Their other son Bradley uses his anger and hatred to separate himself from everyone. The family as a whole has also isolated themselves from the outside world. Shepard has said in an interview that he pulls from Native American and Mexican myths for some of his plays. Buried Child is one of those plays. In the play I found elements of Hopi and Aztec myths.
Some Aztec myths are concerned with the use of physical violence to help make the corn grow.
Shepard's main inspiration for Buried Child was his own family. His father and grandfather were alcoholics. At times, Shepard would visit his grandfather in Southern Illinois, who would not remember his own grandson. The play is mainly derived from Shepard's recollections of the events and people on his father's side of the family. His female characters are often strong women who did not know what they were getting into when they followed their men into farm life.