Some attributes of David Mamet garnered from his work and an interview include a well-read, uncompromising cynic who describes himself as a dramatic, proud writer who could have easily been sentenced to life as a criminal. The most apparent attribute of Mamet that is apparent in an interview conducted in the 1990s is how well-read Mamet is and the breadth of knowledge that he possesses. This is clearly seen in the interview between David Mamet and John Lahr where Mamet constantly quotes literature and people like Ernest Hemingway and Aristotle with ease (Lahr). An attribute of Mamet growing up is that he was inquisitive, dramatic, and bored by the school system (Lahr). The dramatic nature resulted from a career as a child actor that seems to have carried over into his adulthood while the bored aspect that resulted from schooling seems to stem from wanting to accomplish things rather than learn about them (Lahr). The sense of accomplishment can also be inferred from the actions of characters within his plays. Mamet’s characterization as a cynic seems to stem from his upbringing in Chicago where “nothing could be more embarrassing than to be duped or conned, or to yield to the niceties of hypocrisy” (Whitfield).

Furthermore, around the turn of the century, David Mamet is described as hacking a “less angry, more playfully imaginative” side that is reflected in some of his later works such as Boston Marriage, which was written for his second wife. Mamet’s ego as an attribute is an interesting topic because he describes himself as both someone without “not-very-well-formed ego” but also as a “proud son of a bitch” (Lahr). These quotes seem to show that Mamet may be proud in terms of an uncompromising nature but unsure the limits that this ego extends to. Furthermore, another mental attribute that Mamet seems to suggest he has is a strong sense of empathy. This sense of empathy can be seen when he describes himself as a “shitty salesman” because he kept identifying with people on the other side of the negotiations (Lahr). Another self-described attribute of Mamet is that he is unprepared, which he uses as motivation to work harder (Lahr).