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Analysis Of 'True West And In Search Of Snow'

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Recommended: American dream in literature

Today in my analysis I will be conducting a comparative analysis over the theme, “The American Frontier.” The works that I'll include in my analysis are, “True West,” by Sam Shepard, “In Search of Snow,” by Luis Alberto Urrea, and the film “Days of Heaven,” which was viewed in class. Primarily my comparative analysis will focus in on these key points; symbolism, setting, the American way of life, American values, and ideas. In the story, “True West” included a little American drama so to speak. Austin has tried to escape the influence of his family, although all of his hard has been unsuccessful. Also, he has made an effort to gain a sense of identity by his accomplishments, but as an ending result they have all been meaningless and didn’t …show more content…

Their version of the American way of life is somewhat different from the previous stories; in this story is constantly moving and never really having a stable place to call home and they live with the goal of achieving to make more money and escape to the Texas Panhandle to live a better live while working on the farm. One thing that all of the works include is lacking freedom and feeling a sense of wanting to escape. Throughout the film Bill wants to keep it a secret that he's in love with Abby but the farmers seem to be on to their scheme. Bill tries to pretend that they are related; it’s typical how Abby is torn between two men that want her but bill encourages her to marry the farmer in order to inherit his money when he dies. This plan failed after the farmers health remained stable, after this the farmer caught on to their scheme. In the end a fire destroys the wheat field, and the farmer goes after bill with a gun but bill ends up killing him first. Bill, Abby, and Linda escape to hide from the truth but the police find them and kills bill. It’s ironic how in the end Abby still managed to inherit the farmers riches; Abby leaves Linda at boarding school, where Linda later escapes from with a friend. An idea I found similar to Sam Shepard, “True West” was that they both are looking to fulfill an identity. Also, like in Urrea, “dreams and ambition is the driving force in life, but the only outcome is

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