Blog Entry #3

In Buried Child, Sam Shepard draws attention to societal issues concerning domestic affairs by slowly bringing to light why the family in the story is so shattered. In terms of the plot Shepard has the exposition present throughout the play as we never really understand who the characters are until the end. This allows for multiple issues to be addressed throughout the drama. The main societal issue that the drama addresses is incest. This is a serious subject as throughout most modern societies it is an act that is considered to be unacceptable. Shepard’s stance on this subject can be seen through the effect the incident in the drama had on the family. Before it happened they were very comfortable with each other and the lives they were living but it was the relationship between Halie and Tilden the bonds to shatter. This is made apparent to the audience by Shelly’s comments about how they’re lives used to be and the picture of Halie holding the baby. “She’s looking down at the baby like it was somebody else’s. Like it didn’t belong to her.”(Buried Child)

Marsha Norman’s purpose in this drama was clear from the point that Jessie told Mama she was going to kill herself and there was virtually nothing she could do to stop her. It is as if Norman was trying to provide a gateway to people who had considered that “option” to help those around them understand why it seemed like practical “solution” to them. Because in modern society it is seen as taboo but in the end if one has decided to take that choice those around are practically helpless to save the individual and must accept/live with the fact. “Don’t and try and stop me, Mama, you can’t do it.”(‘night Mother)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsE8ELDOHKI&feature=related

Blog Entry #2

The usage of Tennessee Williams’ “plastic drama” allows for the imagery to evoke emotion in the audience. One of the most powerful images created by Williams is the scene in which Tom asks Laura, even though the question was rhetorical, a way to escape the life he has been given and not chosen. “You know it don’t take too much intelligence to get yourself into a nailed-up coffin, Laura. But who in hell ever got himself out of one without removing one nail? [As if in answer, the father’s grinning photograph lights up. The scene dims out.]” (Pg.485-486) Williams’ uses to coffin to symbolize the box that Tom feels his is living in. And the picture of his father serves as a reminder of the one man who was able to escape the coffin without removing a single nail. When Tom finally decides to leave he states, “I descended the steps of this fire escape for a last time and followed, from then on, in my father’s footsteps, attempting to find in motion what was lost in space” (Pg. 506), as if to say he has chosen to be the next man to leave the coffin in such mysterious fashion. Williams’ uses “plastic drama” through the image of father that torments both Tom and Amanda. Tom is tortured by the picture because he lives the life that he wants for himself and for Amanda it serves a cruel reminder of her youth and how much she loved the man that left her.