Who am I to argue with a Pulitzer Prize winner? But, wow, when I read the work, the amount of repetition and extraneous verbiage is truly surprising. Some of this repetition might create certain beats and perhaps even capture the reality of speech to some extent. However, it really seems way overdone. I can't help but wonder why it is done this way. Aside from this aspect, Mamet is indeed great at showing character via dialogue. He has a remarkable ability to bring the characters to life through the words they speak. But it's also interesting to note that the most famous scene from the movie adaptation is not even in the original play. This makes one think about the differences and interpretations that can occur when a work is translated from the stage to the screen.

This amazing work won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize.

The play delves into two days in the lives of four real estate agents in an office located in Chicago. Each of them, to a certain extent, is a con man and a schemer, ready to go to any lengths to sell unappealing real estate to unsuspecting clients.

The underlying theme revolves around the ceaseless pursuit of success in a world where a person is judged solely by their ability to make money. It also serves as a critique of contemporary work environments that are rife with jealousy, untrustworthy work relationships, internal strife, and macho posturing.

This is not only a drama but also, in some respects, a comedy. The dialogue is rapid-fire, making you almost feel as if you are right there in the thick of it. It offers a profound comment on the price of success. It is truly a great read that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

4.75 Stars — This work is infinitely quote-able and offers a dark pleasure for anyone who has ever worked in a sales environment.

Mamet truly nails the essence of what occurs when corporate requirements become intertwined with personal demons.

The story delves deep into the complex and often tumultuous world of sales, where the pressure to meet targets and succeed can bring out the worst in people.

It explores the inner turmoil and moral dilemmas that individuals face as they try to balance their professional obligations with their own personal values and desires.

With its sharp dialogue and intense characterizations, this piece is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the psychology of sales and the human condition.

It offers a thought-provoking and often uncomfortable look at the lengths people will go to in order to achieve success, and the consequences that can result from their actions.

Overall, it is a powerful and engaging work that will leave readers with a lot to think about long after they have finished reading.

Girl, don't piss me off. Seriously, you have literally given me a headache. It's like every time I interact with you, something goes wrong. Maybe it's the way you talk or the things you do. I don't know, but it's really starting to get on my nerves. I'm trying to be patient and understanding, but it's getting harder and harder. You need to start thinking about how your actions affect others. Because right now, you're not making things easy for anyone.

I just hope that you can realize your mistakes and start to change. Otherwise, I don't know how much longer I can take it. I don't want to have to avoid you or stop talking to you, but if things don't improve, that might be the only option. So please, girl, try to be a little more considerate and respectful. It would make a world of difference.

This might be the best damn play ever!

The story unfolds with such intensity and passion that it keeps the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The characters are so vividly brought to life that you can't help but become completely invested in their plights and triumphs. The dialogue is sharp, witty, and full of meaning, adding an extra layer of depth to the already engaging narrative. The set design is also a sight to behold, creating a visually stunning backdrop that enhances the overall atmosphere of the play. Every aspect of this production has been精心 crafted to perfection, making it a truly unforgettable experience. Whether you're a die-hard theater fan or just looking for a night of entertainment, this play is not to be missed. It's a masterpiece that will leave you breathless and longing for more.

Why is David Mamet a "good" playwright and why is a play like "Glengarry Glen Ross" "good" and understandable for me? Sometimes a person reads a book that he doesn't like but can understand that some people like it. (It just doesn't come in your style)
I don't know; maybe I haven't looked at the book the way I should. Maybe it's also because this play is fully realized in performance. (-Just this one?! :)) It doesn't seem to have a very profound effect and have hidden layers and difficult-to-access subtleties. (-Maybe it does, nothing is far-fetched!) In short, if a kind-hearted person who likes David Mamet is found and can explain it, I will be grateful.

Expanded version:

Why is David Mamet considered a "good" playwright? And why is a play such as "Glengarry Glen Ross" regarded as "good" and understandable to me? Sometimes, an individual reads a book that he doesn't particularly like. However, he can still fathom that there are others who might have an affinity for it. (Perhaps it simply doesn't align with his personal style)
I'm not entirely sure. Maybe I haven't approached the book in the right way. It could also be that this play comes to life and is fully realized when it is performed on stage. (-Is this the only reason?! :)) On the surface, it doesn't seem to have an extremely profound impact or possess hidden layers and subtleties that are difficult to access. (-Then again, maybe it does, and nothing is out of the realm of possibility!) In conclusion, if a kind-hearted person who is a fan of David Mamet can be found and is able to provide an explanation, I would be truly grateful.

