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Chris Keller is the moral compass in the play, a young man whom Miller introduces as “capable of immense affection and loyalty.” Like a compass, Chris turns toward true north and integrity, but he must pass through many stages to arrive there, and when he does arrive, life feels tenuous. Chris shares his own war stories with Ann in Act One, particularly one in which a soldier gave him his last pair of dry socks. The war made Chris feel responsible for his fellow soldiers, and he does not want to take material gain for granted. Chris cares about dignity and truth. He wants to create a life with Ann built on his own values, but he has hurdles to jump over first. Chris claims he’s not ashamed of Joe’s money, but he is.

Despite all his talk about morality and honesty, Chris confesses to being a coward at the play’s conclusion: “I’m yellow. I was made yellow in this house because I suspected my father and I did nothing about it[.]” Chris accepts the responsibility that Joe shuns, but he no longer feels morally superior. In fact, he’s been beaten down to the point where he no longer feels human, just like Joe. In this condition, Chris cannot be with Ann. He feels defeated and deflated, the tragic victim in the play.

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