Threater review Arthur Asher Miller
Arthur Asher Miller was one of the greatest playwrights and essayists of the 20th century. He won numerous awards for his writing including the Tony Award for best play and Pulitzer Prize for drama. He lived a long fruitful life and provided a total of seven decades in playwright.
Earlier Life and Potential Influence to His Writing:
Arthur was born in October 17th, 1915. He was the second of three children of Isidore and Augusta Miller. His father was a well-known man in the community and they were well off. Arthur’s father owned a women's clothing manufacturing business called “S. Miller & Sons” 1 and his mother was a school teacher. However, due to the Wall Street crash of 1929, the family lost their wealth and had to move to Gravesend, Brooklyn. Later in the teen years, Arthur had to pick up a part-time job to save up for college and they lived a middle class life struggling with money. He did poorly in high school because he was more focused on athletics. After he graduated he went to college and later dropped out of NY City College because he was not able to keep up with both work and school. To sum it all up, “Living through young adulthood during the Great Depression, Miller was shaped by the poverty that surrounded him. The Depression demonstrated to the playwright the fragility and vulnerability of human existence in the modern era.” 2
Professor Eric Rabkin at the University of Michigan said, "It is no surprise then that many of his plays deal with individuals rendered helpless in the face of uncontrollable social forces and the impact that this sense of helplessness has on the individual and the relationships that surround him." 3
After a few years, he applied to the University of Michigan and was apparently denied admission two times before acceptance because of his poor grades in high school. Once he was accepted, he majored in journalism and became the editor for Michigan Daily. 4
Becoming a Playwright:
Miller’s writing flourished in
Earlier Life and Potential Influence to His Writing:
Arthur was born in October 17th, 1915. He was the second of three children of Isidore and Augusta Miller. His father was a well-known man in the community and they were well off. Arthur’s father owned a women's clothing manufacturing business called “S. Miller & Sons” 1 and his mother was a school teacher. However, due to the Wall Street crash of 1929, the family lost their wealth and had to move to Gravesend, Brooklyn. Later in the teen years, Arthur had to pick up a part-time job to save up for college and they lived a middle class life struggling with money. He did poorly in high school because he was more focused on athletics. After he graduated he went to college and later dropped out of NY City College because he was not able to keep up with both work and school. To sum it all up, “Living through young adulthood during the Great Depression, Miller was shaped by the poverty that surrounded him. The Depression demonstrated to the playwright the fragility and vulnerability of human existence in the modern era.” 2
Professor Eric Rabkin at the University of Michigan said, "It is no surprise then that many of his plays deal with individuals rendered helpless in the face of uncontrollable social forces and the impact that this sense of helplessness has on the individual and the relationships that surround him." 3
After a few years, he applied to the University of Michigan and was apparently denied admission two times before acceptance because of his poor grades in high school. Once he was accepted, he majored in journalism and became the editor for Michigan Daily. 4
Becoming a Playwright:
Miller’s writing flourished in