Violence drives True West forward. When the brothers reach an impasse, or when Lee grows frustrated, violence is often the go-to reaction. That's why it's no surprise that the final scene of the play is dominated by an extended act of violence. By that point, Austin has transformed and has gained an almost equal footing with Lee. Ultimately, Austin starts the violence at the end of the show, and he finishes it by almost murdering his brother.
If True West is, at least on one level, the dark side or the animal side of human nature, violence can't help but be a major part of the play. At the center of the show are two men who, step by step, abandon any societal rules that most people live by. When the social contract and the familial contract disintegrate, they are free to stalk and attack each other like predator and prey.
Questions About Violence
- What is the first act of violence of the play? How early in the show does it occur?
- What does Lee hope to gain when he "suddenly lunges at AUSTIN, grabs him violently by the shirt and shakes him with tremendous power" (1.1.140)?
- What is the significance of Austin using a phone cord to strangle Lee?
- What do you think Mom's reaction to her sons' final fight says about the family unit as a whole?
Chew on This
The only way Lee knows how to survive is through violence. He resorts to bullying, dog fighting, and theft to get by in the world. This behavior has never been quelled, and so Lee's life could be seen as a success.
Lee hates technology. A lot of his violent outbreaks are geared towards machines like the typewriter, the phone, and even the toasters. Technology, for Lee, is just another thing that is used to confine men and limit their freedom.