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Arthur Millerb. 1915 d. 2005 (age of 89)
A short introduction to
his life and work
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Playwright
Social commentator
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Historical Elements
• WWI- 1914-1918
• Miller born 1915
• Stock Market Crash 1929
• Great Depression
• WWII- 1939-1945
• Communism and McCarthyism
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Historical Elements
• McCarthyism– is the term describing a period of intense anti-
Communist suspicion in the United States that lasted roughly from late 1940s to late 1950s
– During this time, many Americans were subject to investigations
– The primary targets were government employees, educators, union activists,
– Many people lost jobs or were imprisoned
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NY TIMES NEWS- June 22, 1956
• Arthur Miller told the “House Committee on UnAmerican Activities” that he signed many appeals and protests issued by Red Front groups in the last decade
• He denied that he had ever been “under Communist discipline”
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Personal Information
• Born to Jewish immigrant parents • enrolled in the University of Michigan where he studied
writing and worked on a number of plays• Moved to New York after graduating and worked as a
freelance writer • Had a short marriage to actress Marilyn Monroe
• Information from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/miller_a.html
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Miller and wife Marilyn Monroe
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ALL MY SONS- 1947
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All My Sons
• Plans to stage the paly were met with opposition over its negative depiction of US culture
• Opened on Broadway Jan 29th, 1947
• Based on actual events!!!!
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Miller’s Writing
• All My Sons- 1947
• Death of a Salesman- 1949
• The Crucible- 1953- regarding Salem Witch Trials (a commentary on McCarthyism?)
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Miller’s Writing
• Miller often addressed issues that are present in everyday life
• His themes were often inspired by issues that the common American person would face
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THEMES
• Social responsibility
• Denial
• Guilt
• Morality
• Moral plight of working class
• The desire to achieve the American dream and how it affected the actions of men
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Themes- Morality
• Morality- a code of conduct which determines what is right and wrong in society
• Someone who is very moral differentiates between right and wrong and makes decisions based on those beliefs
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Historical Background
• Get into a small group (5 groups total)
• Read your assigned piece and summarize the text in bullet points.
• Write this on the white-board and be prepared to present to the class.
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Background of Play
• 3 ½ years ago, Larry Keller was MIA flying off the coast of China during WWII
• Joe Keller made aero engine parts for the war effort (Steve Keller is his deputy manager)
• Group of cylinder heads are cracked but are still sent out
• Weeks later, 21 planes crash killing the pilots
• Steve and Joe arrested and tried
• Joe convinces the court he knew nothing about it and Steve goes to jail.