Jim Bayliss Characterisation
Description
“Dr Jim Bayliss is nearly forty. A very self-controlled man, an easy talker, but with a wisp of sadness that clings even to his self-effacing humour.”
Jim Bayliss is one of the supporting characters in All My Sons first introduced in the first page of Act One. He is Joe Keller’s neighbour and a general practitioner who sacrificed his dream of being a researcher for a life of stability-- becoming a private practice doctor.
He represents the future that Chris will lead if the tragedy of the play did not intervene- something of a ‘ghost of Christmas future’ for Chris.
Concerns associated with Jim Bayliss:
-Jim embodies the compromise that one has to make,arguably for sustenance
- Despite being bright and ambitious, and someone who deeply understands the workings of the world, Jim does nothing about his thoughts in order to pay the bills and keep his wife …show more content…
Disillusioned idealist
Frank: That boy's going to be a real doctor. He's smart. Jim: Over my dead body he'll be a doctor. A good beginning, too. Frank: Why? It's an honorable profession. Jim: {looking at him tiredly} Frank, will you stop talking like a civics book?
Jim harbours hopes of his son achieving the dream that he could not achieve - doing good for humanity. His son taking up a profitable and honourable profession in the world’s eyes is tantamount to giving in to the immoral pressures of society, which is why he shows so much disdain about it. He is also cynical about the value of generally “honoured” professions, because he has seen the reality - being a doctor is more about pacifying people than treating illnesses.
3. Weary family man
Jim My dear; Mr Hubbard is not sick, and I have better things to than sit there and hold his hand.
Sue It seems to me that for ten dollars you could hold his hand.
Jim (to Keller) If your son wants to play golf tell him I’m ready. Or if he’d like to take a trip around the world for about thirty years. (He
Description
“Dr Jim Bayliss is nearly forty. A very self-controlled man, an easy talker, but with a wisp of sadness that clings even to his self-effacing humour.”
Jim Bayliss is one of the supporting characters in All My Sons first introduced in the first page of Act One. He is Joe Keller’s neighbour and a general practitioner who sacrificed his dream of being a researcher for a life of stability-- becoming a private practice doctor.
He represents the future that Chris will lead if the tragedy of the play did not intervene- something of a ‘ghost of Christmas future’ for Chris.
Concerns associated with Jim Bayliss:
-Jim embodies the compromise that one has to make,arguably for sustenance
- Despite being bright and ambitious, and someone who deeply understands the workings of the world, Jim does nothing about his thoughts in order to pay the bills and keep his wife …show more content…
Disillusioned idealist
Frank: That boy's going to be a real doctor. He's smart. Jim: Over my dead body he'll be a doctor. A good beginning, too. Frank: Why? It's an honorable profession. Jim: {looking at him tiredly} Frank, will you stop talking like a civics book?
Jim harbours hopes of his son achieving the dream that he could not achieve - doing good for humanity. His son taking up a profitable and honourable profession in the world’s eyes is tantamount to giving in to the immoral pressures of society, which is why he shows so much disdain about it. He is also cynical about the value of generally “honoured” professions, because he has seen the reality - being a doctor is more about pacifying people than treating illnesses.
3. Weary family man
Jim My dear; Mr Hubbard is not sick, and I have better things to than sit there and hold his hand.
Sue It seems to me that for ten dollars you could hold his hand.
Jim (to Keller) If your son wants to play golf tell him I’m ready. Or if he’d like to take a trip around the world for about thirty years. (He