Arthur miller trial transcript

Member Richard Arens: Now, your application for a passport pending in the Department of State is for the purpose of travelling to England, is that correct? Miller: I have a production in the talking stage in England of A View from the Bridge, and I will be there to be with the woman who will then be my wife. Arens: Have you had any difficulty in connection with your play A View from the Bridge in its presentation in England?

Miller: It has not got that far. I have had the censor in England giving us a little trouble, yes, but that is general. A lot of American plays have that difficulty Miller: I was present at meetings of Communist Party writers in , about five or six meetings.

Miller: In I believe it was, or in , I went to attend a Marxist study course in my neighbourhood in Brooklyn. I signed some form or another. Miller: This is now 16 years ago. I don't recall.

If I could, I would tell you the exact nature of that application. I understood that this was to be, as I have said, a study course. I was there for about three or four times perhaps. It was of no interest to me and I didn't return Arens: Tell us, if you please, sir, about these meetings with Communist Party writers you said you attended in New York City. Miller: I was by then a well-known writer. I attended these meetings in order to locate my ideas in relation to Marxism because I had been assailed for years by all kinds of interpretations of what Communism was, what Marxism was, and I went there to discover where I stood finally and completely, and I listened and said very little, I think.

Miller: Mr Chairman, I understand the philosophy behind this question and I want you to understand mine. I am trying to and I will protect my sense of myself. I could not use the name of another person and bring trouble on him.

These were writers, poets, as far as I could see I asked you not to ask me that question. Miller: I will be perfectly frank with you in anything relating to my activities. I take the responsibility for everything I have done, but I cannot take responsibility for another human being. Arens: Mr Chairman, I respectfully suggest that the witness be ordered and directed to answer the question as to who it was that he saw at these meetings.

Jackson: May I say that moral scruples, however laudable, do not constitute legal reason for refusing to answer the question. Miller: Could I ask you to postpone this question until the testimony is completed and you can gauge for yourself?

I read this paper to the group and I discovered that I had no real basis in common either philosophically or, most important to me, as a dramatist. I can't make it too weighty a thing to tell you that the most important thing to me in the world is my work, and I was resolved that, if I found that I was in fact a Marxist, I would declare it; and that, if I did not, I would say that I was not.

Miller: Had the play opened when it was supposed to Scherer: There is a question before the witness; namely, to give the names of those individuals who were present at this meeting of Communist writers We do not accept your reasons for refusing to answer the question and it is the opinion of the committee that, if you do not answer the question, you are placing yourself in contempt.

Member Clyde G Doyle: With your recognised ability Why do you not direct your magnificent talents to that, in part? Miller: I understand what you mean. I think it would be a disaster if the Communist Party ever took over this country. That is an opinion that has come to me out of long thought I reflect what my heart tells me from the society around me. There is great uncertainty in this country. Chairman, I ask that you again direct the witness to answer the question.

Walter: He has been directed to answer the question and he gave us the answer that we just do not accept. Miller: All I can say, sir, is that my conscience will not permit me to use the name of another person Miller confers with his lawyer. And that my counsel advises me that there is no relevance between this question and the question of whether I should have a passport or there should be passport legislation in Jackson: I am not satisfied with that.

That is entirely too vague. What I want is a positive statement as to whether or not you will answer that question. The hearing concluded shortly after this, with Miller continuing to refuse to name any names. Skip to main content Skip to footer site map. Miller: I have met him.

Miller: Just what is the point? Miller: I was present at meetings of Communist Party writers in , about 5 or 6 meetings. Arens: Where were those meetings held? Arens: Were those closed party meetings? Arens: Was anyone there who, to your knowledge, was not a Communist?

Arens: Have you ever made application for membership in the Communist Party? Arens: That was an application for membership in the Communist Party, was it not? Miller: I would not say that. I am here to tell you what I know. Arens: Tell us what you know. Arens: Who invited you to attend? It was a long time ago. Arens: Can you tell us who was there when you walked into the room? Arens: These were Communist Party meetings; were they not?

Miller: I understood them to be Communist writers who were meeting regularly. Walter: Of course, you can do that, but I understand this is about the end of the hearing. Arthur Miller explains his position on Communist thought and the relationship of art to politics Mr.

Home Contact. Miller defined the word witch hunt with his play The Crucible released in Image courtesy of eMoviePoster. Share this: Twitter Facebook. Like this: Like Loading Published by krbrianton. Published October 7, October 7, Next Post The Caine Mutiny and the politics of informing.

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