Overview Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare Essay

In the play, Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare, a young black man named Paul convinces wealthy New York families that he is the son of a famous black actor named Sidney Poitier. He also tells them that he goes to Harvard with their children so they would fully accept him and provide the shelter he needs, instead of stereotyping him as a black American who would called a criminal or drug addict. Behind his false identity Paul is a con man who has learned the ways to con wealthy New York families. His former lover Trent Conway is a former classmate of the wealthy families’ children. Trent taught Paul how to talk like a rich person, how to act like one, and all the information he needed to be accepted into their circle. Paul then uses†¦show more content†¦Very protected. White servants†¦ I don’t even feel black† (30). Paul is embarrassed to admit to his true race and states that he was raised as a white and doesn’t know what it is to be bla ck. He rejects the fact that he is an American black man and can only dream and tell lies of being born into a Sidney’s family. Paul is then asked to talk about his father, he says â€Å"My father, being an actor, has no real identity†¦Out on the forest, back to the church†¦ And my father is in tears and I say pop, this is not a real event, this is some script that was sent to you. And my father says I’m trying it out to see how it fits on me. But he has no life—he has no memory—only the scripts producers send him in the mail through his agents. That’s his past† (30). Paul talks about his imaginary father as if he is describing himself as an actor with no real identity, who is a lifeless being with no memory and only the personas he has created for himself. Paul who creates multiple personas to satisfy himself to become part of the upper class society, he goes to extreme extents to lie his way up. Paul who is in his new persona at the Kittredge’s house then talks about identity in the book Catcher in the Rye. Paul Who is asked about his thesis by Geoffrey then talks about how there are cases where people justify their wrong doings with the book