My Critical Article's Art Piece: Our Town

Ash Grossman

Prof. Batten

ENG 112

2 May 2023

My Critical Article’s Art Piece For my Writing in the Humanities project, I chose a critical article based on the play “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder. This article allowed the audience to see a fascinating perspective on a familiar archetype seen in literature and how it is represented in this play. I chose “Our Town” as the basis of my project because it is a story that has stuck with me after I read it for the first time a couple of years ago. The part that particularly stuck with me, however, was Act III. I felt the perspective of the dead, in general, and specifically Emily Webb, was different and interesting, especially considering when this play was written. I feel fortunate to have found this

Throughout the story, there are natural aspects highlighting fertility, growth onto maturity, and the nurturing support that provides the ability to grow and prosper. “In Our Town, where life is epitomized in its ritualistic scenes, Wilder presents to us a world of the archetypal feminine represented by images of rain, milk, and garden as well as by the community's role as nurturer.” (Shen, 2007). The cycle of the moon, commonly associated with femininity and specifically fertility, is what impacts all of these factors and allows the community to thrive. There is also a spiritual role the moon plays in connecting people that are highlighted in this story. The town's connection to the moon’s cycle and each other allows Grover’s Corners to live and

For example, the borders of my work are lined with heliotrope, a particular flower that was mentioned time and time again in “Our Town”. “Now, Frank, don't be grouchy. Come out and smell the heliotrope in the moonlight.” (Mrs. Gibbs, Wilder, 1938). I also included Emily Webb’s grave; I felt it was important to acknowledge the main character as she played a significant role in the story and represented femininity. I also included the town since that is a big part of the focus of the critical article I chose and the actual story. While thinking of how to incorporate the moon, I decided to make it a starry night scene in the town. I tried to make every small detail related to the story in some