Introduction
" True West" is a play composed by Sam Shepard, very first premiered in 1980. It is a character research study that checks out the complicated and strained relationship between two bros, Austin and Lee. Set in the background of the bros' mom's home in Southern California, the play delves into various themes such as sibling competition, family dysfunction, and the elusive American Dream.
Characters and Setting
The play focuses on four main characters:
1. Austin: A college-educated, clean-cut, enthusiastic screenwriter, dealing with a project in Hollywood. He is married with children and represents the responsible, well-adjusted side of the bros' shared upbringing.
2. Lee: A drifter, burglar, and older brother to Austin. He is rough around the edges and represents a more untamed, wild side of the bros' childhood. Unpredictable and hazardous at times, Lee has a serious ridicule for his little brother's polished life.
3. Saul: A Hollywood manufacturer who ends up being an essential character in the siblings' journey, as he appears to hold the key to their particular dreams.
4. Mama: The mother of the brothers. She is a peripheral character, seen mainly as a point of dispute in between the siblings.
The setting of the play occurs in the mother's house, while she is away on holiday. The comprehensive but worn out house in Southern California represents a reconnection to the past, along with individual stress and insecurities.
Plot Summary
The play starts with Austin working on his screenplay when Lee unexpectedly ruptures into his life after 5 years of lack. Austin is not pleased with Lee's unannounced return, and it becomes clear that the 2 bros have a strained and remote relationship. Lee, who has been residing in the desert, shows up one day while their mommy is on trip in Alaska, troubling Austin's quiet work environment. Slowly, tensions develop and boil over as the bros' past comes to light.
As the plot moves on, Lee manages to take a deal from Austin, encouraging a Hollywood producer, Saul, to buy his clichéd and inadequately thought-out Western script rather of Austin's work. Fueled by resentment and jealousy, the 2 bros become consumed with undermining each other's lives and dreams.
In a paradoxical twist, Austin, who previously looked down upon his brother's disorderly and criminal way of life, becomes unhinged and begins taking family products. In contrast, Lee takes on the obligation of composing a script and pitches it successfully. As the lines between obligation and recklessness blur, the two siblings concern comprehend that their shared past, beliefs, and knotted nature make them inseparable.
Styles
" True West" mines intricate styles, including:
1. Sibling competition: The stretched relationship in between Austin and Lee is a main component in the play, showing the competitive nature of brother or sisters, especially when success and dreams are at stake.
2. The American Dream: Both brothers pursue success, albeit through different methods. Austin tries to accomplish it through hard work and education, while Lee epitomizes the "Wild West" perfects of lawlessness and violence. The play discuss the evasive nature of the American Dream and concerns its values.
3. Family and Dysfunction: The brothers' relationship represents a wider exploration of the nature of family, broken relationships, and the impact of upbringing in shaping character.
4. The Duality of Identity: The play takes a look at the duality within people, showing that identity is not as simple and one-dimensional. Both siblings display different aspects of humanity, great and bad, as their functions begin to combine and blur throughout the narrative.
Conclusion
"True West" remains an effective commentary on brother or sister rivalry and the numerous nuances of the American Dream. Penned with significant prose and imbued with dark humor, the play dives deep into the human mind and its propensity for both great and wicked. With its gripping story and complex characters, "True West" continues to engage and challenge audiences to this day.
True West
Two estranged brothers, Austin and Lee, reunite at their mother's home in Southern California. The story explores the sibling rivalry between the two brothers as they struggle for control over each other's lives.
Author: Sam Shepard
Sam Shepard, renowned playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner. Uncover his achievements in theater, film, and music, and celebrate his legacy through his inspiring quotes.
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