The The CrucibleCrucible

Written by Arthur MillerWritten by Arthur Miller

In 1952In 1952

Miller’s biographyMiller’s biography

Born in New York City in Born in New York City in 19151915

Dad- owned garment factory Dad- owned garment factory Mom- schoolteacherMom- schoolteacher

Arthur involved in high Arthur involved in high school sports, not school sports, not academics academics

Applied to U. Of Michigan (grades not good Applied to U. Of Michigan (grades not good enough)enough)

Took a job for two years working in an Took a job for two years working in an automotive parts plant… he read automotive parts plant… he read War and War and PeacePeace during this time period during this time period

Enrolled in U. of Michigan and worked Enrolled in U. of Michigan and worked different part-time jobsdifferent part-time jobs

After college graduation, he wrote radio After college graduation, he wrote radio scriptsscripts

First Broadway success- First Broadway success- All My SonsAll My Sons-- play -- play portrayed the impact on a family of American portrayed the impact on a family of American participation in World War II. Miller was participation in World War II. Miller was attacked as unpatriotic. He said that he was attacked as unpatriotic. He said that he was just telling the truth. just telling the truth.

After After Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman, he was , he was considered to be a great American playwrightconsidered to be a great American playwright

The CrucibleThe Crucible was a play produced in 1953 was a play produced in 1953 The play centered on a witch-hunt that took The play centered on a witch-hunt that took

place in 1692 in Salem, Massachusettsplace in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts Miller parallels the 1692 witch-hunt with the Miller parallels the 1692 witch-hunt with the

“Red Hunt” of the 1950’s being conducted “Red Hunt” of the 1950’s being conducted in Washington, DC by Senator Joseph in Washington, DC by Senator Joseph McCarthy (from Wisconsin)McCarthy (from Wisconsin)

““Witch-hunt” was a term used Witch-hunt” was a term used

to refer to un-American to refer to un-American

activitiesactivities

McCarthyismMcCarthyism McCarthy elected in 1946- by 1951, he McCarthy elected in 1946- by 1951, he

succeeded in arousing terror among leftists succeeded in arousing terror among leftists and intellectuals by asserting that those and intellectuals by asserting that those hostile to our way of life had attempted hostile to our way of life had attempted systematically to obtain key positions in systematically to obtain key positions in government and in industries such as government and in industries such as entertainment in order to subvert our entertainment in order to subvert our system.system.

Writers, actors, politicians– and others– Writers, actors, politicians– and others– were summoned to appear before McCarthy were summoned to appear before McCarthy to answer the question: to answer the question:

““Are you now or Are you now or were you ever a were you ever a

Communist?”Communist?”

Uh- Oh…Uh- Oh… Arthur Miller’s liberal views caught Arthur Miller’s liberal views caught

him in the McCarthy anti-communist him in the McCarthy anti-communist witch-hunt.witch-hunt.

He testified before a congressional He testified before a congressional committee, refusing to name friends committee, refusing to name friends and colleagues who might have been and colleagues who might have been communists and was held in communists and was held in contempt. contempt.

Success of Success of The CrucibleThe Crucible

Not successful in its first runNot successful in its first run Critics questioned the comparison Critics questioned the comparison

between the old witch-hunts and the between the old witch-hunts and the contemporary hunt for Communists contemporary hunt for Communists (an allegory)(an allegory)

In a later production, the play ran for In a later production, the play ran for over 600 performancesover 600 performances

It is now Miller’s most produced playIt is now Miller’s most produced play

Married Marilyn Monroe in 1956Married Marilyn Monroe in 1956 They divorced in 1961They divorced in 1961

Miller later married the renowned photographer Miller later married the renowned photographer Inge MorathInge Morath

In later years Arthur Miller went out of fashion in In later years Arthur Miller went out of fashion in

America. He complained that writers there were America. He complained that writers there were treated as entertainers, not moralists, and railed treated as entertainers, not moralists, and railed against what he regarded the hollow against what he regarded the hollow commercialism of Broadway. commercialism of Broadway.

"I do think that most things end badly," he said. "I do think that most things end badly," he said. "Most human enterprise disappoints." "Most human enterprise disappoints."

He continued to provoke his audience into He continued to provoke his audience into questioning society and authority. questioning society and authority.