Our Town eschews pretense for the genuine: In Wilder's world, a reader does not have to read between the lines or translate overblown speech to engage with the text or the experiences. In addition, by focusing on the traditional values and concerns of a community, Wilder creates a story with universal appeal. The town is "our" town, belonging to all.
The play is set before the Depression, between 1899 and 1913, and reflects America's industrial progress. Industrialization marked the decay of small town life as townsfolk whose families had always settled in one place moved to the big city to seek their fortunes. References to the "first automobile," Henry Ford's Model T, as well as to various metropolitan areas such as New York City and Paris, predict a growing desire for mobility and the rural-to-urban exodus. In a way, the play demonstrates the need to appreciate permanent roots and a close-knit community, particularly in the face of certain decline and transience.
Wilder has often been taken to task for ignoring controversial aspects such as racism, suicide, and alcohol abuse in Grover's Corners. The town is a white-washed portrait of America: the fantasy America where everyone aspires to live.
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