Arthur MillerArthur Miller

1915-20051915-2005

American PlaywrightAmerican Playwright

Created by Mrs. Jenny Shickley

Significance to American Significance to American DramaDrama

Miller transformed American theatre in the period Miller transformed American theatre in the period immediately following the end of WWII.immediately following the end of WWII.

Miller was significantly influenced by both World Miller was significantly influenced by both World Wars and the economical and social depressions Wars and the economical and social depressions

that followed each.that followed each. Miller’s tragic characters are reminiscent of both Miller’s tragic characters are reminiscent of both

Shakespeare and Dostoevsky, though his Shakespeare and Dostoevsky, though his characters are often “commonplace” and easily characters are often “commonplace” and easily

relatable.relatable. More than any modern playwright, “Miller has More than any modern playwright, “Miller has

dedicated himself to the investigation of the dedicated himself to the investigation of the moral plight of the white American working class.”moral plight of the white American working class.”

Early Life & FamilyEarly Life & Family Born, October 17, 1915 in Manhattan, NY. Born, October 17, 1915 in Manhattan, NY.

- Mother was a school teacher, and father owned a - Mother was a school teacher, and father owned a small small clothing manufacturing company.clothing manufacturing company.

- Mother was born in America, but father was born in - Mother was born in America, but father was born in Austria.Austria.

- One of three children in a solidly middle-class family.- One of three children in a solidly middle-class family.

- His family was Jewish, and Miller was fluent in Yiddish.- His family was Jewish, and Miller was fluent in Yiddish. 1928 – Family moves to Brooklyn because of the decline in his 1928 – Family moves to Brooklyn because of the decline in his

father’s business, which is later decimated by the Great father’s business, which is later decimated by the Great Depression of the 1930’s.Depression of the 1930’s.

Attended Abraham Lincoln High School where he played Attended Abraham Lincoln High School where he played baseball and football.baseball and football.

- He endured a major football injury that would later - He endured a major football injury that would later exempt exempt him from the draft.him from the draft.

- He appeared, for the most part, a non-intellectual.- He appeared, for the most part, a non-intellectual.

Obtaining an EducationObtaining an Education

After graduating high school in 1932, Miller’s family could After graduating high school in 1932, Miller’s family could not afford to send him to college. not afford to send him to college.

Miller worked as a clerk in an automobile parts warehouse Miller worked as a clerk in an automobile parts warehouse to earn money to attend college.to earn money to attend college.

It was at this time that Miller read Dostoevsky’s It was at this time that Miller read Dostoevsky’s The The Brothers KaramazovBrothers Karamazov and decided he wanted to become a and decided he wanted to become a writer.writer.

Miller attended the University of Michigan from 1934 to Miller attended the University of Michigan from 1934 to 1938 where he earned a degree in English.1938 where he earned a degree in English.

- While in college, Miller twice won the prestigious - While in college, Miller twice won the prestigious “Avery “Avery Hopwood Award for Student Writers”, Hopwood Award for Student Writers”, also awarded to also awarded to Tennessee Williams (another Tennessee Williams (another famous American famous American playwright). playwright).

- One of his student plays was produced in Detroit - One of his student plays was produced in Detroit by the by the Federal Theatre Project.Federal Theatre Project.

A Writer’s Life BeginsA Writer’s Life Begins After graduation, Miller returned to New York where he worked as After graduation, Miller returned to New York where he worked as

a freelance writer (a writer for hire). a freelance writer (a writer for hire). - Miller wrote radio scripts and plays for CBS and NBC - Miller wrote radio scripts and plays for CBS and NBC

during during WWII, but he made his living as a steam WWII, but he made his living as a steam fitter.fitter.

1940 – Married his college sweetheart, Mary Slattery (social 1940 – Married his college sweetheart, Mary Slattery (social worker), with whom he had two children.worker), with whom he had two children.

1944 – 1944 – The Man Who Had All the Luck, The Man Who Had All the Luck, first Broadway play.first Broadway play.- This play was a complete failure, running only 4 days.- This play was a complete failure, running only 4 days.

1945 – 1945 – FOCUS, FOCUS, a novela novel 1947 – 1947 – All My Sons, playAll My Sons, play

- - Awarded New York Drama Circle Award and two Tony Awarded New York Drama Circle Award and two Tony Awards.Awards.

1949 – 1949 – Death of a SalesmenDeath of a Salesmen, play , play - Awarded both the New York Drama Circle Award and the - Awarded both the New York Drama Circle Award and the

Pulitzer Prize.Pulitzer Prize.- Play had over 700 performances and was translated into - Play had over 700 performances and was translated into

over 12 over 12 languages.languages.- This play made him a MILLIONAIRE! - This play made him a MILLIONAIRE!

A Playwright GrowsA Playwright Grows 1952 – 1952 – Death of a SalesmenDeath of a Salesmen, film, film 1953 – 1953 – The CrucibleThe Crucible, play, play

- Play was written to showcase the parallel between - Play was written to showcase the parallel between the frenzied Salem Witchcraft Trials and the hysterical House the frenzied Salem Witchcraft Trials and the hysterical House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigations of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigations into Communist organizations in America, including prominent into Communist organizations in America, including prominent entertainers.entertainers.

