Sidney Poitier

Does Poitier succeed in persuading you that his view of the play made more sense than its rival? Specify things that affect your response to his argument.

In my opinion Poitier’s view of the play made more sense than that of Claudia McNeil.   Although the play was written to unfold from Claudia (the mother’s) point of view, Poitier’s perception made it a better play.   The unfolding of the play constitutes the drama, and as Poitier points out; the drama asks an audience to care.
Poitier’s as an actor engrossed himself in the script and personally identified with the character.   His humble beginnings and daily actual struggle, to become the actor that we know and love, took great sacrifice.   His love, respect and admiration for his owns father hustle of selling cigars from bar to bar to give his family a better life drove him to succeed. He channeled this passion into his character and felt it was his duty to bring that out of Walter.

The playwright came from a family of achievers, particularly successful women. So by writing it from this perspective limited everyone else’s role.   The matriarch of the family, the mother, didn’t really make for a long dramatic focal point. Yes we felt her pain, yes she suffered loss, but just like most women they are resilient, they brush themselves off and keep it moving.   Walter on the other had had to assume a new role by stepping into his father’s shoes. He was then the head of the family and his personal growth, success, and failure would impact his family. Maybe it’s because I’m a father myself and I understand when Poitier says when it’s   for your child, you go above and beyond what you thought you was capable of.   Everyman wants to leave a legacy and that is what audiences should be identifying with.