Clifford Odets’ Waiting for Lefty Essay -- Waiting Lefty

Clifford Odets Waiting for LeftyIn his play Waiting for Lefty Clifford Odets attempts to stir up the weary American public of the 1930s by providing examples of everyday people who, with some coaxing, rise above the capitalist mess theyve inherited and take control of their destinies. In his work, Odets paints the common man as honest, sacrificial, and exploited, enchantment big business and the government are portrayed as the proletariats enemies, anonymous corporations of rich men intent on shattering dreams. Odets makes his point clear in order to survive in the cutthroat world of Depression-era America, one must band with others, make necessary sacrifices, and live for oneself, not for a paycheck or in a deluded fantasy-state. The plays centerpiece, the gradual movement towards a strike for a group of cabriolet drivers, begins with an anti-striker, aptly named Fatt both for his physical and fiscal qualities, delivering a saving railing against the notion of a strike. Using uni ty as a means to coerce the dissatisfied workers into sedation, he proclaims, Im against the strike. Because we gotta stand tail assembly the man FDR whos standin behind us (5) As Fatt and a man branded a communist by Fatt debate the strike, Odets plunges into a short episode about a taxi driver and his wife, intended to relate to the common man as much as possible in its simple names, vernacular, and emotions. Joes reluctance to strike for more money, found mostly on fear of being blacklisted, is criticized harshly by wife Edna Theyll push you down to three and four a week before you do it. Then youll say, Thats somethin too...I know this - your boss is making suckers outa you boys every minute. (9-10) Joe remains unconvinced until Ode... ...nce of a youth that dreams of more. Their state of abjection is summed up by Sid If we went rancid together I could maybe look the world straight in the face, spit in its eye like a man should do. Goddamnit, its trying to be a man on the e arth. (20) The overwhelming sense of isolation and impotence he feels is brought to a boiling point when he and Florence breakdown (22) as they function increasingly aware of their rutted existence. Their wretchedness becomes an Odetsian admonition to resist escapism and surrender. Odets returns to the taxi strike at the end with Communist connotations AGATE WERE STORMBIRDS OF THE WORKING-CLASS. WORKERS OF THE WORLD. (31) With a resounding let out of STRIKE, (36) Odets has placed a challenge for blue-collar America to rise past individual fears, place faith in mass demonstration, and possibly adopt a Communist revolution.