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Arthur Miller

Chris Grieb

Entry posted by Chris Grieb

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The last couple of days have not been good for Arthur Miller. It has been revealed that shortly after one of the sons who suffered from Downs Syndrome was put in what was called a "home". Miller did this even through his wife at the time wanted to raise the child. Miller would not even mention the boy in his autobiography.

Arthur Miller has been regularly referred to as the American playwright of the 20th century. His two most famous plays are "The Glass Menagerie" and Death of a Salesman. He also wrote a play called "All My Sons". Another play was based on his most famous marriage to Marilyn Monroe. When Miller died he was of course described as a caring and empathic. Horsepuckey!

Miller with the story of his son is revealed not as a deeply caring individual but a man basically concerned with his own self created image.

His plays are basically attacks on his leading characters who are not very nice but highly neurotic individuals His play based on his marriage to Marilyn Monroe is nasty piece of work about that sad women. Marilyn was used by many of the man she was involved and deserved much more than she got from Miller.

There is a little bit of good news. Miller apparently shortly before his death included the son in his will. The son now 41 is doing OK . Apparently the boy should thank the actor Daniel Day-Lewis who convinced Miller to change his will.

I think I going to make a point to see more of Daniel Day-Lewis movies.

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jenright

Chris,

I don't think this affects the point of your post in any way, but Glass Menagerie was written by Tennessee Williams, a contemporary of Miller's.

This story does make you wonder about Miller.

John

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Chris Grieb

Chris,

I don't think this affects the point of your post in any way, but Glass Menagerie was written by Tennessee Williams, a contemporary of Miller's.

This story does make you wonder about Miller.

John

John; Duh. You are right. Let me go and wash the egg off my face.

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Barbara Branden

I am the last person likely to look for excuses for Arthur Miller's behavior. I don't like his plays, with the partial exception of "Death of a Salesman;" he wrote dialogue that was prosaic, uninspired and uninspiring; "After the Fall," his play about Marilyn Monroe, was a disgracefully petty act of vengeance; and to say the least I do not admire his Communist leanings. However: You say thar his son is now 41 years old; when rhe boy was born, it was widely believed that Dow's Syndrome children were severely mentally retarded and could not live to adulthood. When evaluating Miller's decision to put his son in a home, one needs to consider this context.

Barbara

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Chris Grieb

Barbara;

We are in complete agreement about the plays.

I don't know what acknowledge there was about Down's Syndrome. Miller did not just put the son in home he removed him from his life. The conditions in the "home" Miller led to the state of Connecticut suing the home.

Miller should remember his own line. "Attention must be paid."

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