Our Town is an answer to the question: what is the "value above all price" for the smallest events in our daily life? Now that you have read the entire play, write a paragraph (at least 150 words long) about exactly what that value is. Include specific quotes from the play as support for your answer.
In Thornton Wilder's play, Our Town, the playwright seeks to emphasize the value above all price for the smallest events in our daily life. He contends that it is the awareness of and appreciation for the present moment that holds the utmost significance. This concept is exemplified through the character of Emily, who in the third act realizes the preciousness of life only after her death. Reflecting on the essence of existence, Emily poignantly exclaims, "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it—every, every minute?" (Wilder, Act III). This implies that people often overlook the value of even the most mundane moments in life, taking them for granted. Wilder suggests that it is in these seemingly insignificant moments, such as sharing a meal with loved ones or witnessing a sunrise, that true happiness and fulfillment can be found.
Furthermore, Wilder employs the character of the Stage Manager to convey the importance of appreciating the present. The Stage Manager serves as a guide throughout the play, constantly reminding the audience to cherish the little things in life. He states, "Choose the least important day in your life. It will be important enough" (Wilder, Act I). This notion emphasizes the value inherent in even the most ordinary days, urging individuals to embrace and cherish every moment.
Ultimately, Wilder's Our Town underscores the significance of valuing the smallest events in our daily lives. Through the character of Emily and the guidance of the Stage Manager, the play encourages audiences to recognize the ephemeral nature of existence and to savor every moment, no matter how seemingly insignificant.
In Thornton Wilder's play "Our Town," the "value above all price" for the smallest events in our daily lives is the appreciation and recognition of the preciousness of ordinary moments. The play highlights the significance of seemingly mundane experiences and encapsulates the fleeting nature of life. One of the key quotes in the play that attests to this value is when the Stage Manager says, "We all know that something is eternal. And it ain't houses and it ain't names, and it ain't earth, and it ain't even the stars... everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal, and that something has to do with human beings." This quote serves as a reminder that human connections and genuine interactions are what truly matter in life.
Throughout the play, Wilder emphasizes the importance of cherishing small moments and finding joy in the ordinary. He beautifully portrays this through the character of Emily Webb, who, after her death, realizes the value of life's simple joys. She exclaims, "Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you." This profound realization serves as a powerful testament to the value of ordinary existence and the profundity of the smallest events. Furthermore, Wilder's inclusion of daily routines in the play, such as Mrs. Gibbs preparing breakfast and George and Emily's courtship, is another reflection of the play's central message. These seemingly trivial actions are presented as significant and worthy of appreciation.
In conclusion, "Our Town" illuminates the value above all price in the smallest events of our daily lives. Through its portrayal of ordinary moments and profound revelations, the play conveys the essentiality of treasuring the present and recognizing the beauty in the seemingly insignificant. As the Stage Manager advises, "Take a moment to sit back and rejoice, for this room, full of your friends, is one of the nicest places you'll ever know." It is in these modest moments that we discover the true essence and significance of life.
To understand the "value above all price" for the smallest events in our daily life, we can delve into Thornton Wilder's play, Our Town. The play highlights the significance of living in the present, cherishing simple moments, and fully appreciating the beauty of ordinary life. Throughout the play, Wilder emphasizes the value of human connections, the fleeting nature of time, and the delicate balance between the joys and sorrows of existence.
One of the primary themes of Our Town is the appreciation of small, everyday moments. The character of Emily Webb, in the third act, reflects on the brevity and preciousness of life, stating, "Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you." This quote highlights the play's message in emphasizing the importance of consciously experiencing the beauty of the world around us. Wilder encourages us to see the miracles in the mundane, such as the act of sharing breakfast with loved ones or witnessing a sunrise.
Our Town also underscores the significance of human connections and community. In Act I, Mrs. Gibbs shares a sentiment that echoes throughout the play, stating, "Oh, you've got to love life to have life, and you've got to have life to love life." This emphasizes that meaningful relationships and shared experiences are essential for a fulfilling existence. The play suggests that the smallest events in our daily life, like chatting with neighbors or coming together for a meal, hold immense value and contribute to our sense of belonging and purpose.
Moreover, Wilder's play explores the transience of time and the need to live in the present moment. In Act II, the Stage Manager remarks, "This is the way we were in our growing up and in our marrying and in our living and in our dying." This observation underscores the fleeting nature of life, urging us to appreciate each passing moment rather than dwelling on what has already happened or fretting about the future.
In conclusion, the value above all price for the smallest events in our daily life, as depicted in Our Town, is the appreciation of the present moment, the recognition of the inherent beauty in ordinary experiences, and the cultivation of meaningful human connections. Thornton Wilder's play reminds us to treasure the simple joys, embrace the ephemerality of existence, and find solace and fulfillment through everyday encounters and experiences.