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Our Town Marriage Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Act.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.

Quote #13

Oh, I’ve got to say it: you know, there’s something downright cruel about sending our girls out into marriage this way. I hope some of her girl friends have told her a thing or two. It’s cruel, I know, but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I went into it blind as a bat myself. (II. 310-1)

Emily is a virgin and knows very little about sex. That’s just the way brides went into marriage at this time.

Quote #14

Don’t you remember that you used to say, – all the time you used to say – all the time: that I was your girl! There must be lots of places we can go to. I’ll work for you. I could keep house. (II.347)

Scared to belong to another man and leave her childhood behind, Emily begs her father to let her stay.

Quote #15

I’ve married over two hundred couples in my day. Do I believe in it? I don’t know. M…marries N…millions of them. (II.379-82)

The minister is uncertain about the institution of marriage, finding it amusing that millions of people participate in it.