According to The New Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language,
realism, in relation to literature, means: a style or theory of literature in
which familiar aspects of life are represented in a straightforward or plain manner.
In the same dictionary, illusion is defined as: something that deceives by
producing a false or misleading impression of reality. Based on these two
definitions, illusionistic realism could then be defined as a style of
literature in which familiar aspects of literature are represented in a
straightforward manner yet are deceiving because of a false impression that is
exhibited. Sam Shepard, in his play Buried
Child, provides his audience with an example illusionistic realism.
One
may consider Shepard’s plays to be similar to Greek tragedies with the themes
of incest, murder, deceit, and rebirth. Shepard was attempting to prove a point
that all life consists of these sufferings, whether it was in ancient Greek
times or in the 1970’s when this play was written and performed. Incest
occurred between Halie, the mother, and her son, Tilden. The child produced
from this incest is drowned by Dodge, Halie’s husband. Murder enters the plot.
The deceit occurs when the rest of the family, along with Father Dewis,
continues to hide the truth of their actions from each other and Shelly,
Vincent’s girlfriend. Vincent is Tilden’s son and is returning to his home.
Father Dewis, the
pastor, is involved with Halie. The adultery is never really addressed and the
problem remains in the background. Rebirth, new life, occurs when Tilden brings
in the corn from the backyard. Dodge swears that he has not planted any crops
but the evidence is present. When the play closes and Tilden is bringing his
dead infant son up the stair, one is again reminded of rebirth in that while
one child died, another child, Vincent, has discovered his new focus on life.
With this play,
Shepard wanted to draw attention to the problems of families in rural
America. The ambiguity,
complexity, and irony of this play enabled Shepard to illustrate the truth and
deception of life and gave the audience an opportunity to discuss the problems
and solutions.
I really enjoyed how you related Sam Shepard’s play to Greek tragedies. I had not really thought about it that way. You said that it is possible for these tragedies to happen in ancient Greece or even the 1970s, but I think what might be more important here is that they can happen to whomever. Keep in mind that Greek tragedies usually had to do with higher sorts of people. So is it possible that these seemingly tragic events found in Greek tragedies can occur in this poor rural American family? And if so what kind of feelings are different when it is a higher up person Greek tragedy and/or a poor American tragedy?
ReplyDelete