Arthur Miller

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Arthur Millersthe crucible

• A brief introduction to

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Arthur Miller

• American playwright and essayist
• 1915-2005
• Attended the University of Michigan
• Notable Works
• Death of a Salesman
• The Crucible
• A View from the Bridge
• Won Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949

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Why is miller remembered?

• Considered by many to be one of the greatest
  dramatists of the 20th century
• Death of a Salesman an award-winning play,
  protagonist Willy Loman an iconic character
• Married to Marilyn Monroe (1956-1961)

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The Crucible

• A dramatization of the Salem witchcraft trials
  (1692-1693)
• An allegory for McCarthyism
• A central work in the canon of American drama
• Premiered in 1953 in New York City

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mccarthyism

• Making accusation of disloyalty, subversion, or
  treason without proper regard for evidence.
• Second Red Scare
• 1940s-1950s
• Senator Joe McCarthy
• Made many claims about supposed Communist spies
  and sympathizers within America

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Millers Life experience

• In the 1950s, Miller had to testify before the
  House Un-American Activities Committee
• An investigative committee the existed from
  1938-1975
• The committee conducted anti-Communist
  investigations

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Journal Entry

• What is a witch hunt?
• What do you know about the Salem witch trials?
• Can you think of any contemporary examples of
  witch hunts? What are they?