Who is Arthur Miller?
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Arthur Miller: A Comprehensive Biography
Early Life and Education
Arthur Asher Miller was born on October 17, 1915, in Harlem, New York City. He was the second of three children born to Augusta (née Barnett) and Isidore Miller, Jewish immigrants from Poland. His father owned a successful women's clothing manufacturing business, and the family lived a comfortable middle-class life until the stock market crash of 1929.
The Great Depression hit the Miller family hard. Isidore's business failed, and they were forced to move to a small frame house in Brooklyn. This sudden change in fortune had a profound impact on young Arthur, shaping his worldview and later influencing his writing. The experience of witnessing his father's struggle and the collapse of the American Dream would become recurring themes in his work.
Despite the family's financial difficulties, Miller was an active and athletic youth. He delivered bread before school to help the family and became a football star at Abraham Lincoln high school. However, he was an indifferent student, more interested in athletics than academics.
After graduating from high school in 1932, Miller worked various odd jobs to save money for college. He worked as a clerk in an automobile parts warehouse and as a shipping clerk in a Manhattan automotive parts warehouse. These experiences gave him insight into the lives of working-class Americans, another theme that would feature prominently in his later works.
In 1934, Miller was finally able to attend the University of Michigan. He initially studied journalism but soon switched to English. It was during his college years that Miller discovered his passion for writing. He wrote for the Michigan Daily, the student newspaper, and won two Hopwood Awards for his plays. The first was for "No Villain" (1936), which he wrote in just six days. This early success convinced Miller that he had found his calling.
Miller graduated from the University of Michigan in 1938 with a Bachelor of arts degree. His time at the university had been transformative, not only in terms of his writing but also in shaping his political views. The Great Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe had politicized many young Americans, and Miller was no exception. He became involved with left-wing politics, a commitment that would later cause him trouble during the McCarthy era.
Early Career and First Success
After graduation, Miller returned to New York City. He joined the Federal theater Project, a New Deal agency established to provide employment for theater professionals during the Great Depression. However, the project was shut down in 1939 due to congressional concerns over communist infiltration.
Miller then worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard while continuing to write radio plays. During this time, he wrote scripts for Columbia Workshop and Cavalcade of America. These early radio plays, while not as well-known as his later stage works, helped Miller hone his craft and develop his distinctive voice.
In 1940, Miller married his college sweetheart, Mary Slattery. The couple would have two children together, Jane and Robert. That same year, Miller made his Broadway debut with "The Man Who Had ALL the Luck." The play was a critical and commercial failure, closing after just four performances. This setback could have deterred a less determined writer, but Miller persevered.
Miller's breakthrough came in 1947 with "All My Sons." The play, which tells the story of a successful businessman who sold defective airplane parts to the military during World ⇪ II×, was a critical and commercial success. It won the New York drama Critics' Circle Award and two Tony Awards. More importantly, it established Miller as a major voice in American theater.
The success of "All My Sons" allowed Miller to focus on writing full-time. He bought a small house in Brooklyn Heights and set to work on his next play, which would become his most famous work and a landmark of American theater.
Death of a Salesman and the Height of Success
In 1949, Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" premiered on Broadway. The play, which tells the story of Willy Loman, a failing salesman who cannot accept that he and his sons are mediocre, was an immediate sensation. It ran for 742 performances and won six Tony Awards, including Best Play, as well as the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
"Death of a Salesman" is widely considered to be Miller's masterpiece and one of the greatest American plays of the 20th century. Its exploration of the American Dream and its impact on ordinary People struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. The play's innovative structure, which blends past and present, reality and memory, was groundbreaking for its time.
The success of "Death of a Salesman" catapulted Miller to the forefront of American theater. He was nOW not just a successful playwright but a public intellectual whose views on society and politics were sought after and respected. This newfound fame and influence would soon be put to the test as America entered one of its darkest political periods.
The McCarthy Era and The Crucible
The early 1950s saw the rise of McCarthyism in the United States. Senator Joseph McCarthy led a campaign to root out alleged communist sympathizers in American society, particularly in the entertainment industry. As a prominent left-wing intellectual, Miller found himself in the crosshairs of this witch hunt.
Miller refused to name names of suspected communists, a stance that could have resulted in a prison sentence. He was cited for contempt of Congress, but the conviction was overturned on appeal in 1958. Miller's principled stand made him a hero to many and further cemented his reputation as a man of integrity.
The HUAC hearings coincided with a tumultuous period in Miller's personal life. In 1956, he divorced his first wife, Mary Slattery, and married actress Marilyn Monroe. The marriage to Monroe, one of the most famous women in the world at the time, thrust Miller into the spotlight in a way his literary fame never had.
