The CrucibleThe Crucibleby Arthur Millerby Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller’s BiographyArthur Miller’s Biography

Realism in American DramaRealism in American Drama

Arthur MillerArthur Miller Born 1915 in New York.Born 1915 in New York. Was born to Jewish-American Was born to Jewish-American

parents Isidore and Augusta Miller.parents Isidore and Augusta Miller. Isidore owned a women's clothes Isidore owned a women's clothes

and coat-manufacturing business, and coat-manufacturing business, which failed in the Wall Street which failed in the Wall Street Crash of 1929.Crash of 1929.

The Great Depression significantly The Great Depression significantly effected Arthur Miller’s family; they effected Arthur Miller’s family; they were forced to move to humbler were forced to move to humbler quarters in Brooklyn and they quarters in Brooklyn and they couldn’t pay for him to go to couldn’t pay for him to go to college. college.

Upon receiving a scholarship to the Upon receiving a scholarship to the University of Michigan AM was University of Michigan AM was forced to work menial jobs to pay forced to work menial jobs to pay for his tuition.for his tuition.

Historical ContextHistorical Context Great Depression (1929-early 1930s) Great Depression (1929-early 1930s)

- unemployment went from 4% to 25% between - unemployment went from 4% to 25% between 1929-19331929-1933- forced new Democratic President Roosevelt to - forced new Democratic President Roosevelt to implement the New Deal implement the New Deal

The New DealThe New Deal- shift in political and domestic policy in the U.S.- shift in political and domestic policy in the U.S.- increased federal government control over the - increased federal government control over the economy and money supplyeconomy and money supply- intervention to control prices and agricultural - intervention to control prices and agricultural production. production. - beginning of complex social programs (Welfare - beginning of complex social programs (Welfare state) and wider acceptance of trade unions.state) and wider acceptance of trade unions.

Federal Theatre ProjectFederal Theatre Project The The Federal Theatre Federal Theatre

ProjectProject (FTP) was a (FTP) was a New Deal project to New Deal project to fund theatre and other fund theatre and other live artistic live artistic performances in the performances in the U.S during the Great U.S during the Great Depression. Depression.

The FTP's primary goal The FTP's primary goal was employment of was employment of out-of-work artists, out-of-work artists, writers, and directors, writers, and directors, with the secondary aim with the secondary aim of entertaining poor of entertaining poor families and creating families and creating relevant art.relevant art.

Early CareerEarly Career In 1944 Miller wrote In 1944 Miller wrote The Man Who Had All the LuckThe Man Who Had All the Luck, ,

which was produced in New York and won the which was produced in New York and won the Theater Guild's National Award.Theater Guild's National Award.

The next few years were difficult for Miller: He The next few years were difficult for Miller: He published his first novel, published his first novel, FocusFocus, to little acclaim and , to little acclaim and adapted George Abbott's and John C. Holm's adapted George Abbott's and John C. Holm's Three Three Men on a HorseMen on a Horse for television. for television.

In 1947 Miller producedIn 1947 Miller produced All My Sons All My Sons at the Coronet at the Coronet Theater. The play was directed by Elia Kazan, with Theater. The play was directed by Elia Kazan, with whom Miller would have a continuing professional whom Miller would have a continuing professional and personal relationship. The play was a and personal relationship. The play was a commercial success and ran for 328 performances.commercial success and ran for 328 performances.

All My SonsAll My Sons won the New York Drama Critics Circle won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award and two Tony Awards in 1947, despite Miller Award and two Tony Awards in 1947, despite Miller receiving criticism for being a Communist.receiving criticism for being a Communist.

All My SonsAll My Sons

All My SonsAll My Sons tells the story of Joe Keller, a tells the story of Joe Keller, a successful, middle-aged, self-made man who has successful, middle-aged, self-made man who has done a terrible and tragic thing: during World War done a terrible and tragic thing: during World War II, rushing to meet an order from the Army, he II, rushing to meet an order from the Army, he knowingly sold them defective airplane parts which knowingly sold them defective airplane parts which later caused the planes to crash and killed 21 men. later caused the planes to crash and killed 21 men.

