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 everythin...