Larry Quotes

All my sons - Arthur Miller

“It was too soon to plant a tree for him.”

Unmitigated declarative + motif of apple tree - Mother still has hope he is alive and thus is mad that a memorial was planted, which means the others had accepted his death already.

“If November 25th was his favourable day, then it’s completely possible he’s alive.”

Motif of spirituality - Kate uses the idea of a horoscope to cope and be positive.

Keller: “I don’t read the news part anymore.”

Theme of guilt - Avoids the news because of Larry.

“I think to him they were all my sons. And I guess they were.”

Tragic hero trope: Realisation - Keller finally understands why his son took his own life.

“From mother’s point of view he is not dead and you have no right to take his girl.”

Irony - On the surface it seems like Keller is caring for his wife, but he is just protecting his own interests.

“I’ve been thinking, y’know? Maybe we ought to put our minds to forgetting him?”

Question - Chris wants Mother to move on, but doesn’t have the strength to properly confront her, which is why he poses it as a question.

“Deep, deep in your heart you’ve always been waiting for him.”

Themes of the past - Mother is trying to make Ann and Chris guilty for wanting to pursue a relationship bu repeatedly bringing up Larry’s image.

“Because if he’s not coming back then i’ll kill myself!”

Dramatic tension - Using manipulation to get the others to believe with her.

“If Larry was alive he wouldn’t act like this.”

Irony - It’s proven wrong in Larry’s suicide note.

“And how do you know Larry wasn’t one of them?”

Irony - Ann is unknowingly damning the Kellers.