Themes and Meanings
In Picnic, William Inge has chronicled the angst of those who cannot articulate their own desperation because it remains to them a nameless gnawing in the soul. Much has been made of the legacy of the Kansas small-town life that Inge knew intimately and its influence on his work. This legacy is portrayed in Picnic as a smallness of ambition and desire, a predicament that the landscape itself perhaps perpetuates with its brooding, thundering skies and stark plains. These physical surroundings become emblematic, especially of the abandoned or disadvantaged women that Inge captured so evocatively, and they—not Hal or Alan—are the real center of the play. While in some sense Hal is the fulcrum of the play’s thematic force, he is in the center only because Madge and Rosemary—and, in subtler ways, Mrs. Potts and Millie—inadvertently place him there by their own groping for identity and purpose.
For Madge, Hal is daring and adventure, in contrast with Alan’s predictable safety and structure; to succumb to Hal is to break out of the routine and escape the foreordained. In this preference she shares the same spirit her mother Flo had manifested earlier, and with probably the same eventual disappointment awaiting her. Madge is weary of being told that she is pretty, of being venerated for a physical appearance she had no choice in assuming. Alan’s infatuation with her beauty only reinforces her sense of longing for something or someone who will look past surface appearance and touch something unique within her. In Hal, she finds someone wild and unfettered; his overt masculinity and his animal-like appeal demand from her both pity and passion. What Alan cannot give her, she finds in—and returns to—Hal. Where Alan worships from afar, Hal indulges the flesh; he reigns as the epitome of manliness in a town beset by impotence and dry chastity.
Rosemary, ever the bridesmaid, finds in Hal a flickering reminder of her youth, a barren youth squandered in school teaching the children of others. When rebuffed by Hal, she inflicts on him the scorn she feels for herself and transfers her attention to the nice but ineffectual Howard. Her passion suffices for both, and after a night of promiscuity shocking for this small town, she bullies Howard into making her a “respectable” woman by marrying her. This theme of forced marriage is a familiar one to Inge’s protagonists, and here it serves to accentuate the emptiness and futility of finding romance and true love within such a stifling environment. Mrs. Potts, herself a witness to the boredom and sterility of her neighbors’ lives, openly endorses Madge’s flight with Hal. Only in Millie does Inge offer the possibility of breaking the chain of wasted or contrived lives exemplified by Flo and Alan Seymour. Millie, forlorn and insecure in her own femininity, vows never to marry; her vision is to move to New York to write books that will shock people out of their senses. The Midwest is thus seen as first nurturing and then binding those who are reared within its boundaries. To move eastward or westward, to move out of the midwestern “center,” is shown to be a man or woman’s only hope for individuality or the possibility of love.
Themes
Last Updated September 13, 2024.
Beauty
Beauty plays a crucial role in the play, serving as the primary attribute by
which both Madge and Hal are evaluated, and the same trait that Millie and
Rosemary long for. Madge fears that her beauty is her only asset, a fear that
her mother reinforces with constant lectures on
(This entire section contains 715 words.)
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Beauty plays a crucial role in the play, serving as the primary attribute by which both Madge and Hal are evaluated, and the same trait that Millie and Rosemary long for. Madge fears that her beauty is her only asset, a fear that her mother reinforces with constant lectures oncarpe diem, urging her
to seize the day. These lectures suggest that Madge's value will diminish once
her looks fade. The interest of a wealthy man, Alan, who admits he is so
captivated by her beauty that he can hardly believe she notices him, only
convinces Madge further that she has no other significant qualities. Hal, on
the other hand, has always relied on his good looks to get by. His
attractiveness has helped him succeed with women, and it is this mutual allure
that initially draws Madge and Hal to each other. Moreover, Hal's physical
appearance and athletic skills have allowed others to overlook his social
flaws. Millie envies her sister's beauty but seems to understand that
intelligence, not mere superficial charm, is the key to success. Millie is
focused on pursuing higher education and a career. For Rosemary, the loss of
youth and beauty is her greatest adversary. She is desperate to marry Howard
before her last chance at matrimony slips away.
Choices and Consequences
When Howard brings a bottle of whisky into the Owens' yard, he triggers a
series of events that will alter the lives of all the characters. The alcohol
lowers Rosemary's inhibitions, leading her to lash out at Hal's insecurities
and fears when he rejects her. Although Rosemary's sexual encounter with Howard
happens offstage, it is implied that the alcohol influenced her willingness to
sleep with him. Her demand that Howard marry her is driven by a long-standing
awareness that he might be her last opportunity for marriage. Determined to
secure a marriage, Rosemary uses their sexual encounter as leverage to coerce
Howard into a commitment. The decision by Hal and Madge to sleep together will
also have unforeseen consequences. Hal's friendship with Alan will be
shattered; Madge will decide to leave her home; and her mother's aspirations
for a better life, through Madge's marriage into Alan's wealthy family, will be
dashed.
Freedom
The sound of the train whistle symbolizes freedom for Madge. Each time she
hears it, she longs to be on that train, embarking on a thrilling new
adventure. Her small town offers no fresh opportunities. Although Madge is the
most beautiful girl in town, no one sees her potential beyond that. It's
uncertain if she can achieve more than being a local beauty, but she is
determined to try. Hal, with his adventurous tales and travels, embodies an
escape from her stifling small-town existence. At eighteen, Madge needs Hal to
inspire her to break free and explore another world. If she doesn't take this
chance, she might end up like Mrs. Potts—trapped by unfulfilled dreams and
caring for her elderly mother.
Love and Passion
When Madge and Hal first lock eyes, there's an immediate attraction. This
intense passion starkly contrasts with Madge's relationship with Alan, which is
marked by timid, emotionless kisses. The instant spark between Madge and Hal
leaves little doubt that their passion will culminate. However, it is only when
Hal is compelled to leave that Madge realizes she truly loves him.
Loneliness
Loneliness is a significant theme for several characters in Picnic. Each
woman experiences loneliness in her own way. Mrs. Potts and Flo Owens are both
lonely and filled with regret over missed chances. Although both are alone,
Mrs. Potts is particularly a tragic figure due to her mother's meddling. She is
depicted as a sixty-year-old woman whose brief marriage was annulled by her
mother. The fate of Flo's husband is unclear, but her main focus is on
protecting her daughters, for whom she has been both mother and father for a
decade. Millie feels isolated due to her lack of beauty and the pressure of
living up to her older sister's stunning looks. Conversely, Madge is isolated
by her beauty, which many envy but few dare to approach. Lastly, Rosemary is
lonely despite having friends; she yearns for the companionship that marriage
and love can offer. Hal's arrival among these lonely women sets the stage for
the unfolding drama.