College of languages Discusses Master’s Thesis Examining Influences in Selected Plays by Sam Shepard
On Monday, February 24, 2025, the Department of English at the College of Languages at the University of Baghdad discussed the master’s thesis entitled “An Analysis of Psychological Influences in Selected Plays by Sam Shepard” by Hawra Bassem Ali.
The thesis aimed to deconstruct Sam Shepard’s plays, such as “Buried Child” (1978), “True West” (1980), and “Foolish Lover” (1983), to uncover the dark and intertwined threads of the American family and explore the legacy of psychological breakdown suffered by individuals due to their strained family relationships.
It also addressed the inherited effects of family trauma and how these impact the psychology of subsequent generations.
The thesis included two psychological theories: Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory and Sigmund Freud’s concepts of memory and repetition.
It also highlighted how family dynamics, including parental neglect and untreated trauma, impact individuals’ identities and the causes of disintegration within the family unit.
The thesis concluded with the need to pay attention to family systems and emphasized the role of mothers and fathers in raising children and developing healthy personalities.
The sound psychological background provided by the family is reflected in the strong family relationships among its members, which in turn is reflected in society.
The research committee recommended that the comments made by the committee members be taken into account, and the thesis was accepted with a Meet’s Requirements grade.
