In David Mamet's play "Glengarry Glen Ross," the competitive nature of sales is starkly portrayed through a harsh motivational speech. The speaker highlights the high stakes involved, using three prizes to embody the harsh realities of the business world. The top reward, a Cadillac El Dorado, illustrates the ultimate success one can achieve, while second prize, a set of steak knives, illustrates a meager consolation for those who fail to meet expectations. Finally, the brutal implication that not succeeding leads to being fired underscores the pressure faced by salesmen.

This quote encapsulates the theme of desperation and the cutthroat environment in which the characters operate. It starkly contrasts the allure of the Cadillac with the insignificance of the steak knives, while the threat of termination hangs over them as a constant reminder of their precarious situation. Mamet's work reveals the moral ambiguities and fierce competition in the pursuit of success, shedding light on the lengths people will go to in order to secure their position and the often punitive nature of failure in the corporate landscape.