- Tony Award winning.- Tony Award winning. 1955 – “A Memory of Two Mondays,” one-act play1955 – “A Memory of Two Mondays,” one-act play

“ “A View from the Bridge,” A View from the Bridge,” one-act playone-act play

1956 – Divorced current wife, Mary, and 1956 – Divorced current wife, Mary, and married actress, Marilyn Manroe.married actress, Marilyn Manroe.

- Miller had actually stolen Marilyn- Miller had actually stolen Marilynfrom his former friend, Elia Kazanfrom his former friend, Elia Kazan(director), who had turned in 8 (director), who had turned in 8 people as communists to the HUAC.people as communists to the HUAC.

A Life SubjectedA Life Subjected 1956 – Miller is called before the HUAC. 1956 – Miller is called before the HUAC.

- He admitted to attending 4 or 5 writers’ meetings - He admitted to attending 4 or 5 writers’ meetings sponsored sponsored by the Communist party in 1947.by the Communist party in 1947.

- He supported a Peace Conference in New York, where - He supported a Peace Conference in New York, where he he signed many appeals and protests.signed many appeals and protests.

- He emphatically denied membership within the - He emphatically denied membership within the Communist Communist party.party.

- He refused to relinquish names of other people who - He refused to relinquish names of other people who attended attended or participated in any of meetings or or participated in any of meetings or activities with activities with him.him.

1957 – Miller is found guilty of contempt for refusing to give 1957 – Miller is found guilty of contempt for refusing to give names to the HUAC but appeals the ruling. names to the HUAC but appeals the ruling.

- Marilyn supported and assisted in a full-fledges media - Marilyn supported and assisted in a full-fledges media campaign to neutralize the negative publicity and salvage campaign to neutralize the negative publicity and salvage Miller’s career as a playwright. Miller’s career as a playwright.

- John Steinbeck writes a defense of Miller, which is - John Steinbeck writes a defense of Miller, which is published in published in Esquire, Esquire, that can be considered an that can be considered an ironic accusation against ironic accusation against HUAC for anti-American HUAC for anti-American activities.activities.

1958 – Miller’s appeal is successful, and the charge is reversed. 1958 – Miller’s appeal is successful, and the charge is reversed.

A Writer’s Life ContinuesA Writer’s Life Continues 1959 – Miller receives the Gold Medal for Drama by the 1959 – Miller receives the Gold Medal for Drama by the

National Institute of Arts and Letters.National Institute of Arts and Letters. 1961 – Divorced by Marilyn Monroe. Marriage had actually 1961 – Divorced by Marilyn Monroe. Marriage had actually

ended a year earlier with the production of the film ended a year earlier with the production of the film MisfitsMisfits.. 1962 – Marries Igne Morath, an Austrian-born photographer, 1962 – Marries Igne Morath, an Austrian-born photographer,

with whom he has two more children.with whom he has two more children.- Marilyn dies the same year.- Marilyn dies the same year.

1964 – 1964 – After the FallAfter the Fall, play , play - This play is believed to hold a thinly disguised - This play is believed to hold a thinly disguised

portrayal of portrayal of both his unhappy marriage with both his unhappy marriage with Marilyn and his Marilyn and his dealings with the HUAC.dealings with the HUAC.

1964 – Visits European concentration camps with wife and 1964 – Visits European concentration camps with wife and writes “Incident at Vichy,” which was inspired by the writes “Incident at Vichy,” which was inspired by the suffering and human guilt that surrounds the Holocaust, its suffering and human guilt that surrounds the Holocaust, its victims, and its survivors.victims, and its survivors.

The Writing of a LifetimeThe Writing of a Lifetime 1968 -1968 - The Price The Price, play (again , play (again

dealing with guilt and the dealing with guilt and the human condition.human condition.

1969 –1969 – In Russia, In Russia, a travel book a travel book illustrated with is wife’s illustrated with is wife’s photographs from their tour of photographs from their tour of Russia.Russia.

1972 – 1972 – The Creation of the The Creation of the World and other BusinessWorld and other Business, play, play

1979 – 1979 – Chinese Encounters, Chinese Encounters, a a travel book illustrated with is travel book illustrated with is wife’s photographs from their wife’s photographs from their tour of China. tour of China.

1984 – 1984 – Salesman in BeijingSalesman in Beijing, an , an account of the production of account of the production of his play in China. his play in China.

1985 – 1985 – Playing for Time, Playing for Time, screen screen play, an account of a French play, an account of a French survivors time in Auschwitz.survivors time in Auschwitz.

1987 – 1987 – Timebends: A Life, Timebends: A Life, autobiographyautobiography

1991 – 1991 – The Ride Down Mount The Ride Down Mount MorganMorgan, play (opened in , play (opened in London).London).

1993 – 1993 – The Last YankeeThe Last Yankee, play, play 1994 – 1994 – Broken GlassBroken Glass, a play , a play

(title refers to Kristallnacht)(title refers to Kristallnacht) 1995 1995 – Homely Girl: And – Homely Girl: And

Other StoriesOther Stories , collection of , collection of short-stories.short-stories.

2004 – 2004 – Finishing the Picture, Finishing the Picture, Miller’s last playMiller’s last play

February 10, 2005 – Miller February 10, 2005 – Miller dies of heart failure at his dies of heart failure at his Roxbury, Connecticut Roxbury, Connecticut home.home.