Theoretical Framework

Theory of conflict will helps the writer to analyze what is the conflict in the play in term of literary works. Among others are Robert Stanton in his Introduction to Fiction, Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literature, Laurence Perrine in Literature Structure, Sound, and Sense, and Mellissa Miliano in her presentation on

October 21 2002. The writer uses the theories as a base to define conflict. Those will contribute a basic understanding about what conflict is. Therefore, whatever the writer says in the analysis is not merely as an individual assumption. Further, the writer can decide what the conflict in the play is.

The theory of characterization is provided to understand how Sam Shepard directs the characters in the play. The writer uses the theory written by Holman and Harmon in A Handbook to Literature, Laurence Perrine in his book titled Literature;

Sound, Sense, and Structure. The writer also gives a criteria of healthy mental by Maslow and Mittlemen to support an idea that Shepard characterizes Dodge as a sick person. Further, the writer will analyze some of dialogues that have a significant effect to defining the characterization of each character. By considering the characterization of Dodge, it will be easier to define the conflict in the story. It will help the writer to answer the questions number 1 and 3 in problem formulation. The writer will see the process from characterization becomes a conflict.

The writer also uses the theory of schizophrenia to get a better understanding about this psychological disorder. In order to answer the question 2 and 3 in the problem formulation, the description about the main character “Dodge” as a schizophrenic will get in maximum way. Here the theories used are a theory by Sigmund Freud and by Nancy Coover Andreasen in her article entitled Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders in the book entitled Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder forth edition (DSM – IV).

25  A. Object of the Study

The object of the study is Sam Shepard’s play entitled Buried Child. It is a piece of theatre that was published in San Francisco in 1978. One year after the publication, Buried Child won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and launched Shepard to be declared as a fame of national playwright. Sam Shepard has already wrote some literary works such as Great Dream of Heaven, and he has also written the history of collection Cruising Paradise, Two collections of prose, Motel Chronicles, and Hawk Moon, and Rolling Thunder Logbook. A Diary of Bob Dylan’s 1975, Rolling Thunder Review tour, etc. Buried Child is a piece of theatre which is a fragmentation of American society when it was written. The 1970s rural economic condition of America brought a content of disappointment with American mythology and American dream. This was the intention of Shepard to write this work. He replaced the Buried child to represent American society including in his view. The frustration, which had dominated the atmosphere at that time, had inspired him to launch this work.

Buried Child is decorated by the symbols in the realistic framework of a family drama. In relation with the target readers such as American farming family, Shepard was using the invisible garden in the backyard in order to be easily recognized by them. Shepard is able to create an image in the imagination of people

through the use of surrealism and symbolism, besides Shepard also decorates his work by a common plot as ordinary work; introduction – rising action – climax – resolution – ending.

This play was about a family that had a secret. The secret was the main problem that influenced the theme of this play. It was an unwanted baby from the family to be born. The baby was exist, then lived, and grew up in the family. Dodge felt that the baby was not belonging from him and it was not supposed to belong to the family. So, he killed the baby and buried its skeleton in the backyard. After the accident, Dodge tried to hide what he had done from the family. This was the main cause of Dodge’s psychological disorder named schizophrenia. In another hand, the members of the family did not have any evidences to reveal what had happened in the family. The secret was still became a secret. The secret had been dominating the family for about 35 years until Dodge’s grandson (Vince) came back from New Mexico. Vince tried to reveal the secret. Finally, before Dodge went to death, Dodge confessed the truth about what he had done to the baby. After the revelation, the family condition was totally changes, they know what had happened and the family turned back ordinarily.

B. Approach of the Study

Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder. Therefore, it will be appropriate in using the psychological approach to get a deeper discussion about the topic.

Rohrberger and Woods (1971:31) define that psychological approach is the effort to

locate and demonstrate certain recurrent pattern, but from different body of knowledge that is psychology. This approach uses the psychological approach to explain human motivation, personality, and behaviors patterns in literary objects.

This approach will be focused on the main character Dodge as the main character of the play. As what is said by Rohrbrger and Woods that psychological approach explain human motivation, personality, and behavioral pattern in literary objects, the discussion will show how Dodge is characterized and his psychological condition that presented at the story. Furthermore, in the analysis the writer will explain about the psychological disorder (schizophrenia) possessed by Dodge and how the schizophrenia has a strong influence to the play.

C. Method of Study

The writer used library research to do this paper. In this section, the study is done by reading and understanding some sources in relation with the title of this paper. Here the writer collected some related data in order to get more information about the analyzed literary work from the books and articles. The writer browsed many websites to get more information in relation with this subject. The data was taken from websites that were selected according to their accuracy, relevance, validity, and appropriateness.

Play text Buried Child was a literary work that is used as the primary source.

Besides, there were some articles and comments about this literary work that stand as the secondary source. The writer also attended a presentation by lecture in class when

discussed about this work. Others secondary sources were theories and studies needed; there were theory of characters, theory of conflict, theories and case study about schizophrenia which has taken from any related books and websites, among others were; Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense by Laurence Perrine, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV) by American Psychiatric Association, Schizophrenia case study in www.academon.com, Freudian’s theory of schizophrenia in www.medlineplus.com, an Introduction to Fiction by Robert Stanton, Fourth and fifth edition of A Handbook to Literature by Holman Hugh and William Harmon, Melissa Miliano’s (A rector of a university in England) lesson on October 21 2002 in www.questia.com.

