The Most Possible Meanings of Symbols as Expressed by Vince
the story. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of Vince will help this study to understand the symbols delivered by Vince.
This part of analysis focuses on the most possible meaning of symbols conveyed by Vince in which his utterances, actions, his characteristics and other
characters’ speech to him become the core under analysis of this study. As stated in Chapter II, a symbol is usually a person, thing, place, action, situation, and
thought Madden, 2002: 280. This quotation gives idea that everything can be a symbol, even an abstract thing such as thought is also possible to be a symbol.
Sam Shepard, the author of Buried Child creates Vince with certain characteristics. Vince’s characteristics, Vince’s utterances, Vince’s actions and
other characters’ speech are symbols which contain some significant intended meanings. Once again, this part of discussion will explore the symbols in the play
which is brought by Vince. To be exact, the focus of this part can be the place where the character belongs, situations that the character has created, the action or
the statement of the character himself, or the thought of the character, and also the character himself as the symbol of something. In order to find the symbols, there
are four categories being used, namely, Vince’s characteristics, Vince’s utterances, Vince’s actions and other characters’ speech.
1. The Meaning of Symbol through Vince’s Characteristics In the first part, it has been mentioned that the characteristics of Vince is
positive thinking and high-motivated. It can be clarified that these two characteristics basically symbolize his strong desire in maintaining his identity as
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one of the family members. Since his arrival in the house, he has convinced himself that everything happens is still under control and can be solved. He works
hard to emphasize everyone in the house to accept him as a legitimate son of Tilden. In his opinion this is a truth and he thinks the family must admit that he is
a part of it. He stumbles and faces a bitter reality when his grandfather, Dodge denies him. The denial becomes a great disappointment for Vince. There are
always possibilities to discourage him, but his positive way of thinking brings about a change in his perspective. He never assumes it as an end but it just a
beginning. His high motivation supports him in such kind of condition so that he can survive and continue his effort to find the reality of his existence. In other
words, Vince’s positive way of thinking turns out to be a tough foundation of his high motivation so that he never gives up trying to convince the family.
2. The Meaning of Symbol through Vince’s Utterances From Vince utterances, it can be found several intended meanings. The
first analysis is related to Vince utterances below. VINCE. Grandpa?
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. Just a second. 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. Tilden’s son. in Barranger, 1994: 26.
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? 30
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.
VINCE. I just gotta think or something. I don’t know. I gotta put this all together.
VINCE. No I gotta find out what’s going on in Barranger, 1994: 31. From those utterances it can be clarified that he shows more desire to embrace his
ancestry. He comes to the house and tries to convince the whole of the family that he is also one of the family members. Vince actively seeks out generational
connectivity. In fact, his efforts to convince Dodge build a kind of resistance in Vince’s mind to be used as a shield to confront Dodge’s denials. He goes forward
to conquer the blockade of refusal. This fact is actually a realization of a symbol which is reflected through Vince’s utterances. Once again, Vince’s utterances
above show his effort and desire to embrace the family. He again and again seeks for the confession of the family.
Basically, normal human beings have various emotion in facing certain cases or problems. However, patience is needed to run the life because sometimes,
it becomes the key to confront such situation. But, nobody is perfect so that there are always limits on someone’s patience in facing his problem. Although it sounds
cliché but it is the fact. And this phenomenon is experienced by Vince. As mentioned in the first part that Vince is kind of high motivated person. He has
desire and effort to attain his purpose. In fact, after his arrival in his family’s house, he must confront a situation in which him self as Vince is unrecognized by
his own family. Although he tries again and again to remind Dodge, his 31
grandfather that he is Vince, the grandson, Dodge keeps on his denial. Vince shows himself as normal human beings, when in certain point of time his patience
goes on its limit and of course his anger will start to explode. Here, Vince is being at the edge of his patience, and it seems that he starts to stop convincing his
grandfather and going outside because he does not know what else he can do to convince him. He already stuck and never finds the way out. The dead end is in
front of him and he lacks of ideas so he utters his words below. VINCE. You want anything Dad?
TILDEN. Me? VINCE. From the store? I’m gonna get Grandpa a bottle.
