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Ann Deever is one of the most important female characters in All My Sons. She is the
daughter of Steve Deever, who was once Joe Keller’s business partner. She was also Larry
Keller’s ancée (Larry is Joe Keller’s son who went missing during the war), and now, she is in
love with Chris Keller, Larry’s brother.
Ann’s character plays a central role in how the truth is revealed in the play, and she is like a
bridge between the past (Larry, the war, her father’s crime) and the present (her love for
Chris, the hidden secrets).
Role 1: A Symbol of Change and Moving On
Imagine if your best friend’s sibling went missing in an accident, and aer some years, you
fell in love with that same friend. You would feel awkward, right? That’s what Ann faces in
the play.
• Ann was engaged to Larry, but aer his disappearance, she moves on and falls in love
with Chris.
• She represents the future, while Kate Keller (Larry’s mother) is stuck in the past—she
believes Larry is sll alive.
• Ann wants to marry Chris and move ahead in life, but Kate says she can’t do this
unless she accepts that Larry is dead—which she doesn’t.
So, Ann challenges old beliefs and represents progress. She shows us that people must move
on, even aer losing someone they love.
Role 2: The Link to the Truth
Ann’s father, Steve Deever, is in prison. He and Joe Keller were business partners during
World War II. Together, they were involved in shipping faulty airplane parts, which led to the
death of 21 pilots. Steve got punished, but Joe didn’t.
Ann believes Joe is guilty deep down, but she doesn’t say anything in the beginning.
However, she plays a key role in:
• Bringing the truth to light—She has Larry’s leer, which proves that he killed himself
because he was ashamed of what his father (Joe) had done.
• She uses this leer to nally make Kate and Joe face the truth.
She’s like a character in detecve stories who has the missing clue, but waits for the right
me to use it.
Role 3: A Strong and Independent Woman