Category: Fences

Discussion

August Wilsons Fences displays the struggle of African Americans to attain their ambitions. Wilson explained clearly how men in African-American struggled to be victorious in achieving their dreams. Literary scripts can contribute greatly as historical articles which express social actualities that are creatively displayed by the Wilson.

Hence, literature may not be disconnected from society and the analysis of literature must be associated to society. August Wilson is well-known in American literature as a writer of plays of African-American who usually narrate about African incidences in the past societies in U.S. The attempts of African Americans to attain their ambitions, as well as its challenging social matters like discriminations are portrayed in his play called Fences.

This play narrates about a black family in 1950s who attempted to live among the people in the American urban regions (Bogumi 34). The author himself stayed in African American slum society during his early age, which he went on to portray in several dramatic writings.

The play, Fences, gives an appealing case of the way both metaphysical and physical expressions of particular African retentions joint to enhance existing African American culture. The Africa which the author revives in Fences portrays itself through different levels and in both explicit and implicit ways. Normally, such ways may not be comprehended if American sense exists as the only standard. These African links come out in unspoken policies which shape everyday rituals of such characters and instill the play on several stages.

Through analyzing Fences within African American cosmology, instead of depending only upon Western models of examination, the play produces a greater important interpretation of how black Americans settle the issues of their double consciousness in the America (Steffens 5). That African cosmology turns into an important section of the plays sub textual tale, a tale which opposes Americas disruptive discrimination with Africas ability to cure, reunite, and empower.

All through the play, the search of dreams has contributed greatly in the characters self-achievement. Nevertheless, Fences mainly focused on the men characters and their goals; the author did not talk much about the characters of women. As Wilson portrays the characters of men in detail, the dreams of female characters stay undeclared.

Furthermore, just one female, called Rose Maxson, who represented his women characters, while the rest of women protagonists only existed after they are cited by other women characters participating in the play. It appears that the author merely provides opportunity to Rose to express her mind as a member of the African American women. Hence, Rose is a main character which may be employed as the channel to understand about the way women observe the benefit of possessing and attaining their dreams.

From the start of the play, Rose is expressed as the character under the patriarchal control and association with her spouse is exemplified through her spouses sexist viewpoints. Just like the rest of Black women, when she went into marriage, she had to sacrifice her freedom and she is possessed and completely authorized by her husband.

While she attempts to safeguard her family, Troy is betraying through having relationship with different women as his manner to attain free will. This issue surprised Rose: You should have stayed in my bed, Troy& You should have held me tight. You should have grabbed me and hold on. (Wilson 1333). She is curious about Troys faithfulness as her spouse and his compliance to maintain their marriage in a positive path.

The goods moods and close relations among a mother and children as well may be observed in the family of the author. Wilson and his brothers and sisters took their mother as their role model, whereas their father was mainly not there during their early age. Their mother was the person who showed them the benefit of possessing stable sense of satisfaction and zero tolerance for impartiality.

As the author wrote about African-American, he did not prevent the control of culture in the place he grew up, including his previous incidences of discrimination, and he made his play derived on those factors which he experienced from his life. Additionally, he expressed that Fences provides a distinct viewpoint on the way persons observe the African-Americans, which can have an impact on the way they think and contact each other.

In Fences, Wilson attempted to describe the experiences of women in the past societies through introducing or using Rose, he employed her character as his device to portray how difficult the life of Black American is. Her disappointment in attaining her dream to have a successful marriage and her intention to dedicate her life greatly on her parenthoods side, looks like the life of some African American mothers.

His mother, who was unsuccessful in trying to have the best family during her initial marriage, along with her achievement in improving her childrens status, are his devices to direct his reader to understand effectively about the past of African American females.

From the analysis of Fences, it can be deduced that the author is conscious of the status of African-American who are near him and he made his play derived from such facts (Bogumi 34), therefore Wilson employed the characters like Rose to pass a point to the African American women to consider their ambitions and even, to add more efforts to attain their goals, even though their goals are still nearly linked to the concepts satisfying their responsibilities as the core provider of the family.

He did well in displaying is perspective on the way African American women must observe the benefit of having their own goals and what they must perform to attain such goals.

Certainly, African American women in the past had fewer opportunities upon getting into adulthood. Rarely did such options go past their marriage, parenthood, and family life.

