Day 7 — Performance workshop & staging choices
Is Ricky Roma a charismatic hero or a sociopath? Does his talent for persuasion excuse his ethics? Defend your answer.
Host a structured debate with a provocative topic: "Is the American Dream still attainable, or is it the ultimate con?" Students must ground their arguments in quotes from the play. One side argues that the system is broken and rewards only the unethical (like Ricky Roma). The other side argues that hard work is still the key, and characters like Shelly Levene failed because they were no longer adaptable. This forces students to use the text as a primary source for contemporary social commentary. glengarry glen ross grade 11 1260l fixed
A set of steak knives (a mocking token of mediocrity) Third prize: Firing (economic erasure)
: The tragic figure of the play, Levene is an aging, once-great "closer" now failing miserably. His desperate attempts to prove he still "has it" are heartbreaking and serve as the play's emotional core. His tragedy arises from his excessive pride and inability to accept his own decline. Day 7 — Performance workshop & staging choices
The play's ending is intentionally ambiguous. Have students write a one-page scene that takes place one week after the play's final moments. Their scene must:
Do you need assistance mapping these themes to a with Death of a Salesman ? Share public link Host a structured debate with a provocative topic:
For a Grade 11 reader used to clear heroes and neat endings, Glengarry Glen Ross is a shock to the system. It’s loud, profane, and morally gray. But that’s exactly why it’s worth studying. Mamet isn’t showing you who you should be; he’s showing you who capitalism quietly asks you to become.
: The play serves as a scathing critique of American capitalism, where the relentless pressure to succeed drives individuals to embrace unethical and illegal behaviors—from lies and flattery to bribery and burglary. Students can debate whether the characters’ actions are simply the result of personal failings or an inevitable product of a system that values profit above all else.
This is not a metaphor. It’s a Tuesday.