Buried Child - Character Summaries

Character Summaries

Dodge:

• Aging dysfunctional patriarch of the family; in his 70s
• Is an alcoholic
• Is dying
• Has been emasculated by his son and the infertility of his fields
• Is ashamed of Halie's conceiving the child and is ashamed of killing it
• Sits and watches television and drinks

Tilden:

• Lost son, he has no purpose, no direction in his life
• Had sex with his mother
• Is confused/ashamed/embarrassed about the child and its death
• Is bullied by the other characters
• Brings crops into the house from the field in the backyard

Bradley:

• Aggressive brother
• Lost his leg in a chainsaw accident
• Is emasculated by the removal of his leg

Halie:

• The wife and mother in the family; in her mid-60s.
• Nags Dodge
• Had sex with her son and gives birth to her grandson/son
• Abandons the family to socialise with Dewis and revel in the past
• Hero-worships the images of her lost son

Vince:

• Tilden's son
• Reclaims possession of the house
• No one recognizes him when he arrives

Shelly

• Vince's girlfriend
• Reluctant to be at Vince's grandparents' house
• Determined to uncover the family secret
• Utterly shaken at what she finds
• Skeptical of family relations

Father Dewis

• Priest
• Enjoys drinking and socializing with women
• Carrying on a not-so secret affair with Halie