Essay on Our Town. The Analysis of Relationships Between People

In the play Our Town, Wilder explores the development of relationships. As the story encompasses the human experience, the characters are perplexing, but it is clear that the foundation of the developing relationship between George and Emily is being established. In the story Wilder explores the idea of relationship evolving from its infancy to eventual death. “ This is the way we were: in our growing up and in our marrying and in our living and in our dying” (Wilder, 85). 

Relationships are an important aspect of life. Wilder explores the importance of having  a substantial relationship with someone you want to spend the rest of your life with.  Before, George and Emily are able to explore a relationship together they are provided with a caring family foundation to build future relationships. “ the accumulation of loving, nurturing family environments really has an impact over a long period” (Schultz, Line 5). Some people advance relationships for communication, others strengthen relationships to develop friendships. Most people don’t want to be alone, “Tain’t natural to be lonesome”(Wilder, 190).  Relationships can at times develop into more than friendships, it can grow into love, which leads us to another important aspect.

In today’s world we will do anything for our partner and will protect and love them.  It is over time that the strength of this type bond is built.  It takes time to nurture relationships and be accepting of criticism to become a better person, but it takes courage to give insight into faults of someone you care for.  Emily and George’s relationship goes through this very progression. During one scene, Emily remarks that a change has come over George  since his election as class president and becoming a local baseball star. Emily exposes his behavior and calls him on it, in which George’s response was “ I’m glad you said it, Emily. I never thought that such a thing was happening to me. I guess it’s hard for a fella not to have faults creep into his character” (Wilder, 203). Emily and George’s relationship is flourishing  because she can see the flaws in his character, while George is accepting of the criticism.

The relationship evolves to eventual marriage.  George is comfortable with his life decision to take over his Uncles farm.  He chose to bypass  agriculture school in favor of marriage. “Since marriage is a partnership, I’d like know who I am and what I’m able to offer” (Rabin line 41).  Wilder doesn’t dive into the life after the marriage, but leaves it to the reader’s imagination. “ a lot can happen during a life-career changes, marriages,divorce, births, deaths, not to mention all the small stuff in between” (Caruso line 1). The relationship is still evolving until the death of Emily during child-birth.

Our Town explores developing relationships during life and the progression through the two main characters of the story.   “It’s like what one of those Middle West poets said: You’ve got to love life to have life, and you’ve got to have life to love life…It’s what they call a vicious circle (Wilder,II.26 ******).  Though the play could come across as tragic it also could be thought as a romance. One thing is for certain is the play encompasses the building of relationships and the witness to one’s life.