American Buffalo

Don Dubrow is a man in his late 40s, the owner of “Don’s Resale Shop.” He is the play’s protagonist. Much of the play’s activity, which consists of intense and rapid dialogue, takes the form of the other characters trying to convince Donny to come around to their side. Bobby tries to convince Donny to include him in the robbery, while Teach tries to replace Bobby with himself. Donny is magnanimous and well-intentioned; however, he is not beyond moral reproach, as he sees an opportunity for personal gain at the prospect of robbing a former customer’s house.

By demonstrating Donny’s generosity with and tutelage of Bobby, as well as his tolerance of Teach’s exaggerated antics, Mamet encourages the reader to sympathize with Donny. As Teach and Bobby each present their cases to Donny, Donny must navigate his values of business, wealth, friendship, and masculinity. Donny’s struggle to honor both his desire for wealth and his loyalty to others invites the audience to consider the interacting systems of value that define American masculinity.