Shepard’s Native Americans and their Spiritual Connection to the Natural World
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | Sam Shepard, a well-known author of American myths, does not overlook the characters of Native Americans in his works. Shepard offers a powerful critique of American society and history while also celebrating the strength and spiritual richness of indigenous peoples. His treatment of Native American themes is often surreal and symbolic and is intended to address larger questions of identity and American culture. Shepard’s portrayal of Native Americans is usually focused on their deep spiritual connection with the natural world and ancient wisdom. These characters often juxtapose modern American society and, on many occasions, guide the main protagonists in their search for identity. This paper examines Shepard’s portrayal of the Native Americans as one with nature and their spiritual relationship to the land as opposed to the materialism of modern American society. It will also explore the role of these characters within the selected plays and their influence on the main protagonists. This paper will draw on close readings of plays such as Operation Sidewinder, Angel City, and The Holy Ghostly, since in these works the characters of Native Americans convey their metaphysical relationship to the world. |
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