36 pages 1 hour read

William Inge

Picnic

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1953

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Picnic by William Inge revolves around the intertwined lives of the Owens family and their neighbors during a small-town Labor Day picnic. The plot centers on Madge Owens, who is torn between her attraction to a handsome drifter named Hal and her relationship with a wealthy suitor, Alan, amidst generational conflicts and societal expectations in post-World War II America.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Many reviewers praise William Inge's Picnic for its rich character development and exploration of post-war American life, highlighting its vivid portrayal of human desires and social constraints. Some, however, criticize its pacing and melodramatic elements. Overall, it's lauded for capturing the complexities of love and societal expectations in a small-town setting.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Picnic?

Readers who enjoy Picnic by William Inge are likely fans of character-driven narratives exploring small-town America. They appreciate intricate relationships and social dynamics akin to those in Thornton Wilder's Our Town and Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, valuing deep emotional and psychological insight.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Play: Drama

Education

American Literature

Topics

Love / Sexuality

Education

History: World

Themes

Values/Ideas: Beauty

Society: Class

Identity: Femininity