In order to discuss the subject further, there were some steps the writer did.

The first step was reading the play to studying and understanding the work, so here would be found the details of the story. The next was deciding the topic. Buried Child contains of conflict caused by a kind of psychological condition called schizophrenia of the main character in the play named Dodge. Therefore, it would be necessary to discuss the relationship between schizophrenia and the conflict.

The next step was collecting information related to the subject such as theories, study about the work and schizophrenia, comments, and views to criticize Buried Child. Then the information above would be used to analyze and answer the problem formulation. The main character was analyzed by using the theory of characterization, and theory of schizophrenia to analyze his attitudes and whatever he said. Another significance sources to use was theory of conflict in order to

understanding deeper about the conflict happens in the play. After the problem has answered and the analysis has surely comprehended, the next step was drawing a conclusion in order to emphasize the points talked in the analysis.

30  A. The Conflict in the Buried Child

Buried child is dominated by a bad relationship among the members of Dodge’s family. In this play, Shepard shows the absence of love in the family. The conversations are dominated by unhealthy atmosphere, and the characters show bad emotions such as anger, worries, suspiciousness, etc. It creates horror situation.

Milly S. Baranger in Understanding plays argues that Sam Shepard’s scenes in Buried Child represent illness, incest, adultery, personal violation, and spiritual emptiness. Shepard imitates these realities by showing the absence of the normal touchstones of love, family, and fidelity. (1994: 11)

The condition which is showed by Sam Shepard in his play is a complex word to descripe a problem. That is the current condition of the play, which stand as the basic atmosphere as the effect of “conflict” inside.

To get a better understanding about “conflict”, the writer elaborates a theory by Holman and Harmon and Melissa.

Holman and Harmon in A Handbook of Literature state that conflict is struggle that grows out of interplays of the two opposing forces. A conflict provides interest, suspense and tension (1986:107). Besides, Melissa (Rector English 9) states in her lesson on October 21, 2002 a conflict as a struggle. It means that every struggle

no matter in daily life or literature can be declared as a conflict (www.questia.com/literary criticism/London,2002).

Both theories suggest that conflict and struggle are the same thing, it means whenever a struggle happens, there is a conflict there, no matter in daily life or in a work of literature. Struggle or conflict may happen between men versus himself or with others, no matter it is one or more opposing person.

In the Buried Child, the struggle happens throughout the play, since at the beginning of the act one until almost at the end of the story. This play provides a high tension as a reflection of its conflict. As what happens at the conversation between Dodge and Halie in the act one, the conversation does not go smoothly. Dodge does not answer or responding what Halie said and Halie still tries hard to get more communication with Dodge.

HALIE VOICE: Dodge?

Dodge just stares at the TV. Long Pause. He stifes two short coughs.

HALIE VOICE: Dodge! You want a pill, Dodge?

He does not answer, Takes the bottle out again and takes another long swig. Puts the bottle back, stares at the TV, pulls blanket up around his neck.

HALIE VOICE: You know what it is, don’t you? It’s the rain! Wether.

That’s it. Everytime. Everytime you get like this, it’s the rain. No sooner does the rain start then you start. (pause) Dodge?

He makes no reply. Pulls a pack of cigarettes out from his sweater and lights one. Stares at the TV...(1994: 14, Act I)

During the play, the conversation happens similarly. The struggle happens all over during the conversation especially between Dodge versus his family, Dodge versus himself, and between each member of Dodge’s family. In order to get a deeper

explanation about the topic, the writer would like to elaborate the relationship between some significance characters of the family by its high tension as a reflection of the conflict.

1. Dodge and Halie

They are husband and wife, but there is no harmony in their relationship.

Their conversation is not well balanced like a married couple. Dodge does not have any interest to get a communication with Halie, and Halie still takes care of his illness but only in the scope of his illness. It can be seen at the very beginning of the play.

They have a long dialogue and a strange atmosphere can be felt there. Almost half of act one, the conversation is between Dodge and Halie.

Holman and Harmon define conflict as a struggle between two opposing forces (1986: 107). In this case, the two opposing force are Dodge and Halie, and the struggle happens in their conversations. As what happens at the quotation above, the conversation between Dodge and Halie is not like what a couple supposed to be. It is very bad, Dodge does not answer or respond what Halie says, even the question is belonging for him.

At the next of their conversation, Dodge gives a respond to what Halie says.

HALIE VOICE: You should see it coming down up here. Just coming down in sheets. Blue sheets. The bridge is pretty near flooded. What’s it like down there? Dodge?

Dodge turns his head back over his left shoulder and takes a look out through the porch. He turns back to the TV. Pause.

DODGE: (to himself) Catastropic.

HALIE VOICE: What? What’d you say, Dodge ?

DODGE: (louder) It looks like rain to me! Plain Old rain!

