A Deeper Meaning

True West by Sam Shepard was an engaging and generally easy read. At many instances in the text, I found myself trying to find a deeper meaning for many of the incidence that took place. I came to the conclusion that the entire play is a portrayal of an intricate power struggle. The characters, Lee, Austin, Kimmer, and Mom, are all very disconnected from the outside world, but play important roles in the shifts in power within the play. One of the first and most recurring examples of this is seen when Lee asks Austin for the keys to his car. At this point in the play, Austin is portrayed as the level headed brother who went to and “Ivy League” school, while Lee is portray as nomadic and frivolous. The car keys are a symbol of Austin’s independence and self –consciousness. Lee would like to acquire the same amount of independence that his brother has, but resents Austin for being more well off than he is. The second example of a power struggle is seen when Kimmer comes to the house to speak with Austin about his screenplay. Lee immediately finds a way to associate with Kimmer and he accomplishes this through a game of golf. After Lee is able to convince Kimmer to invest in his story idea, there is a complete shift in character roles: Austin becomes the irresponsible drunk, while Lee tries to concentrate on efficiently writing a script. Austin may be more intellectual in theory, but Lee is a master manipulator who knows how to work any situation to his favor. I found Mom’s character impartial and passive, which perplexed me to know end. I think that her character is portrayed in this manner to further highlight sheer dysfunction in the family structure.