Why Chris is irresponsible?

Chris could be described as irresponsible in that he shames his father so badly that he commits suicide. Yet in challenging his father's fraudulent behavior, he wants his family to recognize that there are people outside the Keller family to whom they have responsibilities. There is a clear conflict here between family and social responsibilities. Joe tries to reconcile this conflict, but without success. Chris, too, in his own way, tries to do likewise, but is also unable to do this. In fact, as he admits to Annie, he's something of a moral coward, and this confession makes him seem not quite the pillar of integrity we've been led to believe he is. Despite angrily confronting his father over his cutting of corners, Chris still feels Joe's influence. He now recognizes that he, too, has the spirit of practicality, a spirit he's inherited from his father. It's this realization that makes Chris shirk his responsibility of seeing that Joe should be brought to justice for what he's done.