Characters’ Perception on time portrayed in Thornton Wilder’s our town

ABSTRACT

The typical appearance of a script with its stage directions, characters parts, and divisions into acts and scenes, identify drama as a unique form of literature. A play is written to be performed in front of audience by actors who take on the roles of the characters and who present the story through dialogue and action.

The present study aims at analyzing two problems in Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, (1) the characters’ perception on time described in the play, and (2) the characters’ priority in their life time. In the first problems, the researcher focuses to find out and describe the characters’ perception on time described in the play. The second, researcher continues to find and explain the characters’ priority in their life time.

To investigate these questions, the researcher uses Semiotic literary criticism presented by Ferdinand de Saussure. Simply, semiotic is study of sign. Saussure described the sign as a binary structure, a structure that is made up of two parts: (1) a physical part, which he named the signifier, and (2) a conceptual part, which he called the signified. Method analysis usage is heuristic and hermeneutic reading presented by Michael Riffaterre. Heuristic is method of reading based on grammatical rule resulting in “first order semiotic” (denotation meaning). Hermeneutic is method of rereading based on the conventions of literary work resulting “second order semiotic” (connotation meaning).

Based on the analysis, the researcher finds out that all characters perceive the time as important thing. Therefore they make priority on something special such as profession and family. The finding is based on several signs found in the drama, (1) Stage Manager who uses watch to organize time in the play and keep reminding character that the time is limited, (2) Dr. Gibbs who does not want to sleep because his patient is coming, (3) Joe Crowell and Si Crowell who should be punctual to deliver the papers, (4) Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Webb who bring up two children, cook three meals a day, wash, and clean the house for years without having summer vacation, and (5) George, Emily, Wally Webb who get achievement in the class Another signs are (1) Howie Newsome who appreciates the valuable time by being punctual in delivering milk, (2) Mr. Webb who spends the time being an editor and social and political expert, (3) Prof. Willard who realizes that time given by Stage Manager to present history of the town is essential, (4) Rebecca who thinks that saving money could be a safety for her in an unexpected time, (5) Mrs. Soames who does not want to let the time pass by without happiness, (6) Simon who colorizes every single time with pleasure through music, (7) Sam who does not want to miss his last time with Emily, and (8) Joe Stoddard who has been being an undertaker for long time.

The next finding is the characters’ priority the on profession and family. The characters who prioritize on profession are (1) Stage Manager, (2) Doctor Gibbs, (3) students; Joe Crowell, Emily Webb, Wally Webb, and George, (4) paperboy, Si Crowell, (5) milkman, Howie Newsome, (6) police officer, Constable Warren, (7) editor, Mr. Webb, (8) choir director, Simon Stimson, (9) undertaker, Joe Stoddard. The characters that prioritize family are (1) choir member, Mrs. Soames (2) Emily’s cousin, Sam Craig, (3) Mr. and Mrs. Gibb’s daughter, Rebecca Gibbs (4) housewife, Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Webb.