Because it is beautifully written and heart wrenching. A bit cornball in parts, but it also really lets good actors show their stuff.
Yeah, it's depressing, but my life is so damn happy, I need a bit of maudlin gloom to wipe that idiotic smile off my face now and then.
The Dustin Hoffman performance in that play (as televised) was nothing short of brilliant. But that says much more about the actor than the play. I really don't know why more people know about Mark Steyn. He's like the H.L. Mencken of the 21st century.
To people like my 85 year old father (whose father lost everything in the Depression), "Death of a Salesmen" speaks to him like no other play. It is an extremely hard-hitting piece of theatre.
The Crucible will last long after people have forgotten about "McCarthyism." Why? 'Cause it's a crackling good play about a very interesting time in our history.
No sense of humor? Read or see "The Price." Or think back on Miller's talk show appearances when he was always good for a funny anecdote.
One aside, as an essayist he was horrible. Not an original thought in his head, apparently. Sent me scurrying back to Gore Vidal.