Our Town Visions of America

Despite the universal themes of Our Town, its setting in Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire does anchor it in a very particular slice of America. More specifically, as Our Town takes place in small-town, turn-of-the-century America, it offers us a very particular vision of American life: you take your date to a soda shop, milk is delivered fresh every morning, fathers dispense allowances, and mothers take care of the household. Drinking is limited to town drunks, and sex before marriage is a huge no-no.

Questions About Visions of America

1. What is the daily routine for the town? Is everything predictable? What isn’t?
2. To what extent does the size of Grover’s Corners impact the story being told?

Chew on This

The town of Grover’s Corners is a character in Our Town whose development mirrors the development of Emily and George.