Right Decisions, Worse Consequences - Essay

Right Decisions, Worse Consequences The book Sweat, by Lynn Nottage, is a play that signifies the trials and tribulations that the working lower and middle class faces due to the upper class’ desire for wealth and social status. The characters that are used within this book are all facing extreme life-changing challenges that lead to difficult circumstances, which causes them to make decisions that will benefit themselves over their friends and family. Throughout this book, the problems that these characters face make it clear how much it changes them mentally and physically. These changes are great examples of character development as well, as this play is a two-act structured one. From all of the characters listed in this book, Cynthia, Oscar, and Brucie are going to be the main focus throughout this essay. As each of the characters in this book faced many different personal and social problems, Cynthia, Brucie, and Oscar were given the most difficult ones because they had to choose between facing obstacles to taking care of themselves over others in their lives. The choice that was made by Cynthia about choosing herself over others can be considered easy, but the outcome of that decision led to her family and friends established a sense of envy towards her. Cynthia is one of those characters who has worked half of her life on the floor at Olstead. So, when she was presented with the opportunity of working in a management position in the warehouse she wanted nothing more than to work less, get paid more, and more vacation time. Her friends Tracey and Jessie found out that she took this job and is not walking the line with them, which led to Tracey calling her a (79). Even though her friends were extremely rude to her and switched their opinion about her because of jealousy, Cynthia was honest with them throughout this whole scene. Cynthia stated that < I’m in a tough-ass position, babe. I got enough attitude from folks to give me a heart attack. I’m trying to hold things together as best as I can= (80). Her friends will do the exact same if they got an opportunity as Cynthia did after working so many years on the floor. She is only trying to make a better living for herself with this job opportunity she got, but on top of that, she is facing the challenges of caring for herself over others. As Oscar began his journey of working at a bar as a busboy, he finally found an opportunity to work at the Olstead warehouse which ignites Tracey, Jessie, Jason, and Chris, to treat him worse than they already have. Oscar found a job listing at the Latino Community Center, which is to work the floor at the Olstead warehouse which will pay more than the job he has now working at the local bar. He runs into Tracey and asks about that job listing since she worked there, in which she instantly becomes defensive and says < Listen, that piece of paper that you’re holding is an insult, it don’t mean anything, Olstead’s isn’t for you= (49). At this point, it is obvious that Oscar, who is Columbian, is treated like those newly immigrated Mexicans who come to America for a better life. Stan was one of his close friends because they worked at the bar together, but when Stan found out about his decision of going against walking the line with the others, he did not approve. Later on in the book, Tracey makes sure her opinion about Oscar’s choice is clear by saying < Yeah, to a fuck-face scab like you. You’re a piece of shit= (94). This also exemplifies the callous labeling that happens between the characters throughout the play. After all of the negative experiences that Oscar went through, Chris and Jason got into a violent brawl with Stan and him, which left them severely injured. For a person to go through all of these hardships and emotions, Oscar showed perseverance and landed a bigger paying job than his previous one and worked the floor at Olstead, which is the manager at the local bar. As a character who is not as involved as the others in the book, Brucie is facing serious personal problems that throughout the play prove the effects of them on his relationships with the others. Brucie, who was once a working man, fell into deep drug addiction and then lost his job. Brucie was also kicked out by his wife because he started to steal from her to make ends meet. In Act 1 Scene 4, Brucie tries to talk with Cynthia and apologize to her for everything he has done, in the narration it says < Brucie folds the paper and puts it in his pocket= (41), the writing on the paper is never stated in the book, but it is supposed to be a rehab enrollment paper to show that he is trying to get his life back together. Cynthia has moved on from their situation because she has a great opportunity in front of her in she can not lose. The situation that he is in also affects his relationship with his son, Chris. In Act 2 Scene 4, Chris and Brucie have a serious conversation about his well-being and the decisions that Chris is making regarding his career and financial life. Throughout this conversation, Chris shows heavy concern while being rude by asking his father < You high?=. Chris’s tone transitions to unforgiving and rude, when he realizes that his father is not completely clean. Towards the end of this scene, Brucie still attempts to be a fatherly figure for Chris and asks him about his stand on walking the line. Although Brucie is facing unemployment, has nowhere to live, and serious drug addiction, he tries to at least attempt to get better for his loved ones and most importantly for himself. In conclusion, Cynthia, Oscar, and Brucie all face their challenges. One of the main factors that they all have in common which humans relate to as well, is the practice of always needing money to survive. In this book, the act of making money is so crucial for every single character that it becomes the root of all evil as the story continues to develop. Also, the author shows the negative power of jealousy that controls humans when it comes to their careers and personal and social lives. Cynthia had to decide between two very difficult decisions, choosing herself or her friends and family, when it came to picking the job opportunity of working under management at Olstead. Oscar wants to create a better life by making three dollars more than what he makes at the bar but has to deal with the racist slurs, getting beat up, and the constant feeling of being belittled by the people around him. Lastly, Brucie is dealing with extremely personal and financial problems, in which he struggles to be a better father, husband, friend, and citizen to the people around him. The personal and social challenges that each of these characters in this book had to deal with were unique, but Cynthia, Brucie, and Oscar were handed the most challenging ones since they had to decide whether to put their own needs ahead of those of the other people in their lives.