Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Every high school student in America has probably seen this play or acted in it, since it's a staple in every drama program. Unfortunately, its message is probably lost on a sixteen year old, I know it was lost on me. But something about it has stuck in my head all these years. A book I'm currently reading made reference to Our Town and at the same time it had popped up as part of a storyline in my own writing. I thought I'd better revisit this Pulitzer Prize winner.
Our Town is a play in three acts and tells the story of two families, the Gibbs and the Webbs in Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. We watch George, the doctor's son and Emily, the daughter of the newspaper editor, grow up, fall in love and face the end of life while the townspeople go about their business every day.
Life hasn't changed much over the years. We get out of bed, go to work, hustle the kids out the door to school. The children grow up, get married, and build a life starting a new family. And for all of us it ends the same way, in death, leaving the living behind. We may want to think that our fancy cars, computers and smart phones have changed our lives but if we take the time to look deep into the our core, they have not. Life remains the same with or without modern conveniences.
One of the many lessons of Our Town is that life is precious. We should try to make each and every day the best day of our lives. Maybe we can only learn that through the wisdom that comes with age. Our Town's story may be lost on the young, but I never forgot it. And I bet you haven't either. It's well worth reading again as an adult. Thornton Wilder's play is classic and timeless and even more meaningful when wisdom is on your side.
Every high school student in America has probably seen this play or acted in it, since it's a staple in every drama program. Unfortunately, its message is probably lost on a sixteen year old, I know it was lost on me. But something about it has stuck in my head all these years. A book I'm currently reading made reference to Our Town and at the same time it had popped up as part of a storyline in my own writing. I thought I'd better revisit this Pulitzer Prize winner.
Our Town is a play in three acts and tells the story of two families, the Gibbs and the Webbs in Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. We watch George, the doctor's son and Emily, the daughter of the newspaper editor, grow up, fall in love and face the end of life while the townspeople go about their business every day.
Life hasn't changed much over the years. We get out of bed, go to work, hustle the kids out the door to school. The children grow up, get married, and build a life starting a new family. And for all of us it ends the same way, in death, leaving the living behind. We may want to think that our fancy cars, computers and smart phones have changed our lives but if we take the time to look deep into the our core, they have not. Life remains the same with or without modern conveniences.
One of the many lessons of Our Town is that life is precious. We should try to make each and every day the best day of our lives. Maybe we can only learn that through the wisdom that comes with age. Our Town's story may be lost on the young, but I never forgot it. And I bet you haven't either. It's well worth reading again as an adult. Thornton Wilder's play is classic and timeless and even more meaningful when wisdom is on your side.
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