Disfunction in Buried Child by Sam Shepard

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Disfunction in Buried Child by Sam Shepard The main idea of Sam Shepard's, "Buried Child" is dis-function. Set in typical Shepard fashion, he creates what can be described as a typical, run of the mill American family. However, it is not long intothe playr that the reader realizes that not only is this not the case, but this family may in fact be the most dis-functional in all of America. It is immediately made clear to the reader that something is not quite right. Dodge, the grandfather of the extended family, is seemingly on his death bed and his wife, Halie, doesn't appear to be overly sympathetic, as her concern towards him seems more obligatory than anything else. She then goes out to have "lunch" with the preacher, and it is later revealed that they are in fact having an affair. This is not the kind of behavior one would expect from a life partner. We next meet Tilden. He is the oldest son of Halie and Dodge. He comes into the house with an armful of corn, and is immediately questioned about it. Dodge tells him that there is no corn on their property. Tilden then contradicts that statement and says that there in fact is corn, and he just picked it from their property. Tilden appears to be the sane one out of the three characters we had met. However, we then find out that he had been in trouble in New Mexico, and was in fact kicked out of the state. At that point, we realize that something is definitely not right with this family. Next, we meet Bradley, the one-legged son of Halie and Dodge. He cut it off in a freak chain sawing accident. Shortly after, Vince shows up from New York with his girlfriend, Shelley. He is the grandson of Halie and Dodge. He stopped by to see them on his way to visit his father. The weird thing is that nobody recognizes Vince. This is a great testament to how messed uo this family is. Nobody ever makes sense. Everybody is constantly being contradicted, and then the grandson, who is the only level-headed one of the bunch, is not even recognized. I believe that this was a tool used purposefully be Shepard. By the time Vince shows up, we are all looking for someone to start making some sense.

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