Most well written protagonists undergo some form of change throughout the course of the story. Not all of them, though, go through a complete and utter transformation. Austin's arc, which is the central character act of the play, is more akin to full on metamorphosis than a minor change of character.
By the end of the play, Austin is barely recognizable as the man he was at the top of the show. He's transformed into a man who would leave his family for the desert, give up his life, and almost kill his brother. He's transformed into a man just like Lee.
For his part, Lee dabbles in transformation. Remember, at one point he does proclaim, "I'm a screenwriter now! I'm legitimate" (2.7.50). Transformation doesn't really take for Lee, though. At the end of the play he's much the same man he was at the beginning, and even when he's trying his hand at screenwriting, he's still the loud, violent, angry man from before. We guess certain things never change.
Questions About Transformation
- What drives Austin to start changing so drastically?
- Do you think Lee has any real intention of completing his script? What in his dialogue/actions leads you to believe the way you do?
- Sure, Austin is transforming into Lee in a way, but do you think both brothers are simply turning into their father?
- What role does violence play in Austin's transformation?
Chew on This
While on the surface, it might look like Lee getting Saul to take on his script and dump Austin's is what sparks Austin's transformation, it is actually the arrival of Lee before the play even starts that really kicks it off.
Shepard places no judgment on Austin's transformation. Nothing suggests that living a "successful" life in Hollywood is any better than tapping into the animal side of human nature.