Deconstructing the Space of Consumption and Illusion in David Mamet’s American Buffalo

This paper aims to examine how capitalism and materialism generate and dismantle illusions and spaces in David Mamet’s American Buffalo. Set in a chaotic junk shop, the characters’ pursuit of material success exposes the fragility of their social connections, while the shop symbolizes economic inequality, as unethical behaviors and exploitation unfold in a competition for survival. The title American Buffalo reflects an identity shaped by consumption, as a seemingly worthless coin becomes a powerful object of desire, underscoring the manipulability of value and the characters’ hollow ambitions. Ultimately, Mamet portrays the city as a space of capital accumulation and exploitation, exploring how consumption and power dynamics shape everyday spaces and desires amidst modern alienation.