Marilyn Monroe and Later Works
Miller's marriage to Marilyn Monroe was a source of both personal happiness and professional inspiration. He wrote the screenplay for "The Misfits" (1961) as a valentine to Monroe, though by the time the film was produced, their marriage was falling apart. They divorced in 1961, shortly before Monroe's death in 1962.
The experience with Monroe influenced several of Miller's later works. "After the Fall" (1964) is a thinly veiled account of their relationship, while "Finishing the Picture" (2004) is based on the troubled production of "The Misfits."
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Miller continued to write prolifically, though none of his later plays achieved the same level of success as his earlier works. Notable plays from this period include "Incident at Vichy" (1964), which deals with the Holocaust, and "The Price" (1968), a family drama that was more warmly received than some of his other later works.
In 1962, Miller married photographer Inge Morath. They had two children together, Rebecca and Daniel. Their marriage lasted until Morath's death in 2002.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Miller remained active as a playwright and public figure. He was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War and continued to comment on American society and politics. He also wrote his autobiography, "Timebends: A Life," published in 1987.
Miller's last major play, "Broken Glass," premiered in 1994. While it didn't achieve the same level of success as his earlier works, it demonstrated that Miller was still capable of producing thought-provoking drama well into his seventies.
Arthur Miller died on February 10, 2005, at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut. He was 89 years old. His death marked the end of an era in American theater, but his influence continues to be felt to this day.
Miller's legacy is immense. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American playwrights of the 20th century, alongside Eugene O'Neill and Tennessee Williams. His plays continue to be performed around the world, and works like "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible" are staples of high school and college curricula.
Miller's influence extends beyond the theater. His commitment to social justice and his willingness to stand up to political persecution made him a role model for many. He showed that art could be both entertaining and socially relevant, a lesson that continues to inspire writers and artists today.
In the years since his death, Miller's reputation has only grown. Scholars continue to analyze his work, finding new depths and relevance in his exploration of family dynamics, social responsibility, and the American Dream. His plays have been adapted for film and television numerous times, introducing new generations to his work.
Themes and Style
Arthur Miller's work is characterized by several recurring themes:
The American Dream: Many of Miller's plays explore the pursuit of the American Dream and its impact on ordinary people. He often portrays characters who are crushed by the gap between their aspirations and reality.
Social Responsibility: Miller believed strongly in the idea that people have a responsibility to each other and to society as a whole. This theme is particularly evident in plays like "All My Sons" and "The Crucible."
Family Dynamics: Miller's plays often focus on family relationships, particularly father-son conflicts. He explores how family ties can both support and constrain individuals.
Personal Integrity: Many of Miller's protagonists face moral dilemmas that test their integrity. He was interested in how people maintain their principles in the face of social pressure.
Stylistically, Miller is known for his realistic dialogue and well-crafted, multi-layered characters. He often employs a mix of realism and expressionism, using symbolic elements to represent characters' internal states. His plays typically have a strong social context, reflecting the times in which they were written while also addressing universal human concerns.
Critical Reception and Controversies
Throughout his career, Miller's work received both high praise and criticism. While plays like "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible" were immediate classics, some critics felt that his later works didn't live up to the standard set by his early successes.
Miller's political views and activities also influenced how his work was received. His refusal to name names during the McCarthy era earned him respect from many, but also made him enemies. Some critics accused him of being didactic or overly political in his writing.
The autobiographical nature of some of Miller's work, particularly those plays influenced by his relationship with Marilyn Monroe, has been a source of both interest and controversy. Some critics felt that Miller exploited his relationship with Monroe in his writing.
Despite these controversies, Miller's place in the canon of American literature is secure. His best works are considered masterpieces of 20th-century drama, and his influence on subsequent generations of playwrights is undeniable.
Conclusion
Arthur Miller's life and career spanned nearly the entire 20th century, and his work reflects the major social, political, and cultural changes of that era. From the Great Depression to the Cold War to the social upheavals of the 1960s and beyond, Miller's plays provide a window into the American experience.
More than just a chronicler of his times, however, Miller was a writer who grappled with timeless human questions. His explorations of morality, family, and the human condition continue to resonate with audiences around the world.
As a playwright, Miller revolutionized American theater, bringing a new level of social consciousness to the stage. As a public figure, he set an example of artistic integrity and social responsibility. His life and work remind us of the power of art to illuminate the human experience and to challenge us to be better.
Arthur Miller's legacy is not just in the plays he left behind, but in the generations of writers, thinkers, and activists he inspired. His voice continues to be heard in theaters around the world, in classrooms where his works are studied, and in the ongoing conversations about the nature of the American Dream and the responsibilities we have to each other.
