Golden Boy
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1937
72
Play • Fiction
New York City • 1930s
1937
Adult
18+ years
Golden Boy, a play written by Clifford Odets, follows Italian American Joe Bonaparte's boxing career. Joe's transition from being a skilled musician to becoming a top prizefighter causes strain on his relationship with his father, complicates his love life, and alters his personality. The Group Theatre originally produced the play on Broadway in 1937.
Melancholic
Challenging
Emotional
Dark
Contemplative
391 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Clifford Odets' Golden Boy garners praise for its compelling exploration of ambition and personal conflict, with dynamic characters and sharp, authentic dialogue. Critics commend the poignant portrayal of dreams versus ethics in the American Dream narrative. However, some find the plot predictable and the ending unsatisfactorily abrupt. Overall, it remains a powerful, thought-provoking drama.
Readers who appreciate intense character drama, moral dilemmas, and the struggle between artistic dreams and financial aspirations will enjoy Clifford Odets' Golden Boy. Fans of works like Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men will find similar thematic resonance and emotional depth.
391 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
72
Play • Fiction
New York City • 1930s
1937
Adult
18+ years
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