He framed his business partner for this crime and He framed his business partner for this crime and engineered his own exoneration; now, his son is engineered his own exoneration; now, his son is about to marry the partner's daughter, the affair is about to marry the partner's daughter, the affair is revisited, and the lie of a life is unraveled. revisited, and the lie of a life is unraveled.

Themes:Themes:- War profiteering- War profiteering- Obligation of family over society- Obligation of family over society""I'm his father and he's my son, and if there's anything I'm his father and he's my son, and if there's anything greater than that I'll put a bullet in my head!greater than that I'll put a bullet in my head!““- - Critique of American DreamCritique of American Dream

Death of a SalesmanDeath of a Salesman Regarded as Miller’s masterpiece. Regarded as Miller’s masterpiece. Death of a Death of a

SalesmanSalesman premiered on Broadway in 1949 at the premiered on Broadway in 1949 at the Morosco Theatre, directed by Kazan, and starring Morosco Theatre, directed by Kazan, and starring Lee Cobb as Willy Loman. The play was critically Lee Cobb as Willy Loman. The play was critically acclaimed, winning a Tony Award for best play, and acclaimed, winning a Tony Award for best play, and a Pulitzer Prize and ran for 742 performances. a Pulitzer Prize and ran for 742 performances.

Tragic story of everyman Willy Loman and his Tragic story of everyman Willy Loman and his pursuit of the American Dream. pursuit of the American Dream.

The play’s success is attributed to Miller's facility in The play’s success is attributed to Miller's facility in portraying the universal hopes and fears of middle-portraying the universal hopes and fears of middle-class America. Through his main character, Willy class America. Through his main character, Willy Loman, Miller examines the myth of the American Loman, Miller examines the myth of the American Dream and the shallow promise of happiness Dream and the shallow promise of happiness through material wealth. He uses Willy as an through material wealth. He uses Willy as an example of how undivided faith in such a dream can example of how undivided faith in such a dream can often yield tragic results, especially when it goes often yield tragic results, especially when it goes largely unfulfilled.largely unfulfilled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh2w_0NUtC4&feature=relatehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh2w_0NUtC4&feature=relatedd

Arthur Miller on RealismArthur Miller on Realism

‘‘Realism is a style, an artful convention, andRealism is a style, an artful convention, and

not a piece of reportage. What, after all, is not a piece of reportage. What, after all, is

real about having all the furniture in a living real about having all the furniture in a living

room facing floodlights? Realism is a style, room facing floodlights? Realism is a style,

an invention quite as consciously created as an invention quite as consciously created as

Expressionism, Symbolism or any of the Expressionism, Symbolism or any of the

other less familiar forms’.other less familiar forms’.

Realism in American DramaRealism in American Drama Broadly defined as ‘the faithful representation of reality’ or Broadly defined as ‘the faithful representation of reality’ or

‘verisimilitude’, realism is a literary technique practiced by ‘verisimilitude’, realism is a literary technique practiced by many schools of writing in the 19C.many schools of writing in the 19C.

Dramatic Realism in the 19C referred to a technique or set Dramatic Realism in the 19C referred to a technique or set of techniques for representing the social reality of the of techniques for representing the social reality of the middle class (see the plays of Henrik Ibsen).middle class (see the plays of Henrik Ibsen).

George Lukacs asserted that literary realism is political; it is George Lukacs asserted that literary realism is political; it is about penetrating the ideological veneer of bourgeois about penetrating the ideological veneer of bourgeois reality. Show social reality as it really is and critique false reality. Show social reality as it really is and critique false constructions of reality (i.e. the Amercian Dream).constructions of reality (i.e. the Amercian Dream).

