Both Arthur Miller and Sam Shepard drew heavily on their own experiences when they created their distinctive and unique theatre. In my paper I examine how they unravel the backbone of contemporary American society, the minimal sustainable unit, the family through investigating how the family secret, the crisis of the role of men, women and outsiders within the family affect the integrity of the familiar unit. I will also address how Miller and Shepard took on and developed Ibsen's well-made play format.