Arthur Miller

Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – January 10, 2005) was one of the most influential American playwrights of the 20th century. Born in New York City to a Jewish family, Miller studied drama at the University of Michigan and emerged as a significant voice in American theater during the Great Depression. His masterpiece, 'Death of a Salesman' (1949), won the Pulitzer Prize and became a staple of American literature, examining themes of disillusionment and the fragility of the American Dream through the tragic figure of Willy Loman. 'The Crucible' (1953), his play about the Salem witch trials, was widely interpreted as an allegory for McCarthyism and anti-communist hysteria. Beyond theater, Miller was a political activist and public intellectual, often using his platform to critique social injustice. He was married to Marilyn Monroe from 1956 to 1961, a union that garnered significant media attention. His works have been translated into dozens of languages and continue to be performed worldwide, cementing his legacy as a defining voice of American drama and social commentary.