lengarry Glen Ross depicts two days in the lives of four real estate salesmen, who are supplied with names and phone numbers of potential clients (leads) rationed out by the office manager. They are not selling well. Blake (Alec Baldwin) is sent by Mitch and Murray (the owners of the real estate office) to motivate the salesmen.
Watch the Glengarry Glen Ross clip embedded here. (Please note: The clip contains profanity. It is not meant to offend, but to illustrate some ideas about Machiavelli.)
If you haven’t already, read Machiavelli, Selections from The Prince, in Readings in the Western Humanities.
Answer the following questions in a paragraph or two:
How does the film clip illustrate Machiavelli’s ideas about power?
Would Blake (Alec Baldwin) be considered a successful ruler in Machiavelli’s view?
How would you react to being treated as Blake treats these salesmen?
Regardless of your reaction as his employee, would Blake achieve his goals?
