The Meaning Of Life In Thornton Wilder's Our Town

The 1989 filmed version of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” did not differ from the storyline of the play very much, however there were a few differences in how the two felt overall. Much of this change in the spirit of the play had to do with how the actors played

The movie Our Town was a 1938 American three-act play directed by Thornton Wilder. The movie tells the story about a fictional American town known as Grover’s Corners between 1901 and 1913. Throughout the mover, the director uses meta-theatrical tools to set the play in the theatres where such play was being conducted. The main character in this film is the stage manager who addresses the audience directly. The stage manager also brings in guest lecturers into the play by fielding questions from the viewers as well as filling some of the roles (TheConnection np). The major differences between this play and others are that the actors perform without a proper set and the acting is done without props.

Thornton Wilder, a Wisconsin native, is the writer of the Pulitzer Prize winner play Our Town. In Our Town, Wilder tells the story of a town in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, and the daily lives of the inhabitants. In the play, the author uses minimal props and scenery as well as including a main character known as the Stage Manager that has the ability to break the fourth wall, allowing him to talk to the audience. This factor of talking to the audience is a major component of making the public a part of the town. Throughout the play, there are many instances in which the Stage Manager uses various cues as well as dialogues to incorporate the audience and develop an intimate relationship to create a true sense of “our town”.

In Our Town, there are many themes that are present in the play. There are many instances where the reader or audience can say that while writing the play that Thornton Wilder had in mind that the play was going to support the feminist movement, or the how the play can be used to show how ridiculous the marxist theory is, or it can also say that Wilder intended Our Town to be used to support the mythological theory, both the archetypal characters, in the town drunk, Simon Stimson, and George and Emily, and archetypal images, such as his references Mrs. Webb’s and Mrs. Gibbs’ gardens, and how he continued to reference how the moon looks and its position throughout the play. Thornton Wilder can be said to support the feminist movement because

Have you ever thought that even the littlest things in life can make the biggest difference? One of the themes of Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town is people never fully appreciate the wonders of daily life. People take everything for granted and don’t really realize how the little things in life actually make a huge impact on your life. Wilder shows examples of the little things in life many times in each of the acts throughout the play. Our Town is about a young couple who falls in love and ends up spending their life together. The young couple overlooks the small but important things in life. Throughout Our Town, Wilder informs us about how all people don’t appreciate the little things in life that actually make a huge difference.

4. The title of the play Our Town is not just speaking of the small town in the book, but all other towns as well. Its families and events are universal, and can relate to anyone. For example, in the very beginning of the play the Stage Manager introduces the play and its setting. He states, “This play is called ‘Our Town.’ It was written by Thornton Wilder … The name of the town is Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire … Here’s the grocery store and here’s Mr. Morgan’s drugstore … Public School’s over yonder. High School’s still father over. Quarter of nine mornings, noontimes, and three o’clock afternoons, the hull town can hear the yelling and screaming from those schoolyards … Nice town, y’know what I mean?” By describing the different places and people of the town the book makes the town relatable to the

Nothing to say, nothing to do, and nothing to see but people. In this imagery, one notices the description of a small town. One can generalize that those townspeople receive only themselves for entertainment, comfort, or practically anything. Thornton Wilder captures exactly the idea of townspeople in his play Our Town, where he examines three pillars to the lives of a 1900s town, Grover’s Corners, in three acts. First act, he observes the daily life of citizens, with all their familiarity and pleasantries to one another. Second, Wilder captures the pillar of love and marriage with two high-school lovers. Third and last, life’s fragility, timeliness, and flaws from the view of ghosts at a funeral provides interesting takes on the nature of

The Stage Manager maintains a somber tone throughout the play that deeply contrasts with the joy perpetually exuded by the other characters. Wilder emphasizes this contrast particularly during the wedding, in which the Stage Manager offsets the “radiant” atmosphere and digresses: “The cottage, the go-cart, the Sunday-afternoon drives in the Ford, The first rheumatism, the grandchildren, the second rheumatism, the deathbed, the reading of the will.” In this passage the Stage Manager describes life as a list of events, thereby expressing his apathy for it. Wilder, therefore, conveys the consequences of recognizing life’s finality. The finality of existence consumes the Stage Manager and causes him to disengage from his surroundings which prevents him from seeing the meaning and importance in a particular moment. His aversion to life is evident when he states, “Once in a thousand times it's interesting.” The Stage Manager merely views life as transient, and despite having the capacity to appreciate it, he is unable to because he only sees value in things that have longevity. Hence, why he is so adamant about putting a copy of the play in the time capsule he mentions because it will be preserved and “the people a thousand years from now’ll know a few simple facts about

Our Town is play written a while ago, but it relates to any time. Showing that routine is a part of everybody’s life. No matter what day and age you live in your going to have a routine. This play shows an example of two families and their daily routines. The whole play relates to routine even the different acts.

Thornton Wilder's Our Town showed us that we should embrace all the little moments in life, no matter how insignificant it may seem at the time. Our small, everyday lives are part of the bigger universe. We often overlook our daily routine and take it for granted. However, our existence here on earth leaves a mark on those around us. They are important to us and the people around us.

Man-made and natural disasters will always repeat themselves differently and the human race has the power to take over it or be taken over by it. This play explores themes of drive and flexibility, as well as the failings of our species. Another theme I believe is for this play is Illusion vs. Reality. Trying to create a "real" world on the stage is what traditional realistic plays do. They encourage the audience to forget that they are watching actors play roles in a fictional play. Wilder continuously interrupts this sort of theatrical illusion to remind the audience that they are watching a performance.

Our Town is a play that takes place near the turn of the century in the small rural town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. The playwright, Thornton Wilder is trying to convey the importance of the little, often unnoticed things in life. Throughout the first two acts he builds a scenario, which allows the third act to show that we as humans often run through life oblivious to what is actually happening. Wilder attempts to show life as something that we take for granted. We do not realize the true value of living until we are dead and gone. The through-line of the action seems to be attention to the details of life. Wilder builds up a plot that pays attention to great details of living.

Emily was kept confined from all that surrounded her. Her father had given the town folks a large amount of money which caused Emily and her father to feel superior to others. “Grierson’s held themselves a little too high for what they really were” (Faulkner). Emily’s attitude had developed as a stuck-up and stubborn girl and her father was to blame for this attitude. Emily was a normal

Despite the small size of Pleasantville, lovers have a fantastic lake known as Lover’s Lane to express their feelings toward others. Simply, they are gathering around the lake riding romantic convertible cars; sharing emotions. This is the only place contributes in refresh relations between the two lovers. Bud leaves positive impact on the lake as well. It seems to me he makes others love it more than before. His message is to follow the meaning of life by running into the facts and truth. He tries to let them enjoy each moment in life. Consequently, He finds the lake an appropriate opportunity to spread his meaning of life. In the meantime, Bud goes back home through the television after he farewell his mothers and girlfriend in the show at

Our Town is a play written by Thornton Wilder set in a small town known as Grover’s Corners. Wilder conjured the Stage Manager to be a representation to the theme of the play. The theme of universality placing Grover’s Corners in view with the rest of the world. Wilder makes a point to the audience that people have a big impact and influence over the next person, whether they were important or insignificant to that individual’s life. Therefore, the Stage Manager emphasizes on this very viewpoint that the lives of certain people are overlooked so are their influences. The Stage Manager himself is a physical embodiment of Wilders own views and opinions of humans and life itself. Throughout the play, the Stage Manager plays various of roles in order to force the realization to the audience into understanding the importance human life and the influence of others.