Saturday, February 12, 2005
Death of a Titan (I mean Salesman): playwright Arthur Miller died Friday at age 89. Aside from gaining fame from marrying Marilyn Monroe, Miller was considered one of the greatest playwright in American history.
As a writer, I must offer my comments on his legacy, even though I admit I know very little. I read Miller's "The Crucible" in high school and remember struggling to understand it. But years later it is easy to see why my American Literature teacher included it. It was written in the later half of the 20th century, revisiting the Salem Witch Trials during a time in American history when the McCarthy "witch hunt" for communists was still popular. It was relevant, even though it dealt with a time centuries past.
And of course "Death of a Salesman" is considered a classic about the American dream gone terribly wrong.
We will you, Mr. Miller, and we will never forget you. I hope you are reunited with Marilyn in heaven and the both of you are happy.
As a writer, I must offer my comments on his legacy, even though I admit I know very little. I read Miller's "The Crucible" in high school and remember struggling to understand it. But years later it is easy to see why my American Literature teacher included it. It was written in the later half of the 20th century, revisiting the Salem Witch Trials during a time in American history when the McCarthy "witch hunt" for communists was still popular. It was relevant, even though it dealt with a time centuries past.
And of course "Death of a Salesman" is considered a classic about the American dream gone terribly wrong.
We will you, Mr. Miller, and we will never forget you. I hope you are reunited with Marilyn in heaven and the both of you are happy.
