Final answer:
Arthur Miller's plays, particularly The Crucible, critique McCarthyism and the illusion of the American Dream, using relatable characters to make theatre accessible and to reveal societal issues of the twentieth century.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arthur Miller, an influential American playwright, is best known for his plays that delve deep into the societal issues of his time. Particularly, The Crucible, written in 1953, uses the historical context of the Salem Witch Trials as an allegory for the McCarthyism of the 1950s. The strategy behind this critique was to highlight the absurdity and the danger of the widespread paranoia about communism in America, which led to a culture of fear, accusation, and the persecution of the innocent.
Miller's works, including Death of a Salesman, challenge the notion of the American Dream by portraying the struggle of the common man. Miller's characters often face insurmountable challenges that reflect the realities of American society during the twentieth century, uncovering the illusion of the American Dream and the unresolved social issues within the nation.
In demonstrating these social and political themes through relatable everyday characters, Miller's works not only provide powerful commentaries but also democratize theatre, making it relevant and accessible to the general public.