True West is not current, one can find it relevant today due to the fact that sibling rivalry has always been apparent. Shepard used research done in the 1980s to construct characters that made sense, characters that could resemble reality. This research resulted in the characters, Lee and Austin, being complete opposites when it came to their personalities: "personality-wise, we're only like our sibling about 20% of the time." (Alix Spiegel). Thus making their antics and awkwardness more understandable to the viewer. Austin is quiet and more introverted than Lee and enjoys the silence of his hometown. Lee is the most outgoing and agitates Austin until he pushes him too far. When Lee first arrives, things are awkward and tense between the two; Lee harasses Austin, and Austin only gives one dubbed comment. The brothers are estranged from the different lifestyles they have chosen, but that doesn't mean there is any real animosity between the two. Many might not have understood such a play if they did not have siblings. However, Shephard's depth and research would allow anyone to see the play and understand these elements.