Our Town, written by Thornton Wilder, is a play that can be reflected on many people's experiences. The play focuses on two families and how they relate to the lives of many people. The story follows the process of life, from its beginning to its end. It starts off at the dawn of a new day with birth, symbolizing birth or the beginning of their lives. It continues with development through relationships and marriage. This eventually leads to death, the end of people's lives where it is only then that they realize they should have been more thankful for what they had in life. Furthermore, in Our Town, the three salient elements that reflect the experience of all people are companionship, love, and gratitude.
             Companionship is a very important aspect in life. It is not based on only having friends, but it is based on communication. In Our Town, although the characters are not fully aware of it, they do take time out of their lives to talk to one another. For example, the milkman and the paperboy talk with each other as they deliver their goods. Even though they are not the best of friends, they still talk to one another because it's better to talk to someone than to talk to no one at all. Even an enemy can be considered a companion. They will always be there, even if all you do is argue with them; you're still communicating. Any kind of companion is better than having none at all. Without companionship, it's hard to make a living because you feel so alone. According to Mrs. Gibbs, "'Tain't natural to be lonesome." (Wilder 190). While some people only use companionship as a means of communication, others use it to develop friendships, just like how George Gibbs and Emily Webb did. All it took was a little conversation to get it started. However, companionship can even develop into more than just friendship. It can grow into love, which leads into another important aspect o...