Arthur Miller

Playwright Arthur Miller was personally affected by two major events of 20th century American history. In the 1930s, the Depression ruined his father financially. During the McCarthy era, Miller himself was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee to name people he had seen at a Communist writers' meeting. Miller refused and was found guilty of contempt of Congress, a conviction that was later overturned. Many critics consider The Crucible a critical commentary on McCarthy's persecution of Communists.