Miller, Arthur: 1915-2005

All My Sons, 1947 - Thematic Parallels: Moral Responsibility

Miller, Arthur: All My Sons, 1947
The play deals with the moral responsibility of individuals within society, especially in relation to family, business, and the consequences of personal choices.
The following books are thematically simliar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Ellis, Bret Easton: Less Than Zero, 1985, ~200pp
  Noted for addressing personal growth, forgiveness, and the difficulty of living responsibly amid materialism and social decay, this novel indirectly relates to the theme of moral responsibility by showing the consequences of ethical indifference.
  - Both texts function as critiques of American materialism, moral failure, and generational breakdown. Money and material comfort drive destructive choices and expose moral bankruptcy.
- Forster, E. M.: Howards End, 1910, ~350pp
  This novel examines moral and ethical responsibilities in relationships across class and race, with characters facing tests of conscience and societal pressures.
  - Both works expose the dangers of prioritizing economic self-interest over human values. They use the family as a lens to examine how capitalist self-interest erodes morality, fractures relationships, and causes tragic consequences, while suggesting that genuine human connection and responsibility must prevail.
- Lee, Harper: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960, ~300pp
  This novel centers on the moral responsibility to confront injustice, integrity in the face of societal pressures, and guilt or complicity through silence or inaction.
  - Both works critique social injustice and moral compromise, showing how individuals and communities fail to live up to ideals of truth, justice, and responsibility — often at the expense of the innocent.
- Wilder, Thornton: Our Town, 1938, ~70pp
  This classic American play portrays everyday life in a small town. It explores ordinary life, mortality, and social responsibility.
  - Both works take the familiar American family and everyday life as their stage, only to peel back the surface and reveal profound questions about morality, mortality, and what it means to live meaningfully.
List of general discussion questions on Moral Responsibility (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Moral Responsibility (pdf)