Kalinoski on the passing of Arthur Miller

note: Richard Kalinoski is an award winning playwright and an associate professor in the UW Oshkosh Theater program. I asked him his thoughts on the death of the legendary Arthur Miller. His response follows below. --Tony Palmeri

I was startled last Friday when I heard a news report that Arthur Miller had died--of congestive heart failure at his home in Connecticut. I had never met
Mr. Miller but a few years ago my students and I received a thank you letter after we wrote him a collection of letters responding to his contemplative autobiography, TIMEBENDS.

Arthur Miller's work, despite being celebrated most of his adult life, seems underrated to me. DEATH OF A SALESMAN, a play which comes as close as any play can to uncovering the truth about what it means to be a human being remains an astounding achievement artistically. That play, however, is also a remarkable achievement in the history of compassion--a play which simultaneously reveals our deep flaws and our hopeless, gallant ambitions.

Mr. Miller lived a proud and gallant life, clearly "flawed" but conscientious, always thoughtful and remarkably dignified. He deserves our deepest bow.

Richard Kalinoski
Playwright