TILDEN. He’s not supposed to drink. Halie wouldn’t like it. VINCE. He wants a bottle in Barranger 1994: 31.
VINCE. I’ll be right back. DODGE. Where are you going?
VINCE. I’m going to get some money. 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.
Vince utterances above are only a kind of trick to get away from his inability to confront the situation at his family. He loses control. He uses the trick which
covers his anger up in order to create a good image of him. He wants to show the family that everything is all right. But actually, he never means to buy some
drinks for Dodge. People often encounter various kinds of problem and the ways to face
them. They have their own evaluation over their problems. In this case, Vince also 32
has his own judgment on his problems relating to his family’s admission. Vince himself attempts to articulate his new found attachment to family in a monologue.
In the previous paragraph it has been explained that Vince had disappeared the night before. In the quotation bellow, he finally returns to give his words in front
of his family. VINCE. I was gonna run last night. I was gonna run and keepright on
running. I drove all night. Clear to the Iowa border. The old man’s two bugs sitting right on the seat beside be. It never stopped raining
the whole time. Never stopped once. I could see my self in the windshield. My face. My eyes. I studied my face. I studied
everything about it. As though I was looking at another man. As though I could see his whole race behind him. Like a mummy’s
face. I saw him dead and alive at the same time. In the same breath. In the windshield, I watched him breathe as though he has frozen in
time. And every breath marked him. Marked him forever without him knowing. And then his face changed. His face became his
father’s face. Same bones. Same eyes. Same nose. Same breath. And his father’s face changed to his Grandfather’s face. And it
went on like that. Changing. Clear on back to faces I’d never seen before but still recognized. Still recognized the bones underneath.
The eyes. The breath. The mouth. I followed my family clear into the Iowa. Every last one. Straight into the Corn Belt and further.
Straight back as far as they’d take me. Then it all dissolved. Everything dissolved in Barranger, 1994: 48.
The quotation of Vince above gives implied meaning that he really wants the acknowledgement from his family. Actually he realizes he could not escape from
his family’s history no matter how far he runs. It is approved in his unconscious contemplation. His eagerness to posses the heritage can be seen from the
monologue that emphasizes he himself as a part of the family who cannot be separated. Vince’s utterances above is a counter point where Vince displays the
hidden issues he kept during the time. He cannot bear the issues and within his unconsciousness, it comes to the surface.
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At the first time Vince enters the house, he seems to have less attention and care toward Shelly. He has abandoned Shelly and he also lets her alone to
defend herself against Dodge’s hostility. Sometimes he never cares about Shelly’s complaints. In fact Shelly is his girlfriend who deserves love and care from Vince.
Shelly feds up with Vince nature and so does Vince. This fact makes them argue and even quarrel until the time Vince faces the choice of leaving with Shelly or
staying as the head of the household, Vince tells Shelly. SHELLY. You’re not coming?
VINCE. I just inherited a house. SHELLY. You want to stay here.
VINCE. I’ve gotta carry on the line. I’ve gotta see to it that things keep
rolling in Barranger, 1994: 48. From the quotation above it can be seen that Vince prefers to continue his familial
line rather than keeps his relationship with Shelly. He does not care about Shelly anymore because he considers his rights and responsibilities to his family are
more important. So, he puts the family in the first priority and the others in the next priority. It is his duty to return the condition of the family, because he knows
that the family is messed up. He does the duty without any objection because the family means everything for him.
Vince also symbolizes a quest for identity. In this case he seeks for an association with his past. Although he seems to have no information of the buried
child, he still desires to find a connection to his familial past and search for a lost heritage. This fact is shown in his arrival. Vince tries to link the information he
has to the reality in the family he faces and collect them to complete the lost puzzles of the family chronicle. It is hard for him because it is not as easy as he
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thinks. He has to face the denial of his own family. And the most irritating fact is that his grandparents who become the opposition. The process to find the truth is
often interrupted and finds the dead end. VINCE. Grandpa?
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. Just a second. 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. Tilden’s son 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? in Barranger, 1994: 31.
