Buried Child

Sam Shepard

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dysfunctional family dynamics

decay of the american dream

rich symbolism

midwestern american setting

tension and complexity in pacing

darker aspects of human nature

cultural decay

family relationships exploration

The play 'Buried Child' by Sam Shepard delves into the dysfunctional dynamics of a midwestern American family, exploring familiar issues with a dark and sobering tone turned up to the extreme. The narrative is filled with symbolism, throwing the audience into a surreal world grounded in the decay of the American Dream. The family portrayed in the drama serves as a microcosm of hope and its eventual destruction in America, with stunning skills in painting pictures with words.

Characters:

The characters are dysfunctional and often unlikable, representing deep familial issues and the darker aspects of human nature.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is characterized by rich symbolism and striking imagery, creating a vivid and sometimes absurd atmosphere.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative delves into family dynamics filled with dysfunction, examining themes of betrayal and the decay of the American Dream.

Setting:

The setting is a Midwestern American home that reflects cultural decay, alternating between realism and surrealism.

Pacing:

The pacing is varied, with moments of tension and complexity that keep the audience engaged.

Scene: day. Old wooden staircase down left with pale, frayed carpet laid down on the steps. The stairs lead offstage left up into the wings with no landing. Up right is an old, dark green sofa with th...

Notes:

'Buried Child' is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Sam Shepard.

The play explores themes of familial hatred, psychosis, and the decay of the American Dream.

It portrays a dysfunctional Midwestern family and their hidden secrets.

The characters are often seen as unlikable, making it hard for some audiences to connect with them.

The setting is described as surreal, blending reality with absurd elements.

Many readers appreciate Shepard's skillful use of language and imagery throughout the play.

The matriarch, Halie, remains an ambiguous character, with her motivations not fully explained.

There are significant symbolic elements, including metaphors related to incest and vegetation.

The play has a mix of dark humor and serious themes, providing moments of levity amidst its heaviness.

Some viewers found the play's exploration of the traditional family to be a bit too on-the-nose, but still impactful.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The play has high content warnings due to themes of incest, dysfunction, emotional trauma, and the presence of a dead child.

From The Publisher:

A scene of madness greets Vince and his girlfriend as they arrive at the squalid farmhouse of Vince's hard-drinking grandparents, who seem to have no idea who he is. Nor does his father, Tilden, a hulking former All-American footballer, or his uncle, who has lost one of his legs to a chain saw. Only the memory of an unwanted child, buried in an undisclosed location, can hope to deliver this family from its sin.

Ratings (3)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)

Reader Stats (6):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (3)

What can you read after
Buried Child?

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About the Author:

SAM SHEPARD was the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of more than fifty-five plays, three story collections, and the novels The One Inside and Spy of the First Person. As an actor, he appeared in more than sixty films, and received an Oscar nomination…

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