe's realization of his failure comes too late, leading to his tragic end. His actions reflect the broader critique of the American Dream, suggesting that prioritizing personal gain over communal duty results in devastating consequences.

"Joe sacrifices his integrity to materialism, and he makes a reprehensible decision that sends American pilots to their deaths, something he is finally forced to face."

Ultimately, All My Sons addresses the false values in American life, questioning the integrity and honor associated with the American Dream. Joe Keller's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of valuing material success over ethical principles. His willingness to lie and sacrifice others for his dream reveals the moral bankruptcy that can accompany the relentless pursuit of prosperity, challenging the notion of the American Dream as a purely virtuous endeavor.