Compare Odets's portrayal of working-class characters to the depiction of blue-collar workers in three to four modern works of your choice. These sources can include movies, television shows, books, or plays. In your analysis, try to determine if the differences you observe are due to historical changes in the popular image of "the working class," variations in the authors' intentions or beliefs, or differences in style and genre.

Research the 1934 New York taxi strike, the event on which Waiting for Lefty is based. How accurately does Odets depict the historical facts? What were the real-life consequences of the strike? Considering his objectives in the play, try to determine the reasons behind any changes Odets made in adapting these "current events" for his fictional production.

Study the Communist Manifesto and summarize its main arguments. Then, examine the dialogue in Waiting for Lefty to find specific instances where the characters promote the document's principles or echo its slogans. Write an essay that reports and analyzes your findings.

The counterculture movement of the 1960s revitalized the idea of using drama for political change through "street theatre" performances by groups like the San Francisco Mime Troupe and the staging of propaganda plays. Research this development in newspapers and periodicals from that era. How does the radical theatre of the 1930s compare to its 1960s counterpart? In what significant ways, if any, did it evolve?