A Drama of Little Men

This play, despite Mamet's rather abhorrent politics, is still quite striking. The attention given to detail, dialogue, and scene is truly masterful. However, it appears that the playwright has not fully realized the thematic element. Maybe what revolts me about the banally evil workplace presented here is actually alluring to him. It makes one wonder if perhaps he is a small-time Hobbesian.

The play seems to delve into the complex world of ordinary people in an unremarkable yet disturbingly evil workplace. The characters are brought to life through the精湛的detail and engaging dialogue. But there is a sense that the deeper themes remain somewhat unresolved or not fully explored. It could be that Mamet is more attracted to the darker aspects of human nature and the workplace than one might initially think.

Overall, while the play has its strengths in terms of its technical aspects, the handling of the thematic element leaves something to be desired. It makes for an interesting and thought-provoking piece, but also one that leaves the audience with a sense of dissatisfaction and a desire for more.

I have been resolutely avoiding Glengarry Glen Ross, both the play and the film, for over two decades. As a student, it was my way of distinguishing myself from the Playwright Bros of the 2000s who idolized David Mamet. Later, when I became a working adult and came across annoying Sales Bros among my peers and co-workers, I saw no reason to spend my free time reading about a group of middle-aged salesmen! At my most contrary, I took pleasure in telling people that my favorite Mamet play was The Revenge of the Space Pandas, or Binky Rudich and the Two-Speed Clock, a ridiculous sci-fi lark he wrote for kids in the ‘70s. (I’m not kidding.)

However, perhaps one sign of maturity is letting go of youthful stubbornness and contrarianism. I don’t regret waiting this long to read Glengarry Glen Ross, and I’m certainly not going to become a Playwright Bro-Ette who makes this play my whole identity, but I have to admit, it’s good. It’s not even that different from some things I’ve loved for the past two decades! For as long as I’ve avoided Glengarry, I’ve embraced the Coen Brothers, and they also write about incompetent, desperate criminals who speak in a tangy, stylized language.

Still, more than Mamet’s much-praised dialogue style, what impressed me here is his sense of structure. The first act is a masterclass in writing scenes where one character tries to manipulate another, and the second act has some excellent tension and twists.

Judging by Oleanna, David Mamet doesn’t understand and can’t write women… but that means I can’t really fault him for writing an all-male cast in Glengarry. Especially because he is great at exposing the insecurities of a certain kind of middle-aged man. I’m starting to think that Glengarry is one of those canonical works that is misunderstood by its most vocal admirers, similar to how people misunderstand Fight Club. This is not a play about how great it is to be a swaggering, foul-mouthed, straight, white, male, real estate salesman… it’s about how the swagger masks deep insecurity and desperation. Notably, the character who comes out on top at the end is Williamson, a quiet fellow whom the hotshot salesman Ricky Roma mocks as unmasculine. This surprised me at first, until I read that this play was inspired by Mamet’s having worked in a real estate sales office, doing Williamson’s job of office manager. You have to watch out for the quiet ones, the ones who sit back and observe rather than getting worked up into a frenzy of capitalist competition. You have to watch out for the playwrights.

P.S., I recommend this 1984 conversation between Mamet and Studs Terkel, which also features them reading scenes from the play. Plus, during the interview, the first writer that Mamet mentions positively is a woman: Nancy Dowd, screenwriter of Slap Shot!

I saw this movie a long time ago.

I didn't remember the plot clearly, just that there was a lot of yelling.

I've never seen the play.

During the first act, I wondered why I bothered reading this.

There is so much grandstanding.

I've always known a career in sales was never for me, and this dramatic representation only reinforced that feeling.

Of course, not all sales environments have men cursing and spouting racial slurs.

It is the second act that really brings the story home.

The desperation inherent in the business these men are in is on full display.

Men (or people, if you prefer) hate to feel beholden to others for their livelihood.

They wiggle and squirm and even sabotage themselves.

It definitely makes for good drama, as it shows the complex and often chaotic nature of human behavior in a high-pressure situation.

The characters' struggles and conflicts add depth and authenticity to the story, making it a compelling watch or read.

Overall, while the first act may have been a bit off-putting, the second act redeemed the work and made it a memorable experience.

