It may seem de rigeur today for playwrights to tackle big sociological issues in a direct manner, but when Arthur Miller burst upon the scene, such forays into national self-examination were hardly theatrical comfort food for audiences used to droll comedies and “classic” drama. And yet, Miller’s work succeeded with the public because of his innate ability to make grand theoretical debates deeply personal. “He loved and even ennobled the little guy, with all of — and because of — his flaws. In works tackling the loftiest subjects, he touched nerves so deep, it was as if the plays were customized arrows, aimed at the unique contours of each theatergoer’s heart.”