The Town Week – Summary
In his classic essay, “The Town Week,” E. V. Lucas depicted the many moods and attitudes of urban people over the course of a week in a highly creative manner.
Monday is the day when people awaken from their dreamy and sluggish state of mind. The day appears flat, devoid of colour and flavour. Saturday and Sunday have ceased to be enjoyable and relict. They appear despondent and pallid. A drab and monotonous existence is about to devour them once more. People return to their employment sites from their village homes with reluctance. The town begins to grow in population and activity. Local trains are suffocatingly crowded. They do not invest their passion in their profession. As a result, they spend the majority of their time chatting with their colleagues about their weekend spending.
Monday’s sloth almost completely evaporates by Tuesday. People become more lively and exciting, similar to a “glittering star.” They are more conscientious about their work. Today is a fairly excellent day for businessmen.
Wednesday appears to be a more energising and vibrant day of the week. It is the author’s favourite day. That day, friends are easily available because they remain in their town. Wednesdays include matinees. That day typically sees the publication of some beautiful newspapers and periodicals. Due to the religious nature of the day, some people do try their luck. Contracts for business are typically signed on the day.
Thursday, without a doubt, acquires some peculiar characteristics. “It is a fine, honest day…” The day is extremely lucky for religious people. On that exact day, parents enrol their children in a variety of institutions. This is not the day to laze around. It is a day of health, wealth, success, and wisdom, in a nutshell.
Friday is a little frantic and ecstatic. The people get excessively busy as they pack their bags and luggage for their journey home. The workplaces appear nearly desolate, akin to a desert. The day serves as a precursor to Saturday and Sunday. People found solace from the monotony of office duty. Their eyes sparkle with delight at the prospect of another two-day vacation. Friday establishes the groundwork for Saturday.
Saturday, for the majority of people, is not a day at all; rather, it is a collection of hours. It lacks a distinct personality. It is a day of luxury and fun for some people. It is a day that we plan for, and as such, it is frequently a failure. Trains continue to be overcrowded and operate late. Shops close far too early.
The happiest day of the week is Sunday. People have varying degrees of enjoyment on this day. They take pride in claiming this day as their own. Few people take up home duties. They are rarely provided with opportunities for entertainment. Only on Sunday, it seemed, does time move at a breakneck pace. It passes through it without completely tasting it. However, Sunday evening is the most pitiful, as the next day is Monday. In another sense, Sunday is the beginning of the week, while the previous days serve as a prelude to it.
Title of the Essay “The Town Week”
E.V. Lucas outlines the peculiar character of each of the seven days of the week in his article The Town Week. However, the weekdays are defined by the people’s moods. The people of towns travel to the town to spend their weekends. For a given day, the town men’s mood is determined by its proximity to Saturday and Sunday.
The Town Week is a lighthearted essay in which Lucas discusses how our moods affect how the days of the week are seen. Thus, our Monday mood is one of rebellion and idling away time; our Tuesday mood is one of reconciliation with work; our Wednesday mood is one of activity; our Thursday mood is one of rest; and our Friday mood is one of enthusiasm and expectation. Saturdays and Sundays are subjective. On Saturday, the majority of people are in a state of restlessness due to a combination of work and pleasure. On Sundays, the godly are in a state of worship; the godless are in a state of tension.
According to the author, the rural population is unconcerned about whether it is a Monday or a Tuesday. They discover no distinction between Wednesday and Thursday, or Friday and Saturday. To them, every day is the same. However, each day emerges or arrives with its own peculiar character for the town’s people.
As the author examines the characteristics of the several days of the week from the perspective of a town resident, he titles his essay The Town Week.
Thus, the essay’s title, The Town Week, is quite apt and appropriate.
