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?