Arthur Miller pits personal values against each other in the context of the “American Dream.” He looks at honesty, family, wealth, and moral integrity. What makes one person’s value/ethics better than the other? How do they influence our idea of the “American Dream?” America post World War II was full of optimism and economic growth. This led to the idea that anyone can get rich, own a two-story home with the white picket fence, and have 2.5 kids. What are we willing to compromise on to achieve this dream? 

It is not lost on me that this production lands in the same month as the 250th anniversary of our country. While I am neither a father or a son, the play still held something for me. For this production, I chose to highlight the conflict between money made through the sale of weapons and regard for humanity. 

Joe is just one example of many who used the war to make profit. World War II saw many factories and machinery converted to produce necessary equipment for the war. This kicked off the American military industrial complex, people making money off of war and conflict. After World War II, what was the point of America’s wars and conflicts if not to make America money in one way or another? We are still profiting off of killing and destroying. This issue is close to home as the Kansas City area’s economy is closely tied into militarism. Kansas City has built 80% of almost every nuclear weapon for the past 77 years. By putting on this play here and now, we are asking ourselves “what are we willing to compromise on?” Chris begs us to remember our fellow humans with dignity. We must not compromise on each other.