Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare - Essay Example

World Literature Topic: Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare Introduction Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare is a true story of a trick-star, who paved his way into Manhattan high society by posing as the son of a famous actor. The measure of any positive achievement is, what you do is no doubt important; but how you do, what you do is more important. World around is a strange phenomenon. Each one sees a new horizon. The societal disposition of each individual is as per the level of one’s current progression in life.

The perception an individual standing at a height of 2000 ft. is not the same as that of the one standing at a height of 20,000 ft. Some people are interested to know the perfect discipline related to life based on truth. Many are willing to carry on with the available discipline, as per the situational demand, neglecting the truth aspect. One may call it opportunism, without consideration whether the means employed are fair nor not. Does the play Six Degrees of Separation show the American Experience in a positive or a negative light?

The characters of the pay by their doings and undoing cannot provide the final answer to this question. The world functions on the paly of pairs of opposites. No one is able to gauge the final frontiers of reality and due to the circumstances one is placed in, tries to take one’s opportunities out of misguided enthusiasm. Paul had a strong desire to make it to the top of the ladder, and to reach that level, he played upon the psychology of others aspiring to progress fast, to accomplish his own goals.

The means employed by him were wrong, but to belittle the American Experience on account of the disposition of one individual (Paul) is wrong. Paul was working to a plan. He was posing as the son of Sidney Poitier who was a man “who had really forged ahead and made new paths for blacks just by the strength of his own talent.” (64) Thus Sidney Poitier is the positive example of the American Experience, of which Paul was aware of. The fault was with those who believed his promises and fell into his trap.

Conclusion: The message of the play is simple and straightforward. Do not believe in vague promises by any one at any stage of life. Verify the antecedents of the person who tenders such assurances of turning the seed into the sapling and the sapling into the tree overnight. Thus, the story of Six Degree of Separation is that of fabricated reality, and it has no relevance to the American Experience. To start by not trusting anyone until verification, is the beginning of progress of an individual.

Works CitedGuare, John. Illusion in Six Degrees of Separation. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group; 1990, Print.