Finances used during their schooling was seen as an ill-advised investment, particularly since less job opportunities were not there for them which needed more than a capacity of providing for the needs of the white Americans. Furthermore, the status of anti-intellectualism against female proposed that schooling stained women and create them not to be better wives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the existence of the African-Americans is mainly evaluated by men values and standards. From the above analysis, female are placed in the inequality position by men and the patriarchal structure, and this status creates them, rarely, have an opportunity to consider their own dreams so attain them. Wilson is successful in displaying is perspective on what issues experienced by women who are attempting to attain their dreams as a kind of equality and acceptance in the community.

August Wilsons Fences not only motivates debate, but it as well motivates thoughts concerning human status. The play brings about the degree of understanding that exceeds certain experiences of the Maxson family and continues to portray a simple wisdom for both the individual and for that particular person as a connection in a family system (Steffens 5). The idea of this play is to bring to the front within complete observation of the racial and economic difficulties which African Americans faced during past America society.

Works Cited

Bogumi, Maryl. Understanding August Wilson. Columbia, SC: Univ of South Carolina Press, 1999. Print.

Steffens, Johannes. Recognizing Fences  Troy Maxsons Identity Politics. New York: GRIN Verlag, 2007. print.

Wilson, August. Fences Drama: A Pocket Anthology. 3^rd Ed. New York: Penguin Academics, 2006. Print.

Introduction

Fences is a tragic play by August Wilson, premiered in 1985. It tells of a black man in the 1950s USA, Troy Maxson, and his relationships with his family and only friend, Bono. The play received critical acclaim, and, in 2013, a film adaptation. As a tragedy, Fences shows its central characters downfall, caused by his flaws. This essay will examine some of the characters and themes of the play.

Summary

The entirety of the play takes place in front of Troy Maxsons, the main characters house. As he interacts with and eventually alienates his friend and family, the viewer learns more about the personal flaws  stubbornness, inflexibility, selfishness  which causes him to conflict with those who trust him. After he drives away his wife, brother, two sons, and only friend, he has one final bout with Death  whom he describes as a white, hooded figure  and dies. His broken family reunites for his funeral, and his brother, who believes himself to be Archangel Gabriel, blows his trumpet in an attempt to open the gates to Heaven.

Themes

Baseball is a significant theme in the play and serves as a central part of Troys character and history. His greatest regret is his failure to make it into the Major League despite allegedly being a sufficiently capable player. He blames systemic racism for it: dont come telling me I was too old. I just wasnt the right color (Wilson, 2017, p. 42). Baseball metaphors occupy a significant part of Troys vernacular, such as referring to mistakes as strikes, or his place in life as standing on first [base]. Even the plays title, Fences, is a reference to swinging for the fences in addition to the literal and metaphorical fences Troy builds that keep the other characters out  or in. However, there is an argument that the entire social, racial, and political world view Troy derives from baseball is misguided (Letzler, 2014, p. 302). Whether one agrees with this or not, Americas national pastime plays an integral part in the story.

As Troy has three children a significant part from each other, the difference between generations is put into perspective. It has been pointed out that these children were born precisely seventeen years apart, represent Troys paternal responsibilities to three successive generations (Nadel, 2018, p. 74). While his relationship with Raynell is understandably short, and Lyons story happens mostly off-stage, it is his lack of understanding and subsequent falling out with Cory that the viewers see unfold.

Characters

The plays characters are defined by their relationship with Troy Maxston, each highlighting a different flaw in him. It is his stubbornness that drives away his middle son, Cory. He gets invited to college on a football scholarship, but Troy goes to significant lengths to prevent him from being accepted. He claims that the same racism that kept him out of the Major League will affect his son, as well. Even after being shown successful non-white athletes, he refuses to admit that times have changed and heed anyones experiences but his own. The play does not make it clear whether his fatherly protectiveness or jealousy cause that his son might succeed where he failed. In the end, the viewers see Cory making his way in life, having joined the US Marine Corps.

Lyons, representing the second generation of the Maxstons, followed a different path from Cory. While his father had dominated Corys life, Troy was absent for most of Lyons childhood and youth. Lyons also has a strong aspiration his father disapproves of: music. This disapproval is not as evident as with Cory, but Troy again refuses to acknowledge it, or see him perform when he joins a band. Their relationship seems to be purely transactional, as Lyons visits occasionally to borrow ten dollars. However, it also shows that Troy feels some obligation or duty towards his son since he lends him the money. Later, when Lyons establishes a source of income and tries to repay his debts, his father refuses to take it or not present at all. By the end, Lyons finds himself serving a prison sentence for fraud, but finds the people to form a band even there, and intends to continue his musical career after his release.

