The Characterization of Vince
VINCE. Shelly will you get up SHELLY. “Mr. Marshall was on vacation. He had no idea that the four
little boys had taken such a liking to his little kitty cat.” VINCE. Have you some respect would ya’ in Barranger, 1994: 23.
VINCE. to Shelly Why are you doing this Are you trying to make fun of
me? This is my family you know in Barranger, 1994: 29. The dialogue above implies Vince’s defense toward his family when his
girlfriend, Shelly humiliates his family by making jokes. Shelly makes joke and seems to have no respect toward Vince’s family. She considers the family as a
trivial issue and it is really not important for her. There is no appreciation toward the family which is only because the condition of the house. Shelly merely
perceives a family based on certain criteria. It is all about materialism and it is not about the deeper meaning of it. For Vince, a family means everything. It is more
than materialism. These facts create a clash between Vince and Shelly. They have a contradictive point of view about the meaning of a family. Vince is angry with
her and tries to make her realize that the family is everything. He emphasizes that the family is the place where he grown up as a man. It is also the place where he
learned the values of love and caring. Although there are many changes happened in the family, it still becomes a meaningful place for him. He respects the other
family’s members although they don’t do so. So, he will defend his family no matter what the others say. Shelly’s humiliation becomes his enemy since it
insults the whole of his pride. As a member of the family, Vince is also a caring person who gives his
attention toward the other family members as described in his utterances toward his grandfather, Dodge.
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DODGE. You forgot to get me a bottle That’s what you forgot. Anybody in this house could get me a bottle. Anybody But nobody will.
Nobody understands the urgency Peelin’ carrots is more important. Playin’ piano on your teeth Well I hope you all
remember this when you get up in years. When you find yourself immobilized. Dependent on the whims of others.
VINCE. I’ll get you a bottle. DODGE. You will?
VINCE. Sure in Barranger, 1994: 30. VINCE. Grandpa why don’t you wanna lay down for a while?
DODGE. I don’t wanna lay down for a while Every time I lay down
something happens That’s what happens You go lie down and see what happens to you See how you like it They’ll steal your
bottle They’ll cut your hair They’ll murder your children That’s what’ll happen in Barranger, 1994: 30.
From the dialogues above it can be seen that Vince definitely cares about his grandfather, Dodge does not get much attention from other family members.
Vince is a sensible person who understands Dodge’s needs at the first time Dodge says it. While the others seem to ignore him, Vince patiently serves him. Vince
comes as a person who cares about Dodge more than other members of the family. He comes as a helper who assists Dodge while the others seem to abandon Dodge.
Although Dodge gives less respect toward him, he keeps on his sincerely way and he never complaints on what Dodge has done and said toward him because he
realizes the fact that a family without cares and attention is nothing. So, each member of a family should give cares and attentions toward the other members
however their condition is. Vince’s nature of caring shows that he is the real member of the family who should give attention toward other while the others
seem to ignore him. Vince is an obedient person who is willing to do what the elder
commands. In this case, Vince is a representative of the youth in a family who 22
considers the elder as the person they must respect. It can be seen from his sentences below.
DODGE. Then where are you going? VINCE. Liquor store.
DODGE. Don’t go anyplace else. Don’t go off some place and drink.
Come right back here. VINCE. I will.
DODGE. You’ve got responsibility now And don’t go out the back way either Come out through this way I wanna’ see you when you
leave Don’t go out the back VINCE. I won’t in Barranger, 1994: 31.
The dialogues above imply the good attitude of Vince. As a son and grandson in the family, he tends to carry on the habit to obey what the elder said because he is
the youngest person in the family. He tries to obey what Dodge said. He obeys Dodge’s command as a younger person obeys the elder. He is willing to serve
Dodge without any objections. Even though Dodge never respects him, he never complains on what Dodge has commanded. His nature becomes an aid to calm the
situation down and hushes others emotion. Because Vince knows exactly the condition of Dodge, he has to think twice to ignore Dodge’s command. This
nature is actually a way to smoothen the way of Vince’s next plans to continue the familial root.
Another personality of Vince is positive thinking. It can be seen from his tendency to consider that everything will be all right as seen in his utterances
toward Shelly. SHELLY. There is.
VINCE. There is not SHELLY. Something’s wrong definitely wrong with me.
VINCE. There is not SHELLY. There’s something wrong with you too.
VINCE. There’s nothing wrong with me either in Barranger, 1994: 24. 23
Vince’s utterances above imply his positive perspective toward himself and others. His deed tends to show the positive point of view among mistakes. What
actually appears in his mind is actually a state to seek for the truth behind the chaos. This sense helps him to filter the events and find out what was wrong so
that he may not easily get trapped in problems. It is important for him because he already faced problems since the first time he entered the house. Vince’s positive
perspective is a vital device in his quest for identity. At the other side, Vince is also an authoritarian who shows his power over
others. He never wants to hear what the others suggest and keeps on what he wanted to do, as illustrated in Vince’s utterances below.
VINCE. … This is my house now, ya know? All mine. Everything. Except for the power tools and stuff. I’m gonna get all new equipment
anyway. New plows, new tractor, everything. All brand new. DEWIS. You’d better go up and see your Grandmother.
VINCE. My Grandmother? There is nobody else in this house. Except for you. And you’re leaving aren’t you?
DEWIS. She’s going t need someone. I can’t help her. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what my position is. Just came in for tea. I had
no idea there was any trouble. No idea at all in Barranger, 1994: 49.
