Post on 04-Jan-2016
A brief introduction to
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
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)
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
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
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
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?