Arthur Miller

1915 - 2005

Background

Born October 17, 1915 in New York

More interested in sports than in academics

Graduated during the Great Depression

Poor grades did not allow for scholarship to the University of Michigan. Had to work to pay for college.

Worked for 2 years in an auto parts plant.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Background cont…

Eventually attended U of Michigan.

First job - mouse tender in a university science lab.

Second job - night editor of the Michigan Daily

After graduation, returned to NY & wrote radio scripts

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Major works

1947 - All My Sons - struck a note that was to become familiar in Miller’s work: the need for moral responsibility in families and society.

1949 - Death of a Salesman

1953 - The Crucible 1964 - After the Fall 1968 - The Price

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

McCarthyism

Crucible has parallels to accusations of the 1950s Communism scare of Senator Joseph McCarthy - “Red Scare” or “Red Hunt”

Writers, actors, & all kinds of other people were summoned to appear before McCarthy to answer the question: “Are you now or were you ever a Communist?”

They were also required to inform on neighbors & friends or be sent to jail.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Most known for …

Winning a Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Marrying Marilyn Monroe (1956)

Refusing to give evidence before the House Un-American Activities Committee

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

The Crucible

1692 Salem, Mass. Not successful in first

production - critics questioned the comparison between the old witch-hunts and the contemporary hunt for Communists.

Later ran for 600 performances. It is now Miller’s most produced play.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

The Crucible

Definitions:

1)A container made of a substance that can resist great heat, for melting, fusing, or calcining ores, metals, etc.

2)A severe test or trial

The Crucible

Premise - young girls are caught acting strange - witchcraft is blamed. The girls begin accusing townspeople of influencing and being involved in the “craft.” Mass hysteria takes hold and het witch trials begin. Several members of Massachusetts’ families are accused, jailed, and many are executed.

Puritan Ideals

Suffered religious persecution in Old World Came to New World for religious freedom Became persecutors in America (for religious

differences of others) Predestination - receive divine salvation Theocracy - govt. controlled by church Sinner: openly confess, repent, pay penance

Puritan Ideals

Believed PLEASANT things were from Devil

- women could not dress pretty

- children could not play games

- theatres were forbidden

- dancing was a sin Believed in witches in society Believed devil lurked in the forest to trap man