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1、DeathofaSalesmanAplaywrittenby:ArthurMillerIntwoactsandarequiem(1915-2005)AbouttheAuthorArthurMiller,consideredoneofthemostdistinguishedcontemporaryAmericanplaywrights,exploresthemesofindividualandsocialcommitment,familialrelationships,andmoralobligation.Histenmajo
2、rworkshavesparkedcontroversyandenjoyedacclaim.Theycontinuetohaveastirringeffectonaudiencesaswellasreaders.DeathofaSalesmanin1949broughtMillerthePulitzerPrizeaswellastheAntoinettePerry(Tony)AwardandtheNewYorkDramaCriticsCircleAward.Italsohadthedistinctionofbeingtheo
3、nlyplayeverselectedforcirculationbytheBook-of-the-MonthClub.IttookMilleronlysixweekstowritetheplaythathadprobablybeengerminatinginhismindsincehisjobwithhisfather’smanufacturingcompany(heworkedthereinhighschoolbriefly,butabhorredthejobbecauseofthewaytheclothingbuyer
4、streatedhisfatherandthecompany’ssalesmenwitharrogantcontempt).Consideredamasterpiecebytheatercriticsandhistorians,theplaycondemnsasocietythatcompelsindividualstoforsaketheirnaturaltalentsandtheirdignityinfavorofachievingmaterialsuccess.TheopeningnightaudienceinPhil
5、adelphiawasoverwhelmed;longafterthestandingovationsandfinalcurtaincalls,theatergoers,identifyingwithWillyandhissons,refusedtogohome.In1952Miller’smostcontroversialplay,TheCrucible,wasproduced.AlthoughitwonhimaTonyaward,themeritsoftheplaywereobscuredbythepoliticalat
6、titudestowardit.Therewasanobviousparallelbetweenthemasshysteriaofthe1692witchtrialsandthemasshysteriaoftheMcCarthyisminthe1950’s.HistoricalBackgroundTheUnitedStatesemergedfromWorldWarIIwithunrivaledeconomicpower.Allotherindustrialcountrieshadsuffereddevastation,but
7、thefactories,farms,andresearchlaboratoriesoftheUnitedStateshadgrownandflourished.AfterthewarUnitedStatesagriculturebecamethegranaryforaEuropeonthebrinkofstarvation,andAmericanbanksbecamethefinanciersforaEuropeonthevergeofbankruptcy.TwochallengesconfrontedtheUSin194
8、5:todismantlethewartimesystemofrationing,allocations,andpricecontrolswithoutsettingoffinflation;andtoreturnmillionsofdemobilizedsoldiersandhugewa
