Glengarry Glen Ross -- by David Mamet (1984)

Description

David Mamet packs Glengarry Glen Ross with verbal spats, gritty game-playing, and obscene language. F-words bounce around the script endlessly as the characters express their unrest in their jobs. Playbill.com offers this synopsis of the play: "A group of Chicago real-estate salesman battle ruthlessly for the big deal in David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play." 

The play is split into two acts: Act One contains three short conversations between various characters and Act Two is a showdown between all of them. The pacing remarkably distinguishes itself from other plays. Overlapping dialogue abounds in the play. Interestingly, the first act is notably shorter than the second act-- a break from traditional play-writing. 

The characters include Richard Roma, Shelly Levene, George Aaronow, James Lingk, Dave Moss, Baylen, and John Williamson. The main conflict centers on the dog-eat-dog nature of real-estate agents. Bribery, intimidation, and burglary all fuel the drama in the short play. 

I will not giveaway the plot twist, as it serves as the main hook of the play.  

Here is the trailer of the movie version of the play, which stars Alec Baldwin in a role excluded from the stage.

Candid Reactions

• Okay, I'm not following a darn thing. 
• The end of scene one helps set some of the tone, theme, and character development. 
• The workers seem to believe that the system is unfair -- a sort of tragic situation in their eyes. Mamet modernizes tragedy through this vehicle. 
• One of the character asks, "How can I be secure?" (28) in the end of the first act. This question summarizes the yearning for each character in the play: every individual fears insecurity and will stop at nothing to gain security. In so doing, they engage in acts that law-abiding citizens would never consider. Thus, Mamet taps into the extremes of human emotion. 
• The concept that humans are passive and cannot be agents of change is a bleak outlook on life, don't you think? 
• These poor (no pun intended, this time) guys are so distraught about things being "wasted."
• Some of these personal attacks at each other are EPIC. 
• Mamet carefully crafts the message that life necessitates community--isolation does not result in success. 
• I hate it when characters blatantly verbalize the lesson they have learned. 

Top Two Aspects/Reasons for Winning

1. Realistic Dialogue

Mamet's expertly intertwined and overlapping dialogue both disorients the audience and reflects real conversation. The amount of interruptions prevents clear-cut statements to be made. My bet is that the plot is easier to follow when watching the show compared to reading the show.

2. Modern Practices, Ancient Views

As I have previously noted, Mamet uses the modern practice of real estate bargaining as a vehicle for expressing ancient tragic views.

Classroom Implications

Due to the language, I would absolutely avoid using this text. Additionally, I believe that the text is difficult to follow. I would certainly have to do some prior-knowledge building about the real estate industry. I think this text could most be enjoyed by college students who are interested in dissecting tragedy/comedy across centuries.

Personal Takeaway

Plays might not be enjoyable even when the writing is impeccable/impressive.

Ranking

	Dialogue	Characters	Plot/Conflict	Symbol/Literary Devices	Overall Enjoyment	TOTAL SCORE 5.0
0	Unfollowable; unrealistic; diction does not match character	Undeveloped; does not reflect humanity	Not engaging; predictable; reader can step away from text because it isn’t gripping	Devices are apparent for cleverness and do not enhance the story (.5)	Reader has no interest in re-reading play
1	Not consistently realistic	Well-developed; most depictions reflect humanity (1)	Semi-engaging; some unnecessary plot-points (1)	Devices somewhat enhance story	Reader would re-read with pleasure and reminded of work (1)
2	Realistic; connotative; diction matches characters (1.5)	Fully-developed; depictions reflect humanity	Engaging; unique; reader finds it impossible to put down text because the conflict is so gripping!	Devices seamlessly enhance the story and provide rich interpretation	Reader would re-read the play on own volition, enthusiastically