The Life of Arthur Miller
The Life of Arthur Miller
Writing plays was not something Arthur Miller had always done. He started out just like any other average boy in America. His favorite pass times were football and baseball. Playing the piano and singing with his family were also an enjoyable way to pass the time. It was not until the economic crisis of the Depression that his life changed. He and his family moved to Brooklyn to try and escape the economic downfall. The move to Brooklyn was what would the start the change of a normal boy into of one of America 's greatest playwrights. From a struggling teenager to a wealthy successful man, Arthur Miller led a life of excitement most people never dream of. (Andersen pg. 9) The stock market crash of 1929 was harsh on the Miller 's fortune. After living in a Harlem apartment for his first fourteen years of existance, Miller was forced to move to the more rural Midwood area of Brooklyn. Miller found Midwood to be a place where the soundness of his safety was not in question as opposed to the violence of Harlem. Miller 's life experiences and hardships growing up during The Great Depression inspired many of his well known and award winning works such as All My Sons and Death of a Salesman. These plays were influenced by his father 's business defeat and way of life. (Bloom pg. 11-13) In school, Miller 's grades was a little less than great when he graduated from high school. He began working at an auto parts warehouse as a shipping clerk to earn money for college. Miller received fifteen dollars a week. Arthur had to move away from his family in 1934 in order to go to college. With journalism as his major and being an editor on the evening paper, Miller started University of Michigan on conditional admission. (Bloom pg. 13) Arthur entered a drama-writing contest for the Annual Avery Hopwood literary prize during his attendance at University of Michigan. He entered his six day work of art called No Villain and won the first place
Writing plays was not something Arthur Miller had always done. He started out just like any other average boy in America. His favorite pass times were football and baseball. Playing the piano and singing with his family were also an enjoyable way to pass the time. It was not until the economic crisis of the Depression that his life changed. He and his family moved to Brooklyn to try and escape the economic downfall. The move to Brooklyn was what would the start the change of a normal boy into of one of America 's greatest playwrights. From a struggling teenager to a wealthy successful man, Arthur Miller led a life of excitement most people never dream of. (Andersen pg. 9) The stock market crash of 1929 was harsh on the Miller 's fortune. After living in a Harlem apartment for his first fourteen years of existance, Miller was forced to move to the more rural Midwood area of Brooklyn. Miller found Midwood to be a place where the soundness of his safety was not in question as opposed to the violence of Harlem. Miller 's life experiences and hardships growing up during The Great Depression inspired many of his well known and award winning works such as All My Sons and Death of a Salesman. These plays were influenced by his father 's business defeat and way of life. (Bloom pg. 11-13) In school, Miller 's grades was a little less than great when he graduated from high school. He began working at an auto parts warehouse as a shipping clerk to earn money for college. Miller received fifteen dollars a week. Arthur had to move away from his family in 1934 in order to go to college. With journalism as his major and being an editor on the evening paper, Miller started University of Michigan on conditional admission. (Bloom pg. 13) Arthur entered a drama-writing contest for the Annual Avery Hopwood literary prize during his attendance at University of Michigan. He entered his six day work of art called No Villain and won the first place
References: Anderson, R. (2006). Writers and Their Works: Arthur Miller. Tarrytown, New York., Marshall Cavendish Benchmark Bloom, H. (2003). Bloom 's BioCritiques: Arthur Miller. Broomall, PA., Chelsea House Publishers. Cavendish, R. (June 2006). Marilyn Monroe Marries Arthur Miller: June 29th, 1956. History Today v.56 no.6 p.60-1 Clark, A. and Hamadey, G. (2000, October 27). A Conversation with Arthur Miller. The Michigan Daily. Retrieved November 07, 2008, from http://www.pub.umich.edu