Picnic (play) - Style

Style

According to David Rush, there are nine different aspects of style to consider.

1. The Concerns of the Author: In his play Picnic, Inge focuses on the society and what it does to his characters. This is an important aspect of Expressionism, where the characters are pitted against this inhuman force that is culture and social expectations. This could also be seen as sociopolitical concerns, which is an aspect of Realism. The play is very character driven, which shows Inge’s love of analyzing people and how they react to different situations.
2. The Point of View of the Author: This aspect refers to where the author places the audience in the action. If the audience is watching from a distance, that means they are objective. If they are in the middle of everything that is going on, seeing the action from one person’s point of view, then they are subjective. In Picnic, the audience is outside the events, merely observing them. This means that the point of view of the author is objective. This is where the play falls closer to Realism. In Realistic plays, the audience is purely objective, whereas in Expressionistic plays, the audience is seeing a particular person’s inner state.
3. The Comprehensibility of the World: Inge shows us a world that is relatively normal for its time period. Most of the characters behave as the audience would expect them to, with a few exceptions. The world is logical – outlandish and abnormal things do not happen. This makes for a Realistic play.
4. The Construction of the Plot: As discussed above, the events in this play are in chronological order, which leans decidedly toward Realism. One thing leads to another, and the audience is able to follow along relatively easily.
5. The Substance/Texture of the Characters: Most of Inge’s characters in Picnic are what Rush calls “three-dimensional” because they are “fully textured human beings, with ideas, feelings, personalities, passions, and foibles that are very similar to ours”. They pursue certain things, avoid certain things, and have many different tactics in order to do both of these. They are relatable and real, hence this play seems to be more Realistic.
6. The Setting: What the audience sees onstage in this play could be an actual place – it is not distorted or dreamlike, but rather a typical backyard of a house in a small town in the Midwest. Inge meant for the setting to be something tangible and real. It stays constant, so the audience can focus more on what is happening with the characters. This is even more evidence that Picnic falls under the category of Realism.
7. Language: As will be discussed below, the language of this play is natural and easy to understand. This signifies a Realistic piece.
8. Form – Presentational/Representational: Rush discusses form in that it is “the relationship between the people on the stage (actors/characters) and the people watching (audience)”. A presentational play might have some of the characters speak directly to the audience, and help them on their way through the story. A representational play, like Picnic, leaves the “fourth wall” intact and simply ignores the audience while the events are played out. Realistic plays are often representational.
9. The Playwright’s Definition of the World: By using a certain style, the playwright is able to show the audience just how he or she feels about the world. Inge uses Realism to show that society’s rules are not always the best, and that people will live happier, more fulfilling lives if they are able to break out of the restraints.