Vince’s utterances above illustrate Vince’s efforts to convince the family that he is also the part of it. Although he sometimes finds troublesome responses from the
family, Vince keeps on his struggle. His confidence plays a big role in defending himself toward negative responses of the family and it also strengthens the
resistance of his aims. He works hard to find out the real identity of him as a member of the family. There are many questions in Vince’s mind because the
family appears out of the ordinary. In this occasion Vince realizes something and finally he knows that the family hides secrets. It is a challenge for him and it is
also an opportunity to show his determination of his quest of identity. But, it is not as easy as he predicts, he often stumbles until finally he ought to stop because he
finds the dead end. The labyrinth of the family’s mystery confuses him so that he feels his efforts appear useless.
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Vince symbolizes family renewal. Before Vince’s arrival the condition of family seems gloomy and covered with unbreakable secrets. It is almost rotten
since there is no good relationship among the member of the family. There is no warmth, no good communication and they never trust one another. Everybody
looks suspicious in another’s point of view. All the things become vague and unclear so that the family forms an unusual atmosphere. This condition decreases
the quality of the family that brings about partition between the members of it. Until the day of Vince’s arrival, the condition of the family gradually appears
better. But actually Vince does not merely reach the success easily since he has to confront many painful issues which arise from the contact with the family. There
are many ups and downs he has to go through. Through this process he steps to the level where he understands about the reality of family’s corruptions.
Through his utterances, it can be seen that Vince starts to fix his family’s corruptions as depicted “I’m gonna get all new equipment anyway. New plows,
new tractor, everything. All brand new” in Barranger, 1994: 48. From Vince’s utterance, it can be seen that he seems to demolute the old problems which have
deposited during the time and he starts to reconstruct the condition of the family to be more conducive. During the time, the family is trapped in the sin which
makes them living in the darkness. The family is dying, crying and having no hopes. Vince stares at them deeply and finally he chooses to heal the family’s
mistake and sins in the past. He prefers to do this because he thinks that he is the one to help the family. He is the one to rely on because he is the only one who
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now has the power. And the most important point, he is the real member of the family who has to keep it survive.
From Vince’s quotation “I’ve gotta carry on the line. I’ve gotta see to it that things keep rolling” in Barranger, 1994: 48, it can be seen that Vince
demonstrates his willingness to embrace his past by expressing more desire to continue the familial line. Through this utterance, Vince comes to a new
beginning where he stands as the leader of the family. He has the authority to control it and he deserves to show that the younger generation is now taking over
the entire heritages. He also has the right to run his own rule. Vince makes the efforts to throw away the corruption of the past and then fix them for the sake of
the family so that the family comes to a better condition. He already feds up with such kind of condition and now he tries to build a strong foundation of a solid
family in order to defend it from the disasters. Vince commits this thing to give a preventive step toward unpredictable issues which may come and attack the unity
of the family. Vince symbolizes innocence. At the first moment of Vince’s arrival there is
completely no information about the buried child which becomes the main problem of the whole family. He only comes as a person who is intended to know
his familial line. He seeks for the reality of his existence. His efforts meet the difficulties because of the denial from his own family. Vince wonders why the
family appears strange to him. The condition of the family is extremely different from the last time he met them. He works hard to convince the family that they
have a grandson. But again and again the family never means to confess him 37
anyway. In this case, Vince just wants an admission from a group of people who are considered as his family. He knows nothing about the problems which turn
them into that condition. The only thing Vince has known is that all of them deny him. Actually, his aims to find out the information about his existence become the
only base that encourages him to come to the family. He never intends to seek another thing. But, he did not realize that he is already trapped in the middle of the
family’s secret. The family looks different because of an event which makes them separated and never trusts each other and it is all about the buried child. And
Vince is the one who becomes a victim of it. Once again, Vince comes purely as a person who does not know anything about the buried child but he has to deal with
the consequences of it. Vince is indirectly troubled with the family because of the buried child. He is exactly an innocent person who is trapped in the problem. The
innocence of Vince is clearly described in his utterances below. VINCE. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on here
in Barranger, 1994: 26. VINCE. He’s just sick or something. I don’t know what happened to him.
VINCE. He’s lost his mind or something I’ve got to try to help him in Barranger, 1994: 27.
