David Mamet has referred to his Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross, as a “gang comedy about men, work, and unbridled competition.” This essay explores this imbrication of masculinity and the discourse of capitalism, which is often structured around the mythos of individualism and cutthroat competition. Additionally, this article addresses the means by which Mamet's characters, who are constituted by the demands of capitalism, use language as a source for domination and manipulation.
AlmansiG. (1986). David Mamet, a virtuoso of invective. In ChenetierM. (Ed.), Critical angles: European views of contemporary American literature (pp. 191–207). Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press.
2.
BrittanA. (1989). Masculinity and power. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
3.
CorlissR. (1992, October 12). Sweating out loud. Time, 84.
4.
CullickJ. (1994). Always be closing: Competition and discourse of closure in David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross. Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism, 8(2), 23–36.
5.
DeanA. (1990). David Mamet: Language as Dramatic Action. New Jersey: Associated University Presses.
6.
FriedmanS. G. (1985, April 21). The gritty eloquence of David Mamet. New York Times, 40.
7.
KaneL. (Ed.). (1992). David Mamet: A casebook. New York: Garland.
8.
MametD. (1982). Glengarry Glen Ross. New York: Grove Press.
9.
MametD. (1982). American buffalo. New York: Grove Press.
10.
MametD. (1985). Speed the plow. New York: Grove Press.
11.
MametD. (1989). In the company of men. Some freaks. New York: Viking.
12.
MametD. (1993). Oleanna. New York: Random.
13.
McDonoughC. J. (1992). Every fear hides a wish: Unstable masculinity in Mamet's drama. Theatre Journal, 44(2), 195–215.
14.
MillerA. (1957). Arthur Miller's collected plays. New York: Viking Press.
15.
PleckJ. H. (1981). The myth of masculinity. Boston: MIT Press.
16.
RadavichD. (1991). Man among men: David Mamet's homosocial order. American Drama Fall, 1, 46–60.
17.
RoudaneM. C. (1986a). An interview with David Mamet. Studies in American Drama, 1945-presentVol.1; pp. 73–81.
18.
RoudaneM. C. (1986b) Public issues, private tensions: David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross. The South Carolina Review, 19, 35–47.
19.
SattelJ. W. (1989). The inexpressive male: Tragedy or sexual politics? In KimmelM. S. & MessnerM. A. (Eds.), Men's lives (pp. 120–127). New York: Macmillan.
20.
ThompsonE. H.PleckJ. H., & FerreraD. L. (1992). Men and masculinities: Scales for masculinity ideology and masculinity-related constructs. Sex Role, 27, 573–607.
21.
TokofskyJ. Producer FoleyJ. Director (1993). Glengarry Glen Ross. (Video recording). (available from Live Home Video). California.
22.
WorsterD. (1994). How to do things with salesmen: David Mamet's speech-act play. Modern Drama, 37, 375–390.
23.
ZeifmanH. (1992). Phallus in wonderland: Machismo and business in David Mamet's American Buffalo and Glengarry Glen Ross. In KaneL. (Ed.), David Mamet: A casebook (pp. 123–135). New York: Garland.
24.
ZinmanT. S. (1992). Jewish aporia: The rhythm of talking in Mamet. Theatre Journal, 44(2), 206–215.