RAMA SANI PUTRA

1175030211

Buried Child is a drama written by Sam Shepard and first aired in 1978. This story takes place during
the economic recession in America in the 1970s. The drama's setting is set on a farm in Illinois, and
centers around Halie and Dodge, a husband and wife who work as middle-class farmers who endure
poverty along with their two children, Tilden and Bradley. In this drama, it is told that it rained
throughout the drama. Rain in this story can also be interpreted as a symbol of the feelings of
helpless Americans during this grim time in American history.

Likewise, as the saying goes, "“when it rains, it pours," denotes problems exacerbated by more
problems. In this understanding, the rain is also a sign for a deeper problem that will soon come to
the surface of the narrative. I think Buried Child has two different themes, namely, Failure and also
the American Dream. Halie’s vision is symbolic of America’s own vision of a brighter future after the
airing of vices, after “fixing” its mistakes and moving forward. Whether the vision is real or imaginary
is also important here. If imaginary, it showcases the spirit of hope and perseverance still alive
amidst the muck of poverty. If a real image, the field of vegetables highlights a turning point in
history, a telling image of America’s prosperity and bounty returning.