The Stage Manager in the play Our Town serves as a "narrator"; he (or she, in some productions) explains the action to the audience, and since there is little in the way of set decoration, his commentary takes the place of some stage direction. He is a conduit between the action of the play and the audience, at times breaking the "fourth wall" by speaking directly to the audience, and at other times participating in the action. His role is similar to the role of the Chorus in ancient classical Greek drama, commenting on the action to help clarify some of the dramatic elements for the audience and helping to move the plot along.
The activity that helps Francie avoid telling lies is mindfulness. She is the protagonist of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." The book tells the story of Francie from the time she is 11 until she goes to college at 17. Although she struggles with many problems throughout the book (alcoholism, poverty, family problems, etc.) the novel ultimately contains a message of hope. The novel also discusses the dreams of immigrant families in the United States during the early twentieth century.
The narrative technique used by the author is setting.
Indeed, this text is a description of the situation the main character finds himself in. We are given information about:
- the time of day ("early afternoon"),
- the action ("riding" a "train"),
- the other characters ("migrants," "villagers"),
- the surroundings ("trash by the rails," "adobe and cinder-block homes")
- and even—or especially—the climate ("105 degrees").
This sets the context for the upcoming twists and turns of the story.
This technique supports the author's purpose by creating a sense of oppression.
The ways the protagonist's situation is described makes the oppressive feeling almost palpable, with phrases "warm ... smoke," "searing stench," "heat," and the repetition of the word "burn." It gives the impression that the heat is felt through various different senses:
- touch, with the burning palms;
- sight, with the diesel smoke;
- and smell, with the very hot stench.
The idea of oppression is further conveyed by several allusions to what Enrique and other migrants long for to escape this crushing heat: they envy "villagers cooling themselves" or "doz[ing] in hammocks slung in shady spots," and the train cars even remind them of "bobbing ice cubes."
1. frenetic
2. egregious
3. piercing
4. shabby
