Tolog Review: Our Town

Our Town
by Thornton Wilder
reviewed by Emilie Nunn

In Thornton Wilder’s renown three-act drama Our Town, Wilder takes the simplicity of the daily life of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, and illustrates the complexity of it. Set in the early 1900s, he opens the book in the morning of an ordinary day with the milkman delivering milk, making common conversation. As the first act continues, readers are given an intimation of who, essentially, the play centers around. The moment Wilder introduces main characters, Emily Webb and George Gibbs, Wilder shows the possibility of their romantic affection as young George gives interest to Emily and his future. As the story unfolds, Wilder expresses the true characteristics of the two main characters and their relationship. Emily Webb, portrayed as an independent, intelligent young woman, who always speaks her peace, finds herself falling in love with George Gibbs. Moreover, innocent, aspiring farmer, George Gibbs, reflects Emily’s emotions and falls in love as well. Another main character in the story, the Stage Manager, possesses omniscience, serves as the narrator of the play, and even takes the role of some characters and interacts with them.

In Our Town, Wilder possesses an artful, simplistic way of writing that helps the reader understand the plot and theme. He structures the book by dividing it into three sections each with individual topics. The first act was called the Daily Life, the following Love and Marriage. After introducing the names of the acts, the Stage Manager mentions the third act saying, “I reckon you can guess what that’s about.” (Wilder 48). Wilder focuses on key aspects of their lives, skipping a few years in between acts. He expresses the theme of transience of life through this because as most people, he skips seemingly unimportant days of the character’s lives. When recounting a memory, Emily contributes to this theme by rhetorically asking, “they don’t understand, do they?” (111), referencing characters forgetting to live in the moment and to cherish life since it only lasts so long. Wilder writes about daily life and ordinary days, but in reality, each day has its own significance and importance that many forget. Moreover, Wilder keeps a playful, yet knowledgeable, writing technique by incorporating the Stage Manager. The all-knowing character, the Stage Manager, maintains a witty attitude throughout the play, making it amusing for the audience. The Stage Manager keeps the audience engaged and informed by giving information on the current situation and making witty remarks. Constantly, he interacts with the audience making the play more personal to the reader. He’ll ask what the audience thinks about certain interactions and calls them “crazy” (63). This character is pertinent to the story and makes it quite enjoyable to read whilst keeping readers on the edge of their seats.