Smetana 1

Peyton Smetana

Professor Fred Johnson

EL:316 – American Drama Since 1900

3 May 2019

The Case for Unity in Waiting for Lefty

Clifford Odets’ 1935 Broadway hit, Waiting for Lefty, was raved by audiences

nationwide. A piece for the people, Odets captured the struggles and frustrations of the

American citizens in six small vignettes. Critic Edith J.R. Issacs explains that “when you

read his plays, as when you see them, you have the distinct impression that two-thirds of

the time it is Odets talking” (Miller). Undoubtedly, Odets has thrown his hat into the

revolution ring with Waiting for Lefty, calling on Americans to stand up and fight

against systemic injustices nationwide. The outcomes of the threats forced upon the

characters are relatable to the audience, but are unique to the characters themselves too.

By avoiding the implications Odets had for the audience and focusing on the characters

experience, Odets presents a series of moments where characters are separated from the

groups they ought to support, and that ought to support them. By making it clear how

much unification would help all of these characters, Odets makes a broad case for the

importance of unity. By giving plenty of reasons to unify—in support of the family, of

fairness, of protecting others—Odets looks at how the best unity happens around

humanitarian goals. By providing counterexamples of unity around corrupt goals—like

class distinction and economic inequity—he also suggests that unity has a dark side.

Ultimately, Odets supports unity under positive and fair conditions as he weaves in

notes of caution about unity derived from corruption and selfishness.

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Surprisingly, there is not a lot of research that focuses specifically on Clifford

Odets’ belief in unity being the best under humanitarian goals. Much of the research

regards Odets’ inclusion of political ideas in each scene and how those scenes are

supposed to influence the audience watching the play. Though the research does not

specifically cover this idea of unity, the research contributes to the overall unifying idea

of selfish and corrupt unity leading to the separation of groups and unification being

incredibly important to these characters. Each of the scenes in Waiting for Lefty

produces some sort of comment regarding the character’s situation: threats to the

sanctity of family (Faulkner); the strike representing more than an increase in wages but

for a “greater dignity for a better humanity” (Chatterjee); the working man having the

right for a better life (Hertel); the immediate consequences of corrupt capitalism

(Todras); and the encouragement for workers to engage and form other communities

(Papa). With that in mind, Odets’ critics have provided a strong foundation for the

argument focusing on Odets’ infatuation with unity.

“Joe and Edna,” one of the strongest and most compelling scenes within Waiting

for Lefty, is a great example of how unity thrives when built around humanitarian goals,

though the situation itself is engulfed by systemic corruption. Their fight begins because

of missing furniture, but Joe and Edna are quick to move away from that insignificant

piece to the origin of all their problems: corrupt unity. Edna, the voice of reason,

struggles to make Joe, the oblivious and hopeful husband, recognize what action must

be taken, and who it needs to be taken against. Edna angrily expresses how Joe’s boss

has it out for them, “your boss is making suckers outa you boys every minute. Yes, and

suckers out of all the wives and the poor innocent kids” (Lauter 1712). Edna evens

realizes that it is Joe’s boss who is controlling their conversations, “your boss makes this
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subject. I never saw him in my life, but he’s putting ideas in my head a mile a minute”

(Lauter 1714). Not only is it Joe’s boss, but it is also the union too, “No? Then what are

they doing? Collecting dues and patting your back?,” and, “they don’t tell little Joey

what’s happening in his bitsie witsie union” (Lauter 1712). Edna is able to recognize the

unfairness, selfishness, and overall corruption that has manifested in both the

workplace and the union. The elites of these institutions have taken advantage of Joe

and the other workers. In order to combat the elites and their dark unity, Edna

recommends Joe take a stance and rally with his co-workers, “I don’t say one man! I say

a hundred, a thousand, a whole million, I say. But start in your own union. Get those

hack boys together!” (Lauter 1714). The idea of fighting for change is obviously better

than doing nothing in Edna’s opinion.