Family or Society?

In the novel All My Sons by Arthur Miller, many characters are faced with the choice of putting family or society first. The most obvious example of a character who places family over society is Joe Keller, who ships out faulty airplane parts instead of losing his contract with the Air Force. He says to his son, "The paper, it was all over the front page, twenty-one went down, it was too late.... Chris, I did it for you, it was a chance and I took it for you" (70). Joe wants to pass his business down to his son, and he uses that as a justification for causing the deaths of 21 pilots flying in airplanes with his faulty parts in them. Joe feels like this is a reasonable excuse, because he simply wants his son to have a better life than he did what parent could be blamed for that? Chris, on the other hand, feels much differently. He resents his father's actions and does not want a business that came at the expense of 21 lives. Chris rages, "What is that, the world-- the business? What the hell do you mean, you did it for me? Don't you have a country? Don't you live in the world? What the hell are you? You're not even an animal, no animal kills his own, what are you?" (70). Chris fought in the war and he knows how devastating 21 deaths can be, so he feels like a better life for him is by no means a justification for the lives that ended.
Personally, I feel that there are very few instances when family can be placed before society. In little matters, it may be all right, such as choosing to open the door for your grandmother rather than the other little old lady. However, it is also important to remember that every statistic, every stranger, and every person in the world has someone who cares about them, just like you do. If a family member and a stranger were trapped on a sinking ship, and you only had room in the lifeboat for one, then the stranger's family would feel just as much grief for the loss of their loved one as you would for your relative. This conundrum also causes many debated issues in modern politics, with questions such as: Higher taxes or fewer programs for the poor? Should senior citizens have to pay taxes for the school system? and whether or not day care should be provided by the government. Even if it may prevent your family from going on your annual vacation, remember that someone who is in need would be grateful for the sacrifice you have made. I believe that society should be placed before family in most circumstances, and this will help everyone live a better life.

Miller, Arthur. All My Sons. New York: Penguin, 2000.