'The American plays set for study use expressionist and symbolist techniques in order to change people's perceptions of the world'

Thornton Wilder's 'Our town' is a widely studied piece which conforms to these notions of using expressionist and symbolic techniques in order to change peoples perception of the world around them. It is through such techniques Wilder illustrates his belief that human beings move about the world 'in a cloud of ignorance' unable to grasp the true beauty of the world about them until it is long disappeared, thus hoping to enlighten his audience to …

…a message. When asked if any truly value life as they live it, the stage manager replies " The saints and the poets, maybe-they do some". Perhaps the playwrights too, for it is through plays such as "Our town" that those who notice the wider inconsistencies of life may hope to change their audience's perceptions of such and it is through techniques such as these that one strives to do so, and in some instances succeeds.