Quest for Identity: A Study of Sam Shepard's Buried Child

Abstract

The research aims at studying the quest for identity which spans over the life of an American family in Sam Shepard's Play Buried Child. This paper extensively explores and portrays how members of Dodge’s family are struggling with the identity. It also focuses on lack of belongingness, search for roots, and association with past. Almost all the characters in this play are struggling with their identities. They have different identities at different times and are desperately trying to restore and establish their identities. In an attempt to claim their lost identity they resort to violence. It also analyses how various reasons or causes such as: Incest, Infanticide, traumatic effects, Alcoholism and escaping from reality contribute to the identity crisis.