... lives". (Anne Dean) Throughout the 1970s (the time period in which David Mamet wrote and on which he has based American Buffalo), society held this primary instinctive feeling that they had to belong to and be accepted by society. This aspiration to become rich, through whatever means necessary, and gain security by obtaining a secure job is more commonly known as the 'American Dream'. In 1963, president Kennedy was assassinated. This brought new fear to the American society as they asked themselves 'how could this happen in the greatest democracy in the world'. In the next ten years, problems of crime, drugs gender and race discrimination brought America crashing down. The belief that wealth brought happiness, whatever the cost to achieve happiness was widespread. From Mamet's work we can see this coming through via his characters: Teach: You know what is free enterprise? The freedom...Of the Individual...To Embark on Any Fucking ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now