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Oklahoma! and the Battle
Between Darkness and Light

What may be the greatest movie ever made is actually a play on film: Oklahoma! With its disturbing dream
sequence and magnificent music and lyrics by Rodgers
and Hammerstein, the movie captures something
essential about the human condition.

In essence, it tells the story of Laurey, a woman who is
haunted by a man who can never have her, as she
avoids the man she really loves. But not far below the
surface is the movie's real theme, which is that the
fear of life can cause us to descend into an
underworld of living death.

You are invited to take the journey with Laurey as she
faces the choice between embracing life or death-in-life. As you will see, it is this idea that
makes it possible for Oklahoma! to offer an alternative both to traditional culture and to the culture
of transgression that is so powerful, today.

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This essay is intended to be read in order. It follows
the general unfolding of the story although some
elements are taken out of order or grouped by theme.