HALIE VOICE: Rain? Of course it’s rain ! Are you having a seizure or somethig!Dodge (pause) I’m coming down there in about five minutes if you don’t answer me!

DODGE: Don’t come down! (1994: 14, Act I).

Dodge gives a response at the conversation, but the word is not describing a good thing. “Catastrophic”, is a word that describes a bad thing and it is said by Dodge at the first of all his words. What does he means by that word? It does not sound clear to Halie. Then Halie asks about the clearer word to Dodge. Then Dodge answers differently, he is talking about the rain. Is the rain catastrophic for Dodge or he just wants to avoid Halie to think about his word “catastrophic”?

Whatever Dodge means, it is strange to say a word like that at a beginning of a conversation. When Halie talks about a thing, Dodge responds with a different thing, even a bad thing. However, it proves that they lose their harmony. However, there is an agreement among people in the world that a good couple should love each other. A love can be reflected by a well-balanced conversation, no matter their spoken language or body language. The conversation between Dodge and Halie is not well balanced. It shows that there is a conflict in their relationship.

Nevertheless, it is different when they are talking about their past life. The next of their conversation talks about a horseracing before they got married.

HALIE VOICE: What are you watching? You shouldn’t be watching anything that’ll get you excited. No horse racing!

DODGE: They don’t race on Sundays.

HALIE VOICE: What?

DODGE: (louder) They don’t race on Sundays!

HALIE VOICE: Well they shouldn’t race on Sundays.

DODGE: Well they don’t! racing on Cristmast even. A big flashig Christmas tree right down at the finish line.

DODGE: No.

HALIE VOICE: Sometimes they did.

DODGE: They never did!

HALIE VOICE: Before we were married they did! (1994: 15, Act I)

The conversation goes smoothly. Halie launches a statement and Dodge gives an appropriate respond. It seems that the topic is interesting for them and they seem anthusiast to talk about it. Ironically, the event that they are talking is about the past, it was before they were married. They are talking about horse racing event that they like to watch it every year. There is no clue whether the event is still exist or not, but both do different activities than they watch the horse- racing. They watched the horseracing in their past life, when they were young, and it was around thirty years ago. The current condition is that Dodge only lies in the sofa in front of a TV.

Besides, they have sons, and the oldest is at the late forties. It is an evidence to prove that the horse racing that they watched every year was happened many years ago, when they were young. Now, Dodge is at the late seventies.

However, it seems strange that a married couple only get their harmony when they are talking about their past live. The harmony is lost when they talk about their

current problem. It shows that they ever had a happy life in the past and the happiness had changed sometimes. It must be a question “What is the thing that able to change their happiness?” or “Why their happiness had changed?”

2. Dodge and Tilden

Tilden is Dodge’s oldest son; he is fourties. He is the only person in that house who can see the reality at that current time. Besides, he realizes that there is something wrong in the house. Tilden feels a bad atmosphere in his family nor he knows the cause but he does not have enough evidence to reveal it.

On the other hand, Dodge does not believe him at all. He always denies whatever Tilden says to him especially when they are talking about corns at the backyard. Moreover, Dodge does not want Tilden to stay in that house; it can be seen when Dodge says to him for the sake to make a new topic of their conversation.

DODGE: (after pause) sure is nice looking corn.

TILDEN: It’s the best DODGE : Hybrid?

TILDEN : What?

DODGE : Some kind of fancy hybrid?

TILDEN : You planted it. I don’t know what it is

DODGE : (pause)Tilden, look, you can’t stay here forever, you know that, don’t you? (1994:19, act I)

The conversation is talking about corn. When Tilden asks whether Dodge has planted it or not, suddenly Dodge changes the topic and says unpleasant sentence to him. “you can’t stay here”. It indicates unloved relationship between a father and his son. However, what Dodge said to Tilden is a rude sentence among a father and his

son. A father will not say like that to his son when their relationship is normally family who realizes that they have a garden in the backyard.

At the beginning of Tilden’s appearance in the play, his arm is full of corn

DODGE : There hasn’t been corn out there since about nineteen thirty five!

That is the last time I planted corn out there. (1994: 18, Act I)

The mysterious garden is hidden according to Dodge. He cannot see. Only Tilden can see that the garden still exist and there are many corns there. Tilden brings the corns at the scene. By that, Tilden proves the existence of the garden, but Dodge denies that, he supposes that the corn is not theirs, but he acts as if the garden is lost

or we can say that Dodge does not acknowledge that they still have a garden in the backyard.

In this case, the conflict occurs when there is a disagreement between Dodge and Tilden when they discuss about the corn. Does Dodge not really believe in Tilden or he pretends to recognize the corn-garden? The last Dodge’s sentence in the quotation shows to the readers that Dodge realizes that there is a garden, Dodge has planted corn there at 1935, “There hasn’t been corn out there since about nineteen

In this case, the conflict occurs when there is a disagreement between Dodge and Tilden when they discuss about the corn. Does Dodge not really believe in Tilden or he pretends to recognize the corn-garden? The last Dodge’s sentence in the quotation shows to the readers that Dodge realizes that there is a garden, Dodge has planted corn there at 1935, “There hasn’t been corn out there since about nineteen