True West Essay, Research Paper

In the play True West, by Sam Shepard, the conflict which occurs between Austin and Lee is most interesting when in regard to business. As stated in the assignment sheet "the essence of dramatic action is conflict," I find the most enthralling action sequences in this play to be those spurred by a conflict based on business matters. In the beginning of True West the apparent differences between the two main characters, brothers Austin and Lee, are their degrees of success and professional standing. Austin is a distinguished screenwriter and an Ivy League Alumni. He has the family, "The house, the car, the whole slam,"(True West I.i.). At the other end of the spectrum is Lee, he?s a burglar, he has lived in the desert for the last three months, he hasn?t a family, a house, or even a car. A prominent conflict scene attributed to the brother?s lines of work is when Lee mentions that the length of his stay "Depends mostly on houses"(True West, I.i.i.). Austin attempts to dissuade Lee from burgling the neighborhood, but makes a momentous mistake trying to resolve the rising conflict by offering Lee money. Lee turns the argument into a physical scuffle and states that he doesn?t want Austin?s "Hollywood blood money," and adds "I can git my own money my own way. Big money!" Austin, initially playing the part of the protagonist, backing down and letting Lee spout off about how he can fend for himself. Another conflict that heightens the dramatic action is when Lee sells his screenplay idea to Saul. Austin had been working on a project with Saul for months. When it finally came time to seal the deal, Saul reassures Austin that everything is final, all they have to so is sell the idea by "getting a major star," (True West, I.i.i.i.) All Lee has to do is go golf and come home with a new set of golf clubs and everything is set in stone. Austin is frustrated to realize that Saul is merely a "hustler," and that in the business world, a set of golf clubs overrules the artistic and educational being of a typewriter. The reversal of the main character?s roles happen once Lee has ?sold? his script and Austin has been carelessly discarded. Austin, the upright citizen, begins question his skills. If Lee could write a script, he could certainly steal a toaster. A reversal of roles is fueled by the brother?s overwrought competitive drives. Austin says, "Well, maybe I oughta? go out and try my hand at your trade. Since you?re doing so good at mine."(True West I.I.7.) With the use of the word "oughta?" one can also see Austin?s speech pattern changing from that of a very educated and proper person to one of a less educated person. Lee thus sets out to out-write his brother. Lee begins the play with a bit of subtle criticism directed toward Austin?s ?artistic? methods, yet by Act 2, scene 7, he is banging away at the typewriter, prepared to prove he can write better than his brother, Ausin. The entire premise of the competition in True West is somewhat exhausting to follow. Despite the scene, the act, the event, or the situation, the brothers, Austin and Lee are struggling to be the ?best.? The business transactions and professional stations only add to the conflict that is constantly building. The role reversals are ingenious. By attempting to be success? in eachothers fields, Austin and Lee realize the talents they posses make them who they are. Thus they overcome the conflicts they had struggled with throughout the play and let their business finesse be a state of reality, and not a state of being.