From Vince’s utterance above it clearly described that Vince is the one who is confused with the consequences of the family’s internal problems. He does not
know why the family alienates him and why the family puts him into enigmas. He does not feel home because it seems so far away from the warmth of a family. He
just feels like a stranger in his family. In this case he represents an innocent person who becomes a victim of his innocence. The family seems to blame Vince
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for what Vince does not do. It is not fair for Vince but he has to survive in such kind of situation.
3. The Meaning of Symbol through Vince’s Actions Through Vince’s actions the writer found several symbols which can be
interpreted as Vince’s effort to escape from reality-being rejected by his own family. He decides to go away from the house. He pretends that he is willing to
buy some bottles for Dodge, but here his disappearing is actually a camouflage to cover up his disappointment and despair toward his family refusal in Barranger,
1994: 31. He goes at the night in order to escape from his painful reality. In fact, it is the most depressive truth he ever experienced and he is unable to be
compatible with it so that he makes a final decision to get away from the reality and starts to run away into his own world as a result of the vagueness of his
destiny. This action is the only way he can take because he seems to be trapped in the obstacles and of course there is no way out. Vince experiences a great
confusion which takes him away from a logical way of thinking so that he rigidly decides to escape from the reality.
Besides, when he returns, he does not buy anything but he comes home drunk. This condition symbolizes the failure in his quest for identity. The failure
of his quest for identity leads him directly to his psyche damage which comes as a result of inability to confront the denial of the family. It also brings about a great
depression which is accumulated in Vince’s mind and it always has the possibilities to explode anytime and anywhere. Vince seems very calm from the
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outside but actually it is just a mask to cover something uncontrolled inside him, something that can appear anytime even without a single symptom and of course
it can very dangerous. This issue can be seen when he decides to go outside and get drunk.
Vince also acts as if he wants to anticipate the corruptions in the family by asking Dewis to leave the house in Barranger, 1994: 49. Vince experiences
irritating phases when he comes to the family. This phase helps him to be aware of the problems which probably come in advance. He learns and analyzes the
experiences he has. He does not want to meet any traumas. It results something that he can use to avoid worse or even unpredictable problems. It is important for
him to be a tough person who leads the family to pass the crisis so that the familial line will be continually carried on. His action toward Dewis by asking him to
leave the house symbolizes his enthusiasm and anticipation to secure his ideal family.
4. The Meaning of Symbol through Other Characters’ Speech The last discussion relates to the other characters speech to Vince or about
Vince clarifies the final result Vince got. By observing others’ utterances it can be concluded that Vince is also a symbol of fulfillment for his quest. Although it
comes late, finally the family admits the existence of Vince. The symbol of fulfillment is shown by the acceptance later from Dodge toward Vince as his
grandson who heritages his wealth. It is illustrated in his utterance “The house goes to my Grandson, Vince…” in Barranger, 1994: 47. At the end, Dodge
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admits Vince and bequeaths the house for him. It can be said that Vince’s effort in regaining his identity has been completed.
In the moment of his unconsciousness, Vince actually faces the truth. One by one the truth comes to the surface which can be seen from the family
admission. Vince’s grandfather, Dodge, who denies Vince at the first time he comes to the family, finally confesses that Vince is a part of the family which can
be seen from his utterance below. VINCE. What? Who is that?
DODGE. It’s me Your Grandfather Don’t play stupid with me Where’s my two bugs in Barranger, 1994: 46.
Vince’s grandmother, Halie who ignores Vince at the first time he arrives at the house does so. She finally admits his grandson, Vince, as a legitimate family
member as viewed in her utterance below. HALIE. Vincent? Is that you, Vincent?
VINCE. Vincent who? What is this Who are you people? SHELLY. Hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute What’s going on?
HALIE. We thought you were a murderer or something. Barging in
through the door like that. VINCE. I am a murderer Don’t underestimate me for a minute I’m the
Midnight Strangler I devour whole families in single gulp SHELLY. You mean you know who he is?
HALIE. Of course I know who he is That’s more than I can say for you in Barranger, 1994: 46.
From the utterances above it can be seen the family finally admit Vince as a member of the family who cannot be separated. Vince is a part of them and they
are unable to dispel him from the history of the family because he is a vital element who will keep the balance of the familial line.
