Jim and Sue

• Sue: As a character, sue has come to blame the Kellers for the problems that exist in her marriage.

  Her and Jims relationship acts as the greek chorus, representing views of the community - the resentment felt by the community.
• SUE: 'men are like little boys: for the neighbours they'll always cut the grass.' pg43


  Metaphor - infantilizing male behaviours
• SUE 'my husband has a family, dear. every time he has a session with chris he feels as though he's compromising by not giving up everything for research.' pg44

  tone = patronising. end clipping of 'dear'
• SUE: 'i resent living next door to the Holy Family. it makes me look like a bum, you understand?' pg45


  religious imagery
• SUE: 'who is he to ruin a mans life? everybody knows joe pulled a fast one to get out of jail.' pg45
• SUE: 'jims a successful doctor. but hes got an idea he'd like to do medical research. discover things. you see?' pg44


  Fragmented sentances
• Sue has a sort of power over jim in her cynicality and pragmatism.
• JIM: 'money. money - money - money - money. you say it long enough it doesnt mean anything.' pg73


  epizuexis
• JIM: 'don't be afraid, kate. i know. i've always known.' pg74
• JIM: 'oh no, he'll come back. we all come back, Kate. these private little revolutions always die. the compromise is always made.' pg74


  epiphora x2

  always = determiner
• JIM: 'the star of ones honesty... he probably just wanted to be alone to watch his star go out. ' pg74
• What are three key Jim + Sue moments?

  Sue's dialogue about idealism

  The beginning of act three
• JIM: One of the major themes of AMS is the corrupt influence of money and greed. Jim Bayliss, is corrupted by money in a common and relatable way.

  He is a highly paid doctor who hates his job and wants to fufill his love of research instead.
• JIM: 'when you marry, never - even in your mind - never count your husbands money.'
• Jim seems to be the leader of the Greek Chorus.
• Sue's unhappiness in her marriage is hinted at, she feels he will do anything for everyone but her. This could stem from her own greed since she wants Jim to earn money rather than pursuing his interests in research.
• She feels resentment because she find ann + chris will never understand their struggle since chris has the ability to take over his fathers business + have an easy life.

  Jim's depression with his current job = unfulfilled
• Chris = idealist, moral, ethic route of life.

  Jim sympathises with Chris, but sees Chris will return once he comes to term with the fact that he cannot remain honest and idealist.

  Chris will have to accept fathers actions and lose his idealism
• Idealist men will always return to the domesticity, the american dream of making money and having a family.

  Failure of idealism in american society: 'private little revolutions always die' there is a depressing, melancholic, inability to leave the systemic american society.

  Post war materialist society.
• the entire neighbourhood is full of deceit and lies, and corrupt morals, yet no one distances themselves from keller and the immorality - works as a mirror the structure of american society.
• The American dream deeply values money and what can be done with it. joe + sue are driven by money, whilst Jim is not as he admits to needing money and wanting it but contradicts himself as he is not fulfilled / fond of the money he currently makes.

  life = money = worthless = empty
• idealism vs realism

  Sue's view of idealism is unsupportive - no stability miller shows the unfulfillment of the american dream through Jim, but also uses sue as a representation of women trying to keep their families stable
• Miller shows Americas complacency in allowing the corrupt to be corrupt: the corruption that comes with power. Deceit and lies, capitalism, the neighbourhood can see through Keller's lies and persona, yet sweep it under the rug
• religious imagery inks to tragedy sarcasm / sadistic since their morals are corrupt.

  Sue feels inferior, Miller shows this to be ironic due to the corruption of the Keller family.

  There is flaw in the ideals of the AD: desiring money at any cost even if it makes you corrupt or unhappy.