Our Town violates most of the traditions of the theater. There are no complex characters who lend themselves to psychological analysis. The setting is the barest minimum. There is virtually no plot; consequently no suspense, expectation, or anticipation. Why, then, is the play so popular? Wilder gives some clue in his evaluation: "The response we make when we 'believe' a work of the imagination is that of saying: "This is the way things are. I have always known it without being fully aware that I knew it. Now in the presence of this play or novel or poem [or picture or piece of music] I know that I know it '" Thus, by his selectivity, by his ability to universalize scenes, and by his basic humanism, Wilder offers something with which the viewer can identify. Many critics believe the play remains popular because of these humanistic ideas — particularly, Wilder's plea for the appreciation of the moment. His basic theme emerges from the structuring of the three acts, which interweave the stages of life. As the playwright once wrote: "The central theme of the play . is the relation between the countless unimportant details of our daily life, on the one hand, and the great perspective of time, social history and current religious ideas " Consequently, one of Wilder's purposes is to present events of temporary importance against the perspective of eternity.
Act I dwells on the commonplace. It emphasizes dawn, birth, and the beginning of a young love that will develop into marriage in the second act. All of the scenes in Act I depict some trivial, predictable activity. Later, the full significance of these minor details becomes clear. As Wilder points out, most people live the first act of their lives without relishing the pricelessness of inconsequential encounters, such as greeting townspeople, getting an education, or eating breakfast with family members. Act II presents the second cycle of daily life in a town. People grow up and marry. Thus, love and marriage, a natural phenomenon which perpetuates the human race, dominate the second act. Wilder depicts the cycle by having two young citizens of Grover's Corners spontaneously disclose their love for each other. Their wedding follows. Symbolically, Wilder causes this single example — the union of Mr. and Mrs. George Gibbs — to represent all of humanity. In this fashion, he celebrates love and the simple verities that pertain to the bonding between man and woman.
