Playwrights are not often considered as influential contributors to literature in the United States--and in fact, very few American playwrights have ever achieved international fame. However, Arthur Miller is not only regarded as one of the few premiere playwrights of the 20th Century, but his intense understanding of what has been described as "psychological realism" and social reform and his ability to evaluate contemporary affairs certainly mark him as one of the most significant 20th Century contributors to both American and World literature. Two of his most famous plays, Death of a Salesman and The Crucible serve as excellent examples for Miller's social analysis, representing the discontent of one of the most turbulent time periods in American history.

Published in 1949, Death of a Salesman was the play that launched Miller to fame, earning him the Pulitzer Prize for drama as well as international fame. The play tells the...