Allegory in Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth

Abstract

The Skin of Our Teeth is Thornton Wilder's masterpiece which broke the established theatrical conventions at that time, and won the 1943 Pulitzer Prize for best drama. The play came to plant hope and optimism in the hearts and minds of the wartime audience in 1942,by establishing the idea that Man could survive, and nothing could destroy him.

This study is an attempt to understand Wilder's technique and style of allegory that he uses to express his thoughts in various levels. Since allegory is a form of extended metaphor in which writers can present thing in the guise of another.

The study is divided into three main points and conclusion ; point one deals with the biography of Thornton Wilder in brief. Whereas point two is devoted to the main facts on Wilder's play The Skin of Our Teeth. Point three discusses the subject of allegory, and is divided into eight aspects which explain and analyze different shapes and forms of allegory in the play.

The conclusion sums up the findings of the study.