Sam Shepards American Siblings

A detailed Summary of Sam Shepards American Siblings

True West is an intense dramatization of the relationship between two brothers: Lee and Austin. As each scene progresses, the brothers' rivalry and animosity towards each other become more and more apparent, building towards a single emotionally involving climax. Throughout the play, the characters undergo subtle changes as each brother subconsciously attempts to absorb the part of the other brother's life which he feels might complete him. This role reversal is the pivotal instrument in which Sam Sheppard shows the intensity of sibling rivalry.

The play starts en medea res. Lee and Austin have not talked to each other in some time, and Lee obviously resents Austin. In the conversation Lee almost has something to prove to Austin. A few sentences into the conversation, Austin's estimation of Lee and Lee's hostile resentment of this view become apparent:

AUSTIN: I've got too much to deal with here to be worrying about-

LEE: Yer not gonna' have to worry about me! I've been doin' all right without you. I haven't been anywhere near you for five years! Now isn't that true? (P. 8)

Austin clearly thinks of his brother as a responsibility, and does not think of him as an equal, much less as someone who can take care of

LEE: This is the last time I try to live with people! (P. 46)

AUSTIN: Don't worry about me. I'm not the one to worry about. (P. 38)

LEE: I mean I know how to water plants. (P.7)

With the culmination of the tense last scene, Lee realizes that he is not meant to live like Austin, and he knows that Austin wouldn't be able to live with him on the desert. When Austin snaps, and begins choking Lee, he makes an almost complete role reversal. His own greed and disregard for others leads him to attack his own brother, whom he has subconsciously used for a role model throughout the play. Lee on the other hand becomes more focused and calm as the play proceeds. With the unresolved ending, the play leaves the resolution of the two brothers up to speculation. While neither of the brothers knows what will happen to themselves, their mother says it best, "I see. Well, you'll all wind up on the same desert sooner or later.(P53)" Neither of the brothers has acted in a particularly normal fashion throughout the play, and it is only when their mother comes home that they realize they have trashed the house. The exchange of culture between the two brothers not only allows each brother to glimpse into the others' life, but also creates a chaotic environment in which the brothers become overcome with sibling rivalry.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Austin Austin, Lee Austin, Lee Throughout, Austin Lee, LEE Yer, Saul P34, Lee Lee, Saul It's, P7 Throughout, LEE Hey, throughout play, austin austin, lee austin, complete role reversal, austin yeah, don't worry, major change, sibling rivalry, tryin' concentrate, brother's life, neither brothers,

Approximate Word count = 1328
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts

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