Short Eyes

by Miguel Piñero, Marvin Felix Camillo (Introduction)

Winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award

This powerful drama of prison life is set in a house of detention where a group of young convicts-predominantly black and Puerto Rican-taunt, fight, insult, and entertain one another in an attempt to preserve their sanity and to create a semblance of community. When a young white prisoner accused of child molesting is thrown into the cell block by a guard who says he belongs in Sing Sing because "the men up there konw what to do with degenerates like you," the stage is set for an explosive series of events; for, among prisoners, this child molester called "short eyes" is the lowest of criminals.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre, School, New York, Fiction, Latino

127 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Miguel Piñero (December 19, 1946–June 18, 1988) was a Puerto Rican playwright, actor, and co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

Reviews

[Sara Gerot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever feel bad about shit?
Read this. . .then follow up with "We're All Doing Time" by Bo Lozoff. . .and then you'll feel better. ..trust me. ..

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real dark, nasty play that speaks directly to the ghetto experience. I wanted to teach it to a high school class, but my boss said no way - far too violent, too much bad language and prison homosex. The author was a legitimate convict himself - a small-time thief and drug fiend who died of AIDS (I think) at the age of 35-40. This play was something that he started in a prison writing class, and while he may have been a hoodlum, he could really write. This is very potent, intense stuff all the way thru - it is a harrowing journey, but one worth taking. Pinero had an excellent sense of drama and tension, and this play is brimming with both.

The story focuses on a group of toughs in a New York State penitentiary. Most of them are Black, a couple are Hispanic, and one is an Irish-American. One of them is an attractive young man who keeps getting hit on by a predatory gay convict. Another has adopted a half-baked radical philosophy. Into this mix comes Clark, a quiet, seemingly respectable upper middle-class white man, who has no business being there except that he is a "short eyes" - a child molester. The tension grows as it becomes clear that some of the other inmates want to kill him or at least turn his life into a hell. At one point, Clark confesses in great detail to another inmate - he is a hardcore, serial child molester and Pinero sticks the knife in and turns it as he describes the little girls falling for Clark and thinking of him as a boyfriend or something.

I have seen several movies or plays that depict prison life, but this one is the best. It is dark and brutal, but also totally believable.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult drama about a difficult subject with language from a different time and culture in American history. It didn't resonate with me in the way that it probably would with readers who are intimately familiar with that culture, but Piñero's skill and confidence in writing with the voices of such different characters is undeniable. I would appreciate the opportunity to see this play performed by actors who are up to the challenge. I can well imagine this piece would take on additional dimensions beyond my limited imagination.

[claire !! · Rating 3 out of 5]

really 3.5 out of 5 -- it's very well written but I was reading this play and considering audition for a role in it and its simply a bit to jarring for me to read especially as mentally unprepared as I was to deal with such heavy and disturbing topics.

[Adria López · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really captivating play that truly made me appreciate Piñero’s talent as a writer. a dark, dark topic but as important as it is dark. i liked it but it’s just a little bit too disturbing for my taste.

[HIJXS DEL COSMOS · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read for Latinx Literature class. Definitely tough to get through but an interesting and important story.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a rough play to read but has a powerful ending. I will be thinking about it for some time.

[Dr. Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark gritty play about prison life in the 70s by someone who experienced it. An overall gripping drama.

[Elias Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a thought-provoking and a quite uncomfortable read but it struck me as very genuine. The dialogue was quite funny and clever at times. It really packed a punch.

[John B Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

More spectacle than substance.

[Darius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to catch on that the 'main character' here is really the initial group of prisoners. Even more interesting that I think Piñero tries to include us in the prisoner environment and toward the end asks 'is this really us' without condemning the prison system in the US outright. I'm used to condemning the prison system outright. He seems to be getting at something a little more general and rankling in the human soul/condition. At times dated and obvious, it's still also compelling and thought-provoking. It's great to witness by turns how normal and humane, or not, these criminals are-- all disposed of together.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neither long nor difficult, this was still a hard book for me to read as it presents prison life with shocking honesty. Vivid language, strong characters, and even sympathetic scenes all surprised me. Very well written drama! I'm preparing for my upcoming classes and find myself rereading earlier materials; this is not pleasant by any means, but I'm glad I reread it just now.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A play that was so well written yet so raw that I wanted to put it down at times because of its bright light on the darkest parts of humanity, but it kept me hooked. I read the whole thing in one sitting and felt I needed to take a hot shower afterwards and thank my lucky stars that I wasn’t incarcerated.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written by a former inmate. Interesting insight to the prison system.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

MUCH better than "Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train." This play is very compelling and explores the characters of all of the prisoners, ever the most disturbing one of all, "Short Eyes."

[Jennifer Shorstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not easy to read but terrifyingly human. A glimpse at prison life, the boundaries of humanity and judgement are brought under a stark light here.

[Dana Jerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark subject matter and use of slang and syntax are the main literary benefits to reading this play.

[RK Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

great pacing and rhythm. it's what rappers go for, i think, when they're trying to be authentic.

[Zhana Xhamila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great olay! Must read if interested in dynamics of prison life

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Shrug*