Our Town1
Thornton Wilder's Our Town spans twelve years in the life of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. Throughout this time period the play portrays both routine daily life and major events in the lives of George Gibbs, Emily Webb, and their families. Present throughout is the Stage Manager who gives informal commentary and explanation of the play's characters and events. Although the play begins and ends in Grover's Corners, it ranges far beyond the village boundaries. As specific as the dates, places, and characters are, it is apparent that life in general rather than individual lives is the focus. The characters in the book go about life as if it tr
Wilder once said, "The cause of man's unhappiness is not his failure to achieve or sustain greatness, but his failure to delight in the beauty of ordinary existence. "We don't have time to look at one another. There is no spontaneity or excitement. " Unable to endure her grief, Emily is quite willing to return to the realm of the dead. Others do, but not enough really understand that they shouldn't let life pass them by because who knows, this may be your only shot at it. You should always appreciate life, and most people do not. The scenery that surrounds us is not important, you should live life as full as you possibly can. I see Our Town not as a sad and sentimental play but as a celebration of daily life in the knowledge of death's inevitability. In her brief return to life, Emily realizes that she has let much of it slip past her attention. " In tears she asks the Stage Manager, "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? Every, every minute?" He replies, "No.
Common topics in this essay:
Grover's Corners,
Stage Manager,
Hampshire Throughout,
Wilder's Town,
Emily Webb,
daily life,
unhappiness failure achieve,
unhappiness failure,
failure achieve,
stage manager,
grover's corners,
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Acceptance Essays
