Glengarry Glen Ross
Context – Written 1982, First Performed 1983, set in
contemporary America (unspecified city – New
York?) – What values do you associate with the
time?
Structure – Two Acts.
 Act 1 is divided into 3 scenes, each of them
dialogues in real time, in the same location but not
overheard. Essentially the classical unities, derived
from Aristotle’s poetics, are followed.
 Act 2 – Again, unities followed but the characters
interact as an ensemble.
1. The unity of action: a play should have one main action that it
follows, with no or few subplots.
2. The unity of place: a play should cover a single physical space and
should not attempt to compress geography, nor should the stage
represent more than one place.
3. The unity of time: the action in a play should take place over no more
than 24 hours.
 Also focus on character arcs, and the conventions of farce, juxtaposition
and tragedy.
Set Design – Minimal – Why?
Character
All of the characters are presented purely in their
working environment; their personalities, attitudes
and relationships are revealed through their language,
and the nature of their dialogue.
Language
How is language used to reflect character,
relationships, subtext, tension and conflict in each of
the dialogues?
Devices to look out for:
Non-fluency
features
Dialogue
Features
Rhetorical
Features
Ellipsis – words,
phrases missing
Ellision – parts
of words missed
out
Repetition
False starts
Pausing
Stichomythia
Interruptions
Overlapping
Dominance
Turn-taking
Two-part
exchanges–
Q&A,
Statement/agree
ment
In medias res
Emphasis
Repetition
Colloquialism
Vitriolic diction
Figurative
language
Jargon
Invective
Themes
Start listing
Glengarry Glen Ross – Comparing Dialogues
Now that we’ve explored each of these dialogues separately, we need to look
at the way they interact with each other.
Find as many comparisons as you can which highlight similarities or
differences between:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
Plot/Structure
Character
Relationships
Language
Dramatic devices
Themes
Tone
Close analysis of Roma’s speech. “Always tell the truth; it’s the easiest
thing to remember.”
a) What philosophical and ethical standpoints are asserted by Roma in the speech?
b) In what way can it be seen to represent the values of the world depicted in the
play?
c) Clearly it’s dramatic purpose is to persuade Lingk to buy land. What persuasive
methods are used to do this?
d) If it is ‘just’ a sales pitch, should we pay attention to its ideas as part of themes of
the play as a whole? Explain.
Individualistic
Cynical
Materialist and materialistic
Opportunist
Nihilistic
Glengarry Glen Ross – Act 2
 Structurally – still follows unities but the various strands now
interact, collide, confuse and follow different trajectories.
 Generically, there’s a collision of farce (misunderstanding,
escalating sense of a loss of control, divergent tension) and
tragedy (consider the outcome for all of the characters, not just
Levene).
Passages for close analysis:
Section Page
Characters Outline
A
B
C
D
E
39 –‘Shut
the…’ – 40
–‘You
were
saying’
52 ‘Just go
to lunch’ –
53 - It’s
not me it’s
my wife’
p. 57-59
Anyone in
this office.
‘made it
up’
p.62-3 –
‘No, I
think’ ‘…you’
p.63 64–
Guy…
‘a while’
Roma
Moss
Ross interrupts Levene’s ‘success’ story to
Roma and they confront each other.
Willamson
Aaronow
Roma
Lingk
Aaronow interrupts Roma’s attempt to keep
his deal with Lingk and Williamson
challenges him.
Roma
Levene
Willamson
Roma attacks Willamson for ruining his
deal, Levene continues the abuse and
accidentally gives away his crime.
Levene
Levene fails to escape.
Williamson
Roma
Levene
Roma pitches to Levene
1. Prepare a reading of each of these sections.
2. Respond to questions and comments about the passage
a) Plot
b) Character hubris
c) Relationships
d) Language
e) Dramatic devices
f) Themes
g) Tone
3. Consider the outcome for each of the characters in the play. Are
their similarities or differences most significant?

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
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Masculinity
Money
Deception
Persuasion
Power
Changing social values
‘American Dream’
Individualism and community
Reputation and image
Freedom and entrapment
Pride