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The Birth
This is where it starts. Arthur Asher Miller was born October 17,1915, New York. Who will grow up to be an amazing playwright that has written about 22 plays. -
The Birth continued
Arthur Miller had a father and mother. The fathers name was Isidore Miller and his mothers name was Augusta Miller. He also had siblings named Joan Copeland and Kermit Miller. -
First Years
From the looks of it, it seems like his life was alright. Until the Great Depression hit. The website Britannica stated that," Miller was shaped by the Great Depression... brought financial aid to his father, a small manufacture.. demonstrated to the young Miller insecurity of modern existence". -
The Depression Continued
Luckily, the young miller was able to graduate high school and went to work at a warehouse. With the money he gathered he attended the University of Michigan. -
Hope?
University of Michigan is where Miller started to write his plays/novels. -
Marriage!
Arthur Miller got married! He was married to Mary Grace Slattery. They dated for two years and then got married and even had 2 children named Jane Ellen Miller and Robert A. Miller. -
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Succession
Miller wrote his first ever novel the "Focus" during 1945. It was a novel about anti-Semitism. During 1947 Miller wrote his first ever play in collaboration with director Elia Kazan. It was called "All My Sons". -
Succession continued
His first play "All My Sons" as stated by britannica.com was," a drama about a manufacturer of faulty war materials," this was millers first ever important play that won him a Tony award. -
There is More
Miller then wrote the play "Death of a Salesman" which became one of the most famous American plays of its period. Britannica states that the play is about a," tragedy of Willi Loman, a man destroyed by false values that are in large part the values of his society". -
Death of a Salesman
His play Death of a Salesman won the Tony award for best play and also won the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Miller and Kazan both won Tony's for director and author. -
Witchcraft into a Play?
Arthur Miller wrote a play on the witchcraft trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692-93. Britannica.com talks about the play and how it connected to his life, and it says," a series of persecutions that he considered an echo of the McCarthyism of his day, when investigations of alleged subversive activities were widespread." -
The Crucible
The play that is about the famous witchcraft trials in Salem is called The Crucibles. Although not as popular as Death of a Salesman. It did win a Tony for best play. -
Oh no..
Believe it or not when the widespread of McCarthyism and communist was at its peak. Arthur Miller was suspected as communist and was called upon House Un-American Activities Committee. He was convicted of contempt but appealed and won. -
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There is even more
Arthur Miller did something so crazy. He left his wife Mary Slattery and the kids. To go marry Marilyn Monroe. Through out the years we realized the marriage was not meant to be.
She had 3 miscarriages one in 1956(September), the second in 1957(August) and the third in 1958(December). Then during 1961 after 5 years of their marriage. They divorced. -
The Misfits
Arthur Miller wrote "The Misfits" for ex wife Monroe. It centered around real life problems, unreliable work habits, and temper tantrums that Monroe had. -
Marriage again??
During 1962 Arthur Miller married a photographer named Inge Morath and they had 2 more children, a girl named Rebecca and a son, which he kept a secret to the world for a long time, named Daniel and the reason why he kept him a secret is because he had down syndrome. They stayed married until death.(Maybe). -
oh..
Monroe overdosed on sleeping pills causing her death.( Obviously). -
oh.. again
Morath died in 2002 due to cancer. -
No way.
A couple months after Morath's death there was a new girl. Agnes Barley who was 34 and Miller was 89! Millers daughter Rebecca asked her to leave. -
The Finally
The Misfits led to the basis of Arthur Millers last and final play. "Finishing the Picture" was released before he dies. A play about how a, "male-dominated movie industry destroyed a vulnerable young woman, even as they transformed her into a screen goddess, and how they were unable to deal with the wreckage they caused", stated by finboroughtheatre. -
The actual end
2005 Arthur Miller died. He died due to cancer, pneumonia and a heart condition. -
Influence
Most if not all of Arthur Millers plays have been influenced by real world events. Such as "The Crucibles" which was based on McCarthyism persecutions and the Salem Witch trials. As well as "All My Sons" based on a manufacturing conspiracy in WW2. -
Fun Facts
Christopher Bigsy writes a biography about Miller. Reveals unpublished works of Miller. He had a bachelor of Arts "The Man who Had All The Luck" was a big flop Stayed in New York his entire life. -
Sources
https://finboroughtheatre.co.uk/production/finishing-the-picture/ https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/a-daughters-view-of-arthur-miller https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/arthur-miller/ https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/arthur-miller-3646.php https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arthur-Miller-American-playwright