38 pages • 1 hour read
Dylan ThomasUnder Milk Wood
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1954A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Under Milk Wood, a “play for voices” by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, opens at night in Llareggub, where First and Second Voice narrate the townspeople's dreams. Various characters, including Captain Cat, Mr. Waldo, and Polly Garter, reveal their thoughts and anxieties. As the day progresses, the community interacts and prepares for the evening dance, sharing love, humor, and gossip. Themes of death, infidelity, and unfulfilled love are explored.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood is celebrated for its lyrical prose and vivid characterizations of a small Welsh village. Positive reviews highlight Thomas's poetic brilliance and the play's rich humor. Some critics, however, note the dense language can be challenging and the narrative feel somewhat disjointed. Overall, it's esteemed for its artistic depth and nuanced portrayal of human nature.
Who Should Read Under Milk Wood?
Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas appeals to readers who appreciate poetic prose, rich characterizations, and lyrical depictions of small-town life. Fans of James Joyce's Ulysses and Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude will enjoy its intricate narrative and vivid, dreamlike quality.