Week 1
Dreams for Sale

In 1789, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin wrote what is believed to be his last great quote—an observation about life and government that has endured: “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” He wrote this in a letter to French scientist Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, reflecting on the recent ratification of the U.S. Constitution and his own declining health. At the time, Franklin was already famous for his many proverbs and witty sayings, especially those published under the name “Richard Saunders” in Poor Richard’s Almanack. Sayings like “a penny saved is a penny earned” and “time is money” have become central to his legacy.

Franklin remained active late into life, contributing to political discourse and corresponding with prominent figures like Thomas Jefferson. In what is considered his final letter, written in April 1790, he responded to Jefferson’s inquiry about a boundary dispute, despite being ill and weakened. Franklin died days later at age 84. Although the “death and taxes” concept predated him, the publication of this letter in 1817 cemented the quote as one of the most famous in American culture.

Arthur Miller (1915–2005) was one of the most influential American playwrights of the 20th century. Known for his sharp social commentary and exploration of the American Dream, Miller wrote plays that examine family, identity, and moral responsibility. He gained national fame with The Crucible and Death of a Salesman, the latter of which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949. Miller’s work often reflects his concerns about truth, justice, and the pressures of society. His writing invites readers to question what it means to succeed and what we might lose in the pursuit of that success. 

By the mid-1950s, Miller was famous not only for his plays, but also for when he was called to appear before Senator Joseph McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee. Just as other Americans had been subpoenaed, Miller, too, was asked to identify writers who he believed were communists. Miller stood his ground, held to his principles, and pretty much risked his career by refusing to name names. The result? He was convicted of contempt of Congress. (The conviction was overturned in 1958.) A theater critic at the time said that Miller’s refusal to cooperate showed “the measure of the man who has written these high-minded plays.” 

Arthur Miller’s marriage to Marilyn Monroe was one of the most talked-about relationships of the 20th century, largely because it brought together two towering—but very different—American icons: the brilliant, introspective playwright and the glamorous, often-misunderstood film star.

They married in 1956, just weeks after Monroe converted to Judaism for Miller. At the time, he was being investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee for alleged communist sympathies, and Monroe’s support was both personal and public. Their marriage was passionate but fraught—Miller was intellectual and private, while Monroe was struggling with fame, mental health challenges, and a search for emotional stability. Miller even wrote a screenplay for her, The Misfits (1961), which became her final completed film.

Their relationship unraveled over time, marked by creative tensions and personal strain. They divorced in 1961, the same year The Misfits was released. 

Definition: A tragic hero is a character who is basically good but has a flaw or makes a serious mistake that leads to their downfall. Their story ends in tragedy, but it’s meant to make the audience feel pity and fear (what Aristotle called catharsis).

The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. 

Example: At the end of Romeo and Juliet, when the two lovers die tragically, the audience feels a deep mix of pity for their fate and fear over how misunderstandings and hatred led to such loss. That emotional response—the tears, the sorrow, the reflection—is catharsis. It gives the audience a chance to release their own emotions and think about the consequences of conflict and impulsive decisions.