Biographical
Arthur
Miller was in Harlem, New York on October 17, 1915. Born and raised in a mildly
affluent family, Miller experienced childhood in the Upper East Side of
Manhattan. However, after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the family was forced
to move to Brooklyn after they lost their fortune. It is here where Miller’s
life can be connected to the Lomans’. Because Miller’s family had been forced
out of their comfort, money was always a problem as it was for Willy. Miller was
forced to work jobs right after he graduated high school in hopes of raising
enough money to attend a university. He criticized the way he and Willy were
forced to live, worrying about money and status. Though The
Death of a Salesman
was not based on a specific experience in his own life, Miller used personal
experiences that built the foundation and the themes of the play. From reading
the text, the audience can infer that Willy’s guilty conscience regarding his
past with the other woman directly corresponds to his real life promiscuity.
This can be reflected in his affair and marriage with the famed sex-symbol
Marilyn Monroe. Miller left his wife in 1956 and later married Monroe the same
month. It’s important to note that The
Death of a Salesman
was published in 1949, which is before they met in 1951. Elements of Miller’s
life are reflected through the play, and the central themes are reflected
through the character Biff.
Citations
for Biographical Section:
1.)
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Miller
2.)
Bio True Story:
http://www.biography.com/people/arthur-miller-9408335
Arthur
Miller was in Harlem, New York on October 17, 1915. Born and raised in a mildly
affluent family, Miller experienced childhood in the Upper East Side of
Manhattan. However, after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the family was forced
to move to Brooklyn after they lost their fortune. It is here where Miller’s
life can be connected to the Lomans’. Because Miller’s family had been forced
out of their comfort, money was always a problem as it was for Willy. Miller was
forced to work jobs right after he graduated high school in hopes of raising
enough money to attend a university. He criticized the way he and Willy were
forced to live, worrying about money and status. Though The
Death of a Salesman
was not based on a specific experience in his own life, Miller used personal
experiences that built the foundation and the themes of the play. From reading
the text, the audience can infer that Willy’s guilty conscience regarding his
past with the other woman directly corresponds to his real life promiscuity.
This can be reflected in his affair and marriage with the famed sex-symbol
Marilyn Monroe. Miller left his wife in 1956 and later married Monroe the same
month. It’s important to note that The
Death of a Salesman
was published in 1949, which is before they met in 1951. Elements of Miller’s
life are reflected through the play, and the central themes are reflected
through the character Biff.
Citations
for Biographical Section:
1.)
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Miller
2.)
Bio True Story:
http://www.biography.com/people/arthur-miller-9408335