Picnic

“I sure would like to feel clean.”

When Hal shows up to work for Helen, he only has the clothes on his back. After working and living in them, they (and he) are filthy. He has reached a low point in his life in terms of personal dignity. Wanting to feel clean means more than a shower and clean clothing: He has come to town to find his friend and seek a new start.

“When I hear that train coming into town, I always get a feeling of excitement… in here.”

Madge is headed toward a life trapped within the confines of a small town. She would be safe and comfortable for the rest of her life, but her life would also be predictable. Unlike Millie, Madge has not formulated any kind of plan for escaping small-town life; she has vague fantasies of being rescued but expects to follow the path her mother has set out for her. However, the train represents freedom and the unknown. Later in the play, when Hal leaves on the same train, she will embrace the unknown and seek her own exciting life.

“It doesn’t hurt what names I call her! She’s pretty, names don’t bother her at all!”

Millie sees the benefits of being a pretty girl, but she doesn’t see that Madge is human and has her own fears and insecurities. She can only see the way it hurts when someone makes fun of her own appearance.