11 3. To explain how past misdeed effect present and shape the future of life as
portrayal in Joe Keller’s life.
1.4 Scope of the Analysis
I restrict my analysis in this thesis into three aspect of manifesting American Dream Myth trough the leading character that is Joe Keller. Firstly the causes of Joe
Keller downfall ,the second is about Joe Keller’s self define and his myopic worldview. And the third is about Joe Keller’s past misdeed that influence his own
life and his family. These three aspect are confined to the way of thinking which believes that by
the myopic perspective on his world stem a devotion to his family and his claim that there is nothing greater than the family and his self define and past misdeed .these
aspects are related to Joe Keller’s Downfall which is then formulated as the scope of the analysis .
1.5 Method of the Analysis
In analyzing this play I am using descriptive approach which describes the downfall of Joe Keller as portrayed in Arthur Miller’s Play All My Son. The main
source or primary data of the analysis is Arthur miller’s play All My Son. I mean by the data here is the quotations I selected from the play. Thus , the first step of the
method procedure is reading the play several times. After having understood the story , I come to find out the idea which is related to American Dream Myth.
The selection of the data is important in order to get relevancy with the analysis. So the selected quotations are interoperated to get the actual meaning. After that I
analyze the data for the truth of the analysis.In doing the research , I focused on books and references to get information for the data analyze. Since the data are documented
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12 in written form , the method of my analysis is known as documentation method of
analysis. In other word this kind of research known with library research.
1.6 Significances of the Analysis
This thesis entitled Joe Keller’s downfall as portrayed in Arthur Miller’s play All My Sons. The significance of this analysis contains theoretical and practical use.
Theoretically ,this analysis is meant to add a`study of literature trough play as one genre of literature, particularly American literature which is represented by Arthur
Miller’s All My Sons. I hope this play may give information about American play for students of literature in general, and for students literature in particular.
Practically, the student of English literature may get knowledge of literature especially trough Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. And this analysis also may be
reference for further analysis in literary work especially drama.
1.7 Review of Related Literatures
In analyzing this play, I deals with books which has close relation to the title itself. Thus I state them as the importance to the analysis:
1.Thomas E. Porter , Myth and Modern American Drama 1969 Explain the dramatic Milieu and the American drama in the introduction. It
clarifies how the concept of American dream myth comes into the central idea of literature especially drama. It is further added that such kind of myth has become
central to literature.This book offer idea which help me to do further analysis in my thesis. It is related to an understanding of how the myth becomes the product of
adaptation to American culture. It is said that because the myth represents experience that offers attitude of American to reach success.American dream myth which is
manifested in slogan such as “work hard, good performance, beauty and unique appearance can be materialized in achieving succeed. Yet , it is true culturally but not
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13 realistic factually.for some evidence, the myth can betray the dream for success in
term of failure or downfall. 2. Jean Gould .modern American playwright 1966
The name of some modern American play wrights include in this book, and of them is Arthur miller in this book background of playwright’s life and lists of his
works presented here. 3.Jhon Gassner. Best American plays Third Edition 1987
This book contains all American best play and here I found the play of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons and also contain another his best play such as The Death of
Salesman .from this one I take it and devote as the other chapter of the analysis.
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CHAPTER II THEORITICAL REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1.The American Dream Myth
American Dream Myth is the mythology of American people to attain their goals or their dream itself or it can be defined as having the freedom that allows all
citizen to achieve goals in their life through hard work. American Dream has three kinds of dream which is conceiving of American people such as,1individual
freedom of choice in life styles,2 equal access to economic abundance,3the pursuit of shared objectives mutually advantageous to the individual and society.Truslow.
Adam ,1931:404. American dream is also that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer for every man with opportunity for each according to his ability or
achievement. American dream is also that dream of a land in which life should be better and
richer and fuller for everyman with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement. As the interrelated persistent of myths in America called “ American
land of plenty, American as land of opportunity, and American as land of destiny”.Richard M.Dorson in his book entitle Handbook Of American Folklore
1983:57 states that ”the basic myth of American myth is America the land of opportunity this vision has been expressed in analogues metaphors such as The
Promised Land, The Earthly Paradise, Manifest Destiny, The Garden of Eden, Land of The free and home of the Brave”.
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2.2 The Land of Opportunity
In generally America is regarded as the land of opportunity. Anyone in America can grow up to be President, or be a US Congressman or a US senator. All it
takes is a little hard work. They playing field is level. There is no reason that any one of the people in this room could not one day be sitting in the halls of Congress, in the
Oval Office or on the bench of the US Supreme Court and this mean that live in America everyone has the same opportunity in everything to get success all the thing
that must be done is work hard. American Dream Myth is supposed to be a culture product of American
people. It deal with social behavior covering a dream of success, better attitudes, moral values, that penetrate pattern of living socially and personally. Thus myth is to
be cultural spirit that encourages one to face living. Myth is spoken mouth to mouth in the form of saying or proverbs. It summarizes the essence of worth living to achieve.
American people believe that dream myth which can be applied into their life in social life such as profile or treasure.
2.3 The Ideology of the American Dream