I think that Mamet uses profanity in Glengarry Glenn Ross as way to reflect his characters in the dialogue. Profanity is harsh and brazen, and it mirrors the attitudes and reality of all the employees. The whole world that Mamet has set up is verytestosterone infused society. When you think about the language of the play it really showcases that dominant male culture. Mamet’s inside look at that life also really displays its faults in that all of its anger and hostility ultimately results in a downfall (Levene).
We also see that the characters seem to use profanity as a crutch as all the tension in making the sales builds. None of them use any intricate language and the dialogue is full of stammering, pauses, and curse words, which almost foreshadows the eventual whirlwind of upset at the end of the play.
The use of profanity goes a lot deeper than just words on the page. It serves as a looking glass to see inside the crumbling male workplace. It really sets the mood for the story and isn’t at all unwarranted. It may be found to be too much or too severe, but I think that’s why it’s there. All of Mamet’s characters are rough and tough, so it’s an extra boost to their personalities and lifestyles. Without it I’m not sure the play would have the same effect as it does with it. So in my opinion, Mamet made a good move by incorporating it into his writing.
Reading and Writing 