In the end, Arthur Miller was more than just a great American playwright. He was a keen observer of the human condition, a moral voice in times of political turmoil, and an artist who believed in the power of theater to change the world. His life and work continue to challenge and inspire us, ensuring that his impact will be felt for generations to come.
Arthur Miller Plays:
Stage:
No Villain (1936)
They Too Arise (1937, based on No Villain)
Honors at Dawn (1938, based on They Too Arise)
The Grass Still Grows (1938, based on They Too Arise)
The Great Disobedience (1938)
Listen My Children (1939, with Norman Rosten)
The Golden Years (1940)
The Half-Bridge (1943)
The Man Who Had All the Luck (1944)[102]
All My Sons (1947)
Death of a Salesman (1949)
An Enemy of the People (1950, adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play An Enemy of the People)
The Crucible (1953)
A View from the Bridge (1955)
A Memory of Two Mondays (1955)
After the Fall (1964)
Incident at Vichy (1964)
The Price (1968)
The Reason Why (1970)
Fame (one-act, 1970; revised for television 1978)
The Creation of the World and Other Business (1972)
Up from Paradise (1974)
The Archbishop's Ceiling (1977)
The American Clock (1980)
Playing for Time (television play, 1980)
Elegy for a Lady (short play, 1982, first part of Two Way Mirror)
Some Kind of Love Story (short play, 1982, second part of Two Way Mirror)
I Think About You a Great Deal (1986)
Playing for Time (stage version, 1985)
I Can't Remember Anything (1987, collected in Danger: Memory!)
Clara (1987, collected in Danger: Memory!)
The Ride Down Mt. Morgan (1991)
The Last Yankee (1993)
Broken Glass (1994)
Mr. Peters' Connections (1998)
Resurrection Blues (2002)
Finishing the Picture (2004)
Radio:
The Pussycat and the Expert Plumber Who Was a Man (1940)
Joel Chandler Harris (1941)
The Battle of the Ovens (1942)
Thunder from the Mountains (1942)
I Was Married in Bataan (1942)
That They May Win (1943)
Listen for the Sound of Wings (1943)
Bernardine (1944)
I Love You (1944)
Grandpa and the Statue (1944)
The Philippines Never Surrendered (1944)
The Guardsman (1944, based on Ferenc Molnár's play)
The Story of Gus (1947)
Screenplays:
The Hook (1947)
All My Sons (1948)
Let's Make Love (1960)
The Misfits (1961)
Death of a Salesman (1985)
Everybody Wins (1990)
The Crucible (1996)
Fictional Works:
Focus (novel, 1945)
"The Misfits" (short story, published in Esquire, October 1957)
I Don't Need You Anymore (short stories, 1967)
"Homely Girl: A Life" (short story, 1992, published in UK as "Plain Girl: A Life" 1995)
Presence: Stories (2007) (short stories include "The Bare Manuscript", "Beavers", "The Performance", and "Bulldog")
Non fictional works:
Situation Normal (1944) is based on his experiences researching the war correspondence of Ernie Pyle.
In Russia (1969), the first of three books created with his photographer wife Inge Morath, offers Miller's impressions of Russia and Russian society.
In the Country (1977), with photographs by Morath and text by Miller, provides insight into how Miller spent his time in Roxbury, Connecticut, and profiles of his various neighbors.
Chinese Encounters (1979) is a travel journal with photographs by Morath. It depicts the Chinese society in the state of flux which followed the end of the
Cultural Revolution. Miller discusses the hardships of many writers, professors, and artists during Mao Zedong's regime.
Salesman in Beijing (1984) details Miller's experiences with the 1983 Beijing People's Theatre production of Death of a Salesman. He describes directing a Chinese cast in an American play.
Timebends: A Life, Methuen London (1987) ISBN 0-413-41480-9. Miller's autobiography.
On Politics and the Art of Acting, Viking 2001 {ISBN 0-670-030-422} an 85-page essay about the thespian skills in American politics, comparing FDR, JFK, Reagan, Clinton.
Collections:
Abbotson, Susan C. W. (ed.), Arthur Miller: Collected Essays, Penguin 2016 ISBN 978-0-14-310849-8
Kushner, Tony, ed. Arthur Miller, Collected Plays 1944–1961 (Library of America, 2006) ISBN 978-1-931082-91-4.
Martin, Robert A. (ed.), "The theater essays of Arthur Miller", foreword by Arthur Miller. NY: Viking Press, 1978 ISBN 0-14-004903-7