Arthur Aster Miller 1915-2005

1. Arthur Aster Miller 1915-2005 AP Literature and Composition 2013-2014 Author Study

2. Miller: Personal Background Early Life: Arthur Miller was born in Harlem, New York on October 17, 1915. Arthur was raised in a “moderately affluent” home, until the crash of the stock market in 1929, when his family lost everything. Subsequently, his family sold their large home, fired the servants and moved to Gravesend. After high school, Miller worked a few pathetic jobs till he saved enough money to attend the University of Michigan. He was married three times, and had 3 children between his first and third marriage.

3. Arthur Miller Influences on his work All My Sons – World War II stories, Henrik Ibsen (a Norwegian playwright). Death of a Salesman – Depicts conflict between self-worth and materialistic success, and the Great Depression. The Crucible – Based on Salem witch trials which showed McCarthyism or the Red Scare. After the Fall – Based on the failure of human relationships. The Misfits – Screenplay written for Marilyn Monroe, centered on their real life relationship problems. Major works • While in college miller wrote his first play, No Villain. • In 1940 He wrote his first performed play, The Man Who Had All The Luck, which flopped completely and closed after a meager 4 performances. • 6 years later he wrote All My Sons which was a roaring comeback; it was a complete success on Broadway and earned him his first “Tony Award” • 2 Years later in his small studio, Miller wrote the first act of Death of a salesman in less than a day. The show debuted on February 10, 1949 at the Morosco Theatre, it was a smash hit and was loved by everyone. His play, DOS, won him the triple crown of theatrical artistry: the Pulitzer Prize, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and a Tony. • In 1953 Miller wrote possibly one of his most famous works, The Crucible – a dramatization of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. • In 1961, Arthur Miller’s screenplay, The Misfits premiered, staring his current wife of the time, Marilyn Monroe. • In 1968, Miller, wrote The Price, a show about family dynamics.

4. Mid-20th Century Culture Historic Events Sexual Revolution Baby Boom Start Rhythm and Blues Nuclear Family New fashion trends for women Television Movies Improvement of labor laws Women no longer stay at home Pop-culture Great Depression Dust Bowl World War ll Red Scare Pearl harbor Holocaust Creation of Atomic weapons Cuban Missile Crisis Interment camps

5. HUAC often gave subpoenas to hold people in contempt of congress and pressured their witnesses to surrender names or other information that could lead to apprehension of communists . • McCarthy conducted Richard Nixon’s investigative hearings in the 1950s dealing with the HUAC. • The work of the committee declined in importance shortly thereafter and was renamed House of Internal Security Committee in 1969 • Many people actors/ actresses/writers/directors included were blacklisted by Hollywood and other job opportunities. when they refused to testify in front of the HUAC. • The downfall began in October of 1953when McCarthy started the investigation of communists infiltrating the military. This case was televised and McCarthy was made to look like a fool when the military had facts and paper work to go against the accusations. House Un-American Activities Committee. HUAC – created in 1938. It’s purpose was to investigate disloyalty and subversive activities with private citizens, public employees and organizations within communities. McCarthysm – a practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence

6. Modernism: • Movement away from Romanticism, Victorian trends in literature, and Realism • Popular from 1910-60s • Modernist fiction spoke of the inner self and consciousness • Characteristics of Modern Text – alienation of individual or artist, society as fractured and culturally fragmented, meaningless, and questions cultural normalities • Formal Characteristics – Open and experimental form, discontinuity, juxtaposition, classical allusions, borrowing from other cultures and texts • Miller wrote his works during the modernist movement • Death of a Salesman deals with the Modernist beliefs of the American Dream because it encompasses the study of the past to improve the future and living one’s parents lost dreams.