As a father, Joe Keller thinks that he is sacrificing all
that he has to be a strong provider for his sons. He keeps the family business strong
so that he can pass it on to Chris and Larry once he is too old to manage it. Joe tells
Chris that he this went through his head when he ordered Steve Deever to ship the faulty
machine parts--Joe did not want to risk having the business go under for failing to
comply with an order. On the other hand, one could argue that Joe is not setting a good
example for his sons because he acts in an immoral fashion because he knowingly creates
a deadly situation for the pilots whose planes were equipped with the faulty
parts.
As a husband, Joe uses Kate as a support system. He
expects that she will keep his secret, which she does, with little regard to her
loyalty.
Joe's neighbors regard him as friendly and
welcoming; however, they do not really trust him. They are happy to keep his company,
but also hold him on the outskirts of their acquaintance. Joe, on the other hand, feels
that the neighbors have accepted him as "innocent" and does not understand the inner
workings of the neighbors' true feelings about
him.
Finally, as a friend, Joe's concerns lie only on the
surface. Steve is serving much time in prison because Joe has lied, and even though Joe
has promised both Steve and his son George a job with his company, nothing can make up
for the years that Steve has spent in prison on account of Joe's
lies.
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