The Skin of Our Teeth: Themes & Style
The Skin of Our Teeth: Themes & Style |
"The Skin of Our Teeth stands head and shoulders above the monotonous plane of our moribund theatre--an original, gay-hearted play that is now and again profoundly moving, as a genuine comedy should be" (Northeastern Illinois University). This was what Brooke Atkinson wrote in New York Times upon the agreement of most reviewers that Thorton Wilder had produced a work that would revitalize American theatre.
Disrupting traditional notions of linear time, Wilder's play The Skin of Our Teeth (1942) tells the story of the twentieth-century American Antrobus family in three acts. These acts record events such as the very beginning of the Ice Age, the start of Great Flood, and the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Yet, the characters dress and act like twentieth-century Americans. Ending exactly as it began, the play illustrates the cyclical nature of existence, celebrating humanity's resilience, inventiveness, and will to survive. The message of the play is not a new one. It mentions the cyclic nature of human existence. Yet, the quality of the play which makes it one of the most extraordinary plays is its untraditional form. Rejecting the conventions of naturalistic drama, the play provides its audience with an entertaining journey. The characters appear to be middleclass Americans and allegorical figures, and they also drop out of character and speak directly to the audience. As was experienced in Wilder’s earlier play Our Town (1938), this technique breaks theatrical illusion and reminds the viewers that they are watching a play. Along with Our Town, The Skin of Our Teeth is considered Wilder's theatrical masterpiece and an invaluable cornerstone of modern American drama. A. THEMES
Cycle of History:
The Skin of Our Teeth emphasizes the repetitive nature of human history. Having experienced disasters in the past, The Antrobus family overcome more disasters during the play, and are ready to face further struggles at the end of the
"The Skin of Our Teeth stands head and shoulders above the monotonous plane of our moribund theatre--an original, gay-hearted play that is now and again profoundly moving, as a genuine comedy should be" (Northeastern Illinois University). This was what Brooke Atkinson wrote in New York Times upon the agreement of most reviewers that Thorton Wilder had produced a work that would revitalize American theatre.
Disrupting traditional notions of linear time, Wilder's play The Skin of Our Teeth (1942) tells the story of the twentieth-century American Antrobus family in three acts. These acts record events such as the very beginning of the Ice Age, the start of Great Flood, and the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Yet, the characters dress and act like twentieth-century Americans. Ending exactly as it began, the play illustrates the cyclical nature of existence, celebrating humanity's resilience, inventiveness, and will to survive. The message of the play is not a new one. It mentions the cyclic nature of human existence. Yet, the quality of the play which makes it one of the most extraordinary plays is its untraditional form. Rejecting the conventions of naturalistic drama, the play provides its audience with an entertaining journey. The characters appear to be middleclass Americans and allegorical figures, and they also drop out of character and speak directly to the audience. As was experienced in Wilder’s earlier play Our Town (1938), this technique breaks theatrical illusion and reminds the viewers that they are watching a play. Along with Our Town, The Skin of Our Teeth is considered Wilder's theatrical masterpiece and an invaluable cornerstone of modern American drama. A. THEMES
Cycle of History:
The Skin of Our Teeth emphasizes the repetitive nature of human history. Having experienced disasters in the past, The Antrobus family overcome more disasters during the play, and are ready to face further struggles at the end of the
Cited: Cuddon, J.A. Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. London: Penguin, 1999. Harper Collins Publishers. Herpercollins.com. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. <http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060088934>. Lombardi, Esther. The Skin of Our Teeth. Classic Literature. 26 Mar. 2011. <http://classiclit.about.com/cs/productreviews/fr/aafpr_skinoftee.htm>. Northeastern Illinois University. Neiu.edu. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. <http://www.neiu.edu/~stagectr/SkinOf/SkinOf.html> Wilder, Thorton. The Skin of Our Teeth. New York: Penguin, 1982.