Name the authors of these dramatic works: a. The Crucible and Death of a Salesman b. Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth

The acclaimed American playwright Arthur Miller is indeed the author behind the powerful dramas The Crucible and Death of a Salesman. Miller, who lived from 1915 to 2005, is considered one of the most significant figures in 20th-century American theater. His work often explored the struggles of the common man and critiqued societal pressures. Death of a Salesman, a poignant examination of the American Dream, earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1949. The Crucible, written in 1953, is a chilling allegory of the McCarthy-era witch hunts, set against the backdrop of the Salem witch trials. Miller's personal life was also notable, including his marriage to actress Marilyn Monroe.

Another titan of American literature, Thornton Wilder, penned the beloved plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth. Wilder, who lived from 1897 to 1975, holds the unique distinction of being the only writer to win Pulitzer Prizes for both drama and fiction. Our Town, a timeless exploration of life, love, and death in a small New England town, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1938. Four years later, he received another Pulitzer for The Skin of Our Teeth, a highly inventive and allegorical work that traces the endurance of humanity through various cataclysms. Wilder's innovative use of a minimalistic set and a "Stage Manager" character in Our Town revolutionized theatrical conventions, inviting audiences to focus on universal human experiences rather than elaborate staging. His diverse background, including time spent living in China during his youth, undoubtedly influenced his broad perspective as a writer.