Political satire and black comedy in Sam Shepard's

الملخص EN

Abstract The God of Hell is written as a response to invasion of Iraq by the American forces.

The American playwright Sam Shepard writes his play in hope of influencing the American presidential election in 2004.

It is a political satire to criticize the American administration's policy after 9/11.

Shepard uses black comedy to mock the excessive paranoia of the Bush Whitehouse about terrorism, national security, and patriotism.

The play is funny and provides entertainment but it is also highly realistic and shocking since it reflects the tragic worldwide themes after 9/11.

This study focuses on Shepard's way in using satire and black comedy to criticize and expose all the crimes of Bush's regime.

He aims to make people understand its reality through comedy which is regarded by the writer as the best way to convey his message in complete relaxation and ease, when the audience get along with the actors and the events of the play.

Shepard shows, through the actions of the play, that the American administration is not different from all totalitarian regimes in the world.

He displays the similarity between this regime and other dictatorial ones through the use of irony and satire