Characters
he loves baseball and dreams of being a farmer
George
provides narration and commentary for the play
Stage Manager
Title of Act 1 is called:
Daily Life
Title of Act 2 is called:
Love and Marriage
Title of Act 3 is called
Death
is Mr. Webb’s daughter; lives next door to George
Emily
he’s the Grover’s Corners paperboy or “newsie”
Joe Crowell
In the first act, George’s father is returning from delivering
What types of images does Wilder have the Stage Manager use in his opening speech?
Wilder has the Stage Manager open Act II with images of nature and time passing such as sun, moon, summers, winters, babies being born, and the aging process.
What happens when George approaches Emily’s grave?
When George falls at Emily’s grave, probably crying, the dead scold him for his behavior.
George’s father and the town’s physician
Dr. Gibbs
delivers the milk and dairy products in Grover’s Corners
Howie Newsome
George and Emily’s homework in Act one involves
math word problems
What do the Stage Manager’s flashbacks allow the audience to see?
They see the relationship of George and Emily developing over time.
When Emily decides to go back “into living,” what do the dead advise, and why?
They tell her that even though it’s possible, she should not go back because “it’s not what you think it’d be,” that watching things while knowing the future isn’t easy or comfortable. Mrs. Gibbs tells her to “at least choose an unimportant day.”
she is one of the dead, and Emily’s mother-in-law
Mrs. Gibbs
she’s a member of the choir and one of the wedding guests
Mrs. Soames
Simon Stimson’s “deep dark secret” that everyone knew was
alcoholism
What is the point of Mrs. Soames’ comments to the audience during the wedding?
She is almost “comic relief” during this profoundly serious scene, and she allows the audience to focus on the concept of the couple’s future happiness rather than the ceremony itself.
What is Emily’s meaning when she says, “live people don’t understand, do they?”
Emily understands that the living do not value life as they should. They don’t understand the transience of existence or the quickness with which life can be taken from them.
he is the editor of the Grover’s Corners Sentinel
Mr. Webb
the choir director
Simon Stimson
In Act one, Dr. Gibbs has a conversation with George about his neglect of his chores. What is admirable about the way Dr. Gibbs handles the situation and how does George respond?
Dr. Gibbs is never angry with George, and he doesn’t approach the issue in a way that would make George defensive or rebellious; he says he knew that George would take care of the situation if he brought it to his attention. George doesn’t become defensive but realizes his neglect and cries.
In Act 2, Wilder reveals George and Emily’s courtship. What aspects of their courtship would be considered “old-fashioned”? Why would audiences today still appreciate their courtship?
Emily and George’s courtship is quite different from today’s concept of “dating” and would be considered “old-fashioned” by today’s standards
Why did Thornton Wilder make his play so BORING?
to show that our every day lives might not be exciting or special, but we should cherish and appreciate our time on Earth with the people we have.