Vince’s utterances above show his position as the only point of authority in the family. Vince displays his strong principle which refuses to be controlled by the
other, but he must take the role as the controller. Hence, he acts as the one who has the most power to show that he is the only one who deserves the whole of the
house and has the right to control it. Vince situates the others as the minority who has no power over him. It becomes a problem for him, mainly when he deals with
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such kind of familial unity because he never gives the others opportunities to give their opinion.
Actually Vince is a young man who has a high motivation in his life. In other words, he is a high motivated person who always works hard to reach his
dreams. His strong desire to be admitted as a member of the family becomes a catalyst which supports him to survive in the middle of refusal. Vince always tries
as hard as he can to convince his grandfather, Dodge that he is his legitimate grandson as shown in the following quotation.
VINCE. Grandpa, it’s Vince. I’m Vince. Tilden’s son. You remember? VINCE. Grandpa, I haven’t been here until just now. I just got here
in Barranger, 1994: 25. VINCE. ... Grandpa, look, I just got here. I just now got here. I
haven’t been here for six years. I don’t know anything that’s happened in Barranger, 1994: 25.
VINCE. I’m Vince Your Grandson VINCE. Grandpa, look—in Barranger, 1994: 26.
VINCE. Look. Look at this. Do you remember this? I used to bend my
thumb behind my knuckles. You remember? I used to do it at the dinner table.
VINCE. What about this? VINCE. You remember this Dad?
VINCE. I know Here’s one you’ll remember. You used to kick me out of
the house for this one. VINCE. “Hello. How are you? I’m fine. Thank you very much. It’s so
good to see you looking well this fine Sunday morning. I was going down to the hardware store to fetch a pail of water
in Barranger, 1994: 29-30.
From the quotations above, it is clearly seen that Vince’s arrival is not welcomed by his own family. The dialogues are certainly can be the evidence of Vince as a
firm person who refuses to avoid such circumstances. The real situation of his family is actually out of his expectation. He must face the reality that his
grandfather doesn’t admit him as the one who belongs to the family. It is really a 25
surprise for someone like Vince who expects to find his relatives. Moreover, his girlfriend, Shelly seems to discourage him in such a kind of situation. It becomes
harder and harder for Vince to survive. But his effort and strong desire motivate him to stick on his aim, being admitted as the member of the family. He keeps on
struggling to defeat the refusal of the family. His strength brings about a change of the condition in the family because one by one the secrets are uncovered.
Besides, Vince is also a kind person. He tries to understand others instead of judging them because he can feel the problems which make them separated. He
recognizes the changes that happened toward someone’s personality or behaviors and tries to help them back. It can be seen from his sentences “He’s lost his mind
or something I’ve got to help him” in Barranger, 1994: 27. This utterance shows his good attitude. He insists that Dodge was not such kind of person. He
believes that there is a reason behind Dodge’s changes. He prefers to find the wrong things instead of judging him. However, to be a good person is not easy.
He must face some difficult choices to be decided. However, he must choose whether to keep Shelly or to keep his family. It is difficult for him, but he keeps
on his noble aim to help Dodge although he never finds good response from Dodge.
In the other side, Vince is also a normal human being who has emotions. But sometimes it seems to be explosive and he is easily getting angry when
dealing with certain condition as depicted in his utterances below. VINCE. Shelly put the carrots down will ya’? We gotta deal with the
situation here I’m gonna need your help. SHELLY. I’m helping.
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VINCE. You’re only adding to the problem You’re making things worse Put the carrots down in Barranger, 1994: 29.
Vince’s speech implies a resurrection of his anger. In other word, Vince can be said as an irascible man. This state of anger emerges from the condition in which
he trapped. After facing Dodge’s denial, he thinks none can help him including his girlfriend, Shelly. But Vince is disappointed because Shelly is only busy with her
own business and neglects him. The fact, Shelly, who is supposed to help Vince in his problem cannot help him much. Vince’s hopes disappear instantly because
none assists him to survive in such situation so that he looses his patience and getting angry easily. And this issue becomes bigger and bigger when he has to
deal with a stressful condition because in this kind of condition he cannot think clearly and of course his anger bursts easily.
Greediness is a part which cannot be separated in human being’s nature. This nature is closely related to every facet in human’s life, so is Vince. It is
depicted through his utterances below. VINCE. Oh, excuse me Father. Just getting rid of some of the vermin in
the house. This is my house now, ya’ know? All mine. Everything. Except for the power tools and stuff. I’m gonna get all new
equipment anyway. New plows, new tractor, everything. All brand new in Barranger, 1994: 48.
It is clearly seen from Vince’s utterances above that he does not want anyone in the house takes it over. It seems that he is the only one who deserves the house. It
is emphasized when he declares “This is my house, all mine, everything”. His utterance functions as a means to show his achievement and none can take it from
him. The ownership of the house which he wants during the time has become a 27
reality and now this is the time to protect it. So, he never allows the other members of the family tinker with his properties.
Arrogance affects everyone who already has riches, power and authority. It is also becomes one of Vince’s personalities. Vince becomes an arrogant person
since he accepts the heritage from his grandfather in Barranger, 1994: 49. In short, Vince, one of the characters in the play has characteristics as an
obedient person, positive thinking person, someone who honors the family much, kind person, high motivated person, an authoritarian, irascible man-someone who
can get angry very easily, a greedy person and an arrogant person. This compilation of characteristics will lead into a deeper understanding of intended
meaning. Indirectly, it displays some hints which further become significant clues in showing what Vince’s role in Buried Child.