Arthur Miller, Daniel Miller, and Denial
August 17, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Charlie looking over at me as he sat eating watermelon and a hamburger at the table this evening, his eyes big, his face happy and all of him deeply tanned from ocean swimming and time on the beach: It’s the kind of moment that you hope you can always remember, Charlie enjoying the things he likes (and that I know he likes) and revelling in his latest new endeavor, surfing.
When I see him sitting there at the table of the beach house, when I think of all the time traveling we have spent together, it is impossible for me to imagine life without Charlie. And yet I can imagine it, knowing that, in a previous generation, a child like Charlie would have been institutionalized. Like Jim’s first cousin, JP. Like Daniel Miller, the son of playwright Arthur Miller.
A feature article in the September 2007 Vanity Fair details Daniel Miller’s life and asks, again and again, how could his famous father—considered “‘the moralist of the past American century’”—have not only placed his infant son in a state institution in Connecticut, but never have visited him? Arthur Miller did not mention Daniel in Timebends, his autobiography, and did not include mention of Daniel in the New York Times obituary for Daniel’s mother, Inge Morath (”Ms. Morath married Mr. Miller in 1962, and they had one child, Rebecca, who lives in Manhattan.”)
Sure, the author of Death of a Salesman and The Crucible lost much in never knowing his own son. But I for one cannot read those plays, or another of Miller’s work, in the same light knowing about his treatment—his denial—of his disabled son.
The obituaries for singer Beverly Sills mention that her son had a developmental disability, and who was not institutionalized. I think it is easier today, with better awareness and acceptence. Remember, in those days you didn’t question the men in white coats.
I could not agree with you more, Kristina. it’s disgusting to think of this effort to erase his son’s life. And don’t anybody tell me that it was a different time, etc.
I agree with Ralph, Mr Miller is disgusting. He has proven himself as less than human in any age.
Wow, just wow.
In the developmental disabilities community, Daniel Miller’s story has not been unknown—-here is an article on Ragged Edge, a disabilities publication.
I find it odd that anyone would put details like that (Beverly Sills) in an obituary. I would hope that my children would be acknowledged as my children, and not as their neurological conditions or anything else.
I could see it now…
Mommy~dearest-OCD mother to two beautiful children, Jaysen-ASD and Rylan-NT…
This is such a beautiful post. You give birth to a child out of your love and if he doesnt score Grade 1, you choose to be his dad and if he cannot you decide not to be his dad. This is so inhuman. If there is something wrong with your child, it just means they need you more.
The reporting about Sills’ child was spotty and varied. Some used a context that portrayed Sills’ as a sacrificing mother who performed/worked less because of her child, some reports showed her as heroic. I do think her child was institutionalized after some point.
Wow, what a story.
I believe that the way Miller treated his son pretty much negates any good thing he ever did.
I echo the “wows.” I had no idea. I went to college with Rebecca Miller and even then there was no discussion of this. Thank you for posting.
My husband Jim Fisher has a few more things to say here regarding Miller’s intellectual dishonesty.
Conservative commentator George Will has a son, Jon, born with Down’s Syndrome in 1972, and wrote a moving piece last January about his son:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16720750/site/newsweek/
Just one more reason to be skeptical of celebrated public “moralists”. It is particularly ironic that Miller, who built his career with sneering attacks on middle American materialism, would try to make up for his cold treatment of his son at the last possible moment by leaving him millions in his will.
Let he or she who is without sin and so on cast the first stone. How do any of these people know what was in Arthur Miller’s–and his wife’s– minds when they made their decision? I haven’t read The Vanity Fair article’ but his late decision to make Daniel a co-equal heir, suggests to me a level of regret, perhaps even tortured conscience, over the initial decision. Let the man rest in peace.
I was shocked when I just saw this in the Arts & Letters Daily too. I’ve never been the biggest fan of Arthur Miller’s work, but recognize that many people are fans and that the plays are well crafted. Abandoning a child–especially with all the resources that Miller could have offered Daniel–is horrendous. But the story begs the question of whether it’s possible to still respect Miller’s work but not his personal choice.
Well, Jim, perhaps you should read the article to understand just what people are reacting to. The article discusses the historical context surrounding the decision to institutionalize a disabled baby. Not only that but that the mother, Inge, wanted to keep the baby despite his condition. Arthur Miller placed his child in a substandard institution when circumstances could have prevented such an act. One former employee of the place stated she wouldn’t send a dog there.
Again, read the article before “casting” your own “stones”.
I wouldn’t go so far as to trash his works in light of this news. It seems as if he punished himself, needlessly as it were. I mean, he could have faced facts at any point and admitted he had this son. The sources seem to claim that he really shut down over it. (hmm, emotional detachment, stubbornness, unable to transition? remind you of anyone?)
I do think it’s a good reminder of the evils of placing celebrities on pedestals.
What I do think is necessary is a re-evaluation of Miller’s work in light of Daniel Miller and disability, especially in regard to the issues of dishonesty and denial.
I feel this was sad of Arthur to do this to his son. I wanted to know is his son stil alive? and still institutionlize?
If so this is very sad and God punishes those who do the wrong things to their kids very sad indeed.
I’m a single mother raising three small children.My son Gabrile has Autism(he just turned eight years bold). He is the light of my life.He is so kind,very smart in so many ways and he teaches ME what life is all about.
Unfortunately his father never sees him(hasn’t done so years now) as well as his brother and sister.
I feel he is the “looser” here not my son and our family.