ROMA

You think you're queer...?
Let me tell you something:
we're all queer in our own ways. You think
you're a thief? So what? Don't let middle-class
morality befuddle you...? Cast it aside. Shut
it out completely. You cheated on your
wife...? Well, you did it, now you have to live with it.
(pause)
You fuck little girls? So be it. But is there an absolute morality? Maybe.
And then what? If you believe there is, then act accordingly. Do bad
people go to hell? I don't think so. If you think that way, then live by that code.
Is there a hell on earth? Yes.
But I won't live in it. That's just who I am.
Have you ever taken a dump that made you feel
like you'd just slept for twelve hours...?

LINGK
Did I...?

ROMA
Yes.

LINGK
I don't know.



ROMA
Or a piss...? A great meal fades
in reflection. Everything else
gains significance. You know why? 'Cause it's
just food. This stuff we eat, it
keeps us going. But it's only food.
The great fucks that you may have
had. What do you remember about
them?

LINGK
What do I...?

ROMA
Yes.

LINGK
Mmmm...

ROMA
I don't know. For me, I'm saying,
what really matters, it's probably not just the orgasm. Maybe it's some broads,
with their forearms on your neck, or something in her eyes. There was a sound she made...or,
for me, lying in bed; the next day she
brought me cafe au lait. She gives
me a cigarette, and my balls feel like
concrete. Eh? What I'm trying to say is, what is our life?
(pause)
It's either looking forward or looking back. And that's our life.
That's all there is. Where is the present moment?
(pause)
And what is it that we're afraid of?
Loss. What else could it be?
(pause)
The bank closes. We get sick, my
wife died on a plane, the stock
market collapsed...the house burnt
down...what if all these things happen...?
Maybe none of them will. But we worry anyway.
What does this mean? I'm not
secure. How can I be secure?
(pause)
Through amassing wealth beyond all
measure? No. And what's beyond
all measure? That's a sickness.
That's a trap. There is no real measure.
Only greed. So how can we act?
(MORE)


ROMA (CONT'D)
The so-called right way, we might say, to
deal with this is: \\"There is a one-in-a-million chance that so and so
will happen...Fuck it, it won't
happen to me...\\" But no. I don't think that's the right way.
(pause)
We might also say the correct way to deal with
this is: \\"There is a one-in-so-and-so chance this will happen...God
protect me. I am powerless, let it
not happen to me...\\" But I say no to that too.
There's something else. What is it? \\"If it happens, AS IT
MAY because that's not within our
control, I will deal with it, just
as I do today with what concerns me today.\\" I believe this is how
we must act. I do those things
that seem right to me today. I
trust myself. And if security
is a concern for me, I do what I think today will make me secure. And
every day I do that, so when that day arrives that I need a reserve, [a]
the odds are that I have it, and [b]
the true reserve that I have is the strength that comes from acting each
day without fear.
(pause)
According to the dictates of my
own mind.

Title: The Impact of Capitalism on Human Behavior

Capitalism is a system that has a profound influence on various aspects of our lives. It is often said that capitalism turns men into dicks. This might seem like a bold statement, but there could be some truth to it.

When people are constantly focused on making money and accumulating wealth, their values and behaviors may change. They might become more自私 and less caring about others. In the pursuit of profit, some individuals may engage in unethical or immoral practices.

However, it's important to note that not everyone is affected in the same way. There are still many people who manage to maintain their integrity and kindness in a capitalist society. Additionally, understanding how different systems work, such as real estate, can provide us with more insights into the complex relationship between capitalism and human behavior.

Perhaps by educating ourselves and being more aware of the potential pitfalls of capitalism, we can strive to create a more just and equitable society. One where people are not defined solely by their wealth or success, but by their character and the way they treat others.

In conclusion, while capitalism may have its drawbacks, it also has the potential to bring about positive change. It's up to us to navigate this system and make choices that align with our values and the well-being of others.

I am well aware that Mamet is a genius. His works are often lauded for their depth and complexity.

However, I simply cannot bring myself to like his tone. There is a certain bleakness that pervades all of his worlds.

In his plays and films, the characters seem to be trapped in a web of despair, with little hope of escape. The dialogue is often terse and unemotional, adding to the overall sense of coldness and detachment.

While I can appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into his work, I find it difficult to connect with on an emotional level. It's as if he is deliberately trying to keep the audience at arm's length,不让他们真正融入到故事中去.

Perhaps this is part of his genius, but for me, it makes his work less enjoyable. I prefer stories that have a bit more warmth and humanity, that allow me to empathize with the characters and feel something.

Nonetheless, I recognize that Mamet has made a significant contribution to the world of theater and film, and his work will continue to be studied and analyzed for years to come.