Sam Shepard and the “Familial Maze”: Possible Worlds Theory in Buried Child

Authors

  • Omid Amani University of Tehran, Alborz Campus
  • Hossein Pirnajmuddin Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Isfahan
  • Seyed Mohammad Marandi Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Tehran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17576/gema-2017-1702-05

Keywords:

Sam Shepard's Buried Child, Marie-Laure Ryan, possible worlds theory, cognitive poetics, American family

Abstract

The present paper attempts to address Sam Shepard’s treatment of American family in Buried Child focusing on 'world construction.' In order to explore the process of world creation in the play, the writers draw on the works of Marie-Laure Ryan, a key theorist in 'possible worlds theory,' one of the orientations in cognitive poetics. Considering Shepard's highlighting of the bonds among the family members figuring in his plays, the interactions of characters with Textual Actual World (henceforth TAW) are of paramount importance and contribute to what Ryan calls 'tellability.' Central to our analysis is the consideration of the characters’ private worlds’ interactions and their intrafamilial and extrafamilial conflicts. Shepard is also centrally concerned with American (popular) culture and its underlying myths, hence the prominence of the theme of American Dream in his oeuvre. As such, the projection of the characters’ wish worlds is central in Shepard's play. Considering these “wish worlds” in terms of possible worlds-theory could be rewarding. Many of these wish worlds, it is argued, hinge on the notion of American family whose consideration by Shepard stems from his interest in the questions of origins, identity, selfhood, and autonomy.

Author Biographies

Omid Amani, University of Tehran, Alborz Campus

Omid Amani is a PhD candidate at University of Tehran, Alborz campus, Iran. He is an English literature instructor in Semnan University. His research interests include 20th century American Literature, Post-war and Contemporary Literature, literary theory, and dramatic literature.

Hossein Pirnajmuddin, Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Isfahan

Hossein Pirnajmuddin is an associate professor of English literature at University of Isfahan, Iran. His research interests include Renaissance literature, contemporary English fiction, literary theory and translation studies.

Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Tehran

Seyed Mohammad Marandi is the full professor of English Literature and North American studies at University of Tehran, Iran. His research interests include American Studies and Postcolonial literature.

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Published

2017-05-26

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2017): May 2017

Section

Articles

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