Arthur Miller’s plays are about faithfully representing the Arthur Miller’s plays are about faithfully representing the struggles of middle-class families in post-war America. The struggles of middle-class families in post-war America. The major theme of his early work is a critique of the American major theme of his early work is a critique of the American Dream as an ideological apparatus. Dream as an ideological apparatus. All My Sons All My Sons and and Death Death of a Salesman of a Salesman both show the tragic consequences of both show the tragic consequences of everymen pursuing the American Dream. everymen pursuing the American Dream.

Characteristics of His Writings/BeliefsCharacteristics of His Writings/Beliefs Explores psychological and social issues that emerged in Explores psychological and social issues that emerged in

the political and cultural landscape of post-WWII America: the political and cultural landscape of post-WWII America: - the dangers of rampant materialism- the dangers of rampant materialism- the struggle for dignity in a dehumanizing world- the struggle for dignity in a dehumanizing world- the erosion of the family structure- the erosion of the family structure- and the perils of besetting human rights.- and the perils of besetting human rights.

Focuses on the morality of pressures exerted on people Focuses on the morality of pressures exerted on people by family and society (American Dream).by family and society (American Dream).

Depicts family and social relationships with great detail.Depicts family and social relationships with great detail. Shows that man is inescapably social and it is impossible Shows that man is inescapably social and it is impossible

to understand man unless one knows his society.to understand man unless one knows his society. Recognition that the social environment is a support as Recognition that the social environment is a support as

well as a prison.well as a prison. Portrays men most convincingly, while displaying women Portrays men most convincingly, while displaying women

mostly as relations to men.mostly as relations to men.

Events leading up to the writing of Events leading up to the writing of The CrucibleThe Crucible

In 1952, Elia Kazan appeared before the House In 1952, Elia Kazan appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and, Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and, under fear of being blacklisted from Hollywood, under fear of being blacklisted from Hollywood, named eight people from the Group Theatre who named eight people from the Group Theatre who in recent years had been fellow members of the in recent years had been fellow members of the Communist Party. Communist Party.

After speaking with Kazan about his testimony After speaking with Kazan about his testimony Miller traveled to Salem, Massachusetts to Miller traveled to Salem, Massachusetts to research the witch trials of 1692.research the witch trials of 1692.

Arthur Miller wrote Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible The Crucible in response to his in response to his former friend’s testimony to the HUAC and the former friend’s testimony to the HUAC and the McCarthy era ‘witch-hunt’ of left-leaning McCarthy era ‘witch-hunt’ of left-leaning intellectuals and artists. intellectuals and artists.

Kazan’s ResponseKazan’s Response Kazan felt that it was in the best interest of the Kazan felt that it was in the best interest of the

country and his own liberal beliefs to cooperate country and his own liberal beliefs to cooperate with HUAC's anti-communist efforts in order to with HUAC's anti-communist efforts in order to counter Communists in Hollywood who were co-counter Communists in Hollywood who were co-opting the liberal agenda. opting the liberal agenda.

Kazan felt no allegiance to Communism, and had Kazan felt no allegiance to Communism, and had been disillusioned by the Soviet Union's brutal been disillusioned by the Soviet Union's brutal record of murder and repression during Stalin's record of murder and repression during Stalin's Purges, and the Polish massacres of World War II. Purges, and the Polish massacres of World War II.

Kazan resented the Party's attempt to force their Kazan resented the Party's attempt to force their agenda on him during his theatre group days. agenda on him during his theatre group days.

Though Kazan testified to HUAC under threat of Though Kazan testified to HUAC under threat of ostracism and blacklisting by the Hollywood ostracism and blacklisting by the Hollywood studios, he was in turn shunned and ostracized by studios, he was in turn shunned and ostracized by many of his former friends. many of his former friends.

On the Waterfront On the Waterfront (1954)(1954) Many interpret Many interpret On the On the

Waterfront as Waterfront as Kazan's Kazan's own justification of his own justification of his actions to his critics. actions to his critics.

The film’s plot centers The film’s plot centers around dock worker around dock worker which Terry Malloy which Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) who (Marlon Brando) who courageously agrees courageously agrees to testify against his to testify against his former mentor, a former mentor, a corrupt dockland corrupt dockland union boss.union boss.