What’s the function of the newspaper in the first act of “All My Sons”

The newspaper is initially viewed a prop, and it takes awhile for us to see that it actually has symbolic meaning. The symbolic importance of the newspaper is based upon its potential truth. Joe is afraid that his responsibility for the deaths of 21 pilots during the war may come out. He is also worried about the way his former partner was imprisoned, while he walked away.

Then we have Kate, who is obessed with astrology..... holding onto to the belief that her son Larry might still be alive. According to Joe, “The trouble is the Goddam newspapers. Every month, some boy comes up from nowhere, so the next one is going to be Larry . . .” All in all, newspapers and their reporters still make it possible that Joe will not be able to keep his secret forever.