It is recognized that Vince is also a symbol of emotional transformation which is caused by fluctuate conditions. The contradictory compulsions both to
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escape and to embrace identity tear Vince’s character apart. At the first sight Vince was a good young man who is obedient, positive thinking, honors the
family much, kind and also high motivated, but at the advance he becomes an authoritarian, drunker and irascible man-someone who can be angry very easily.
These two different sides come from the condition in which Vince is pushed in to the corner of inability. In fact, Vince was a good boy in his childhood. It can be
proven through Halie’s utterances bellow. HALIE. I don’t understand it. I just don’t understand it. He was the
sweetest little boy HALIE. There wasn’t a mean bone in his body. Everyone loved Vince.
Everyone. He was the perfect baby. DEWIS. He’ll be all right after a while. He’s just had a few too many
that’s all. HALIE. He used to sing in his sleep. He’d sing. In the middle of the night.
The sweetest voice. Like an angel. I used to lie awake listening to it. I used to lie awake thinking it was all right if I dead. Because
Vincent was an angel. A guardian angel. He’d watch over all of us in Barranger, 1994: 47.
Halie’s utterances above show about Vince’s childhood. Halie knows everything about him until the day they separated. She loves Vince so much. Moreover, she
considers Vince as a guardian angel which means she believes Vince can be their savior in the calamity or even the death. At that time the image of Vince is related
to peaceful and secure state which is extremely different from the recent condition. He becomes a man in the other side of it. Vince personality changes
after he experiences various events. The events bombard him with difficulties. It is true that sometimes he can handle it but some time he failed. Both of them bring
about effects toward Vince’s mental condition. Vince is a good person but he 42
cannot bear the problems that come through. As a consequence, he transforms to be a man of the opposite.
Besides the symbols mentioned above, Vince can also be said as a symbol of the continuity from the preceding generation to the next generation. Familial
line is formed by the unity of generations and of course there is a particular link which connects one generation to the other generations. The familial line
constructs a compilation of specific traits of the family itself which has to be reserved in order to preserve the unity of the family.
In this case, Dodge represents previous generation who has to keep the heritage in order to deliver it to the next generation. At the first time he does not
stick in the role, he keeps the heritage for himself without considering the continuity of the familial line. He still holds it although he knows that Vince is the
one from the next generation who deserves it. In fact, Vince is his grandson who has the right to continue the familial line but Dodge seems to deny him. There are
two different aims which are against each other and this issue brings about serious problems. These problems cause clashes between sides. The preceding generation
never trusts the younger generation and the younger generation is failed to convince the previous generation. This issue creates a dead end. It quite frustrates
Vince, moreover he does not know what to do to convince Dodge. Again and again the problem comes and dumps in his mind until the time he caught in the
great fatigue and decided to leave all the problems in depression. He disappears for a night but finally he returns. He returns in a drunk and messy condition. In his
unconsciousness he interacts with the member of the family, and of course the 43
family finds difficulties to communicate with him. In this moment his grandfather, Dodge, finally surrenders and gives the heritage to Vince which symbolizes a
transfer of power from the previous generation to the next generation as described through his utterances bellow.
DODGE. Go ahead Take over the house Take over the whole goddamn house You can have it It’s yours. It’s been a pain in the neck ever
since the very first mortgage. I’m gonna die any second now. Any second. You won’t even notice. So I’ll settle my affairs once and
for all.
DODGE. The house goes to my Grandson, Vincent. All the furnishings, accoutrements and paraphernalia therein. Everything under this
roof in Barranger, 1994: 47.
From Dodge’s utterances above it can be seen that Dodge as a representative of older generation, transfers the power to Vince as the representative of the younger
generation. To sum up, Vince’s characteristics symbolize his strong desire in
maintaining his identity as one of the family members. Vince’s utterances symbolize his desire to embrace his ancestry, an inability to confront the denial of
the family, an inability to escape from his heritage, a quest for identity, a family renewal and a symbol of innocence. Vince’s actions symbolize the efforts to
escape from family denial, the failure in his quest for identity and an anticipation toward the corruptions in the family. And the last, the other characters’ speech
about Vince symbolize the fulfillment for his quest, an emotional transformation and a continuity from the preceding generation to the next generation.
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