Date of Project

2025

Document Type

Honors Thesis

School Name

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Theater Arts

Major Advisor

Megan Burnett, MFA

Second Advisor

Miguel A. Rincón, Ph.D.

Abstract

This thesis, "The Wild Dark or, La oscuridad salvaje: Illuminating Identity Through Failure," explores how the narrative power of darkness can serve as a catalyst for profound self-discovery, particularly in the aftermath of significant failure. Drawing upon literary analysis and the author's personal experience of shifting academic paths, the study examines how confronting metaphorical darkness allows for a critical rebuilding of identity and self-concept. The play referenced in the title, "The Wild Dark or, La oscuridad salvaje," serves as a central point of analysis, investigating the interplay of theme, setting, and scenario in depicting this transformative process. By engaging with the atavistic human fear of the unknown, the thesis argues that narratives utilizing darkness as a central metaphor provide a unique opportunity for both characters and audience members to confront their own insecurities and emerge with a more profound understanding of themselves. Ultimately, this work illuminates the revelatory potential inherent in failure and the crucial role darkness plays in facilitating the reconstruction of identity.

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