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 …

…s unhappiness is not his failure to achieve or sustain greatness, but his failure to delight in the beauty of ordinary existence.” I think he means that the cause of people’s unhappiness is not the failure to achieve good things, but the failure to appreciate the beauty and value of daily life, no matter how plain or ordinary. I believe this is the understanding that he wanted readers to have after reading his play.