Final answer:
Arthur Miller's best-known work is 'Death of a Salesman,' written in 1949, followed closely by 'The Crucible' from 1953. Both plays offer critical perspectives on the American dream and society and remain celebrated pieces of American literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arthur Miller, an iconic American playwright, is renowned for his works that critically analyze the American dream and society. His best-known work is Death of a Salesman, which premiered in 1949 and swiftly claimed the Pulitzer Prize. This play is an unflinching look at the downfall of the character Willy Loman, illustrating the crushing effects of the American dream on the ‘common man.’
Additionally, Miller's The Crucible, written as an allegory for McCarthyism in 1953, is another of his highly regarded pieces. Both works are enduring components of high school and college literature curricula and continue to engage audiences with their incisive critiques of contemporary life and the ideals of freedom.
In both works, alongside contemporaries like Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill, Miller cemented his place in American culture, reflecting the struggles of ordinary individuals in the face of societal and personal anguish.