His wife Rose falls victim to his selfishness and unwillingness to let an opportunity pass. He appears bored and complacent with his family life, driving him to have an affair with another woman. Although Troy has difficulty justifying it, he feels no remorse for it, again falling back on his baseball metaphors: after eighteen years I wanted to steal second (Wilson, 2017, p. 73). Rose confides that she had also thought about an affair and reminds him that he is not the only one whos got wants and needs (Wilson, 2017, p. 74). It falls on deaf ears as her husband, again, refuses to acknowledge anyones perspective but his own.

Troys relationship with Gabriel, his war veteran brother, is already deteriorating at the beginning of the play. Gabriel received a large pension from the government, which Troy spent to buy their house. This decision is initially justified since Gabes head injury left him in no condition to manage that money (Wilson, 2017, p. 31). However, he eventually desires a degree of independence and moves out, noting at every visit that Troys mad at me (Wilson, 2017, p. 28). Finally, Troy signs the papers that allow his brother to be institutionalized, claiming that he had signed nothing but a release form, but since he is illiterate, the authorities might have tricked him.

Discussion

Fences uses its themes to connect with a broad audience. The plays tragedy and Troys flaws are universal, not uniquely African-American or American in general. While racism plays a significant role in the main characters worldview, the play, its events show that although it may not be gone entirely, things have improved over his lifetime. It is telling that when he speaks about his fight with Death, Troy describes a white-robed figure with a hood. This similarity has not gone unnoticed: by depicting Death as a Klansman, Troy explicitly links his wrestling match to his struggles against racial injustice (Davis, 2014, p. 57). Despite this view, other characters suggest that it was his advancing age that prevented him from furthering his baseball career, and no overt racism is shown in the play.

Conclusion

Fences is a modern drama, using the metaphor of baseball to show one mans family destroyed through nobodys faults but his own. He might have had the best intentions, but his stubbornness, short-sightedness and lack of empathy take the best of him in the end, costing him everyone he has loved. These flaws are universal, and the characters, including Troy, are presented as sympathetic and believable. The setting may be uniquely American, but under the surface, humans are still humans, and tragedy, drama, and Death spare no one.

Reference List

Davis, A. R. (2014) Wrestling Jacob in the Book of Genesis and August Wilsons Fences, Literature and Theology, 29(1), pp. 47-65.

Letzler, D. (2014) Walking around the Fences: Troy Maxson and the ideology of going down swinging, African American Review, 47(2-3), pp. 301-312.

Nadel, A. (2018) The theatre of August Wilson. London: Bloomsbury.

Wilson, A. (2017) Fences. Web.

The central idea I will discuss is the theme of father and son dynamics shown by Troy and Bono with their fathers. As Troy said explicitly in Act I, Scene IV, his father was a constant cause of conflict and was filled with tension and hate at times. Troys father acts as the role model for a cautionary story (Wilson 1415). Troy, on the other hand, is entirely perplexed and ultimately emulates his fathers behavior. Despite Troys accusations that his father was wicked and the devil, his father has continued to beat him brutally. Troy does not go out of his way to demonstrate to Cory how much he cared about Lyons throughout their relationship to compensate for his missed time. When Lyons tries to get Troy to watch him perform in Act I Scene IV, it serves as an excellent demonstration of their utterly opposed outlooks on life. However, in the paper, various scenes are precisely analyzed and various incidences are revealed, which portrays the existing differences and friendships among the protagonists.

Cory must face the burden of his fathers resentment, and his inability to comprehend what a father-son relationship must perform a crucial part in the scenes climax. The relationships that a person develops throughout their life have a profound effect on their character. The drama is set at the Maxson familys middle-class home, which is enclosed by an incomplete fence. This illustration represents the typical Black American household navigating a discriminatory and unequal society. Due to this, Troys entire existence is condensed into a specific spot in his domain, and Troy is its defender.

Troy and Bono inform Lyons about their southern upbringings and experiences with problematic dads in Act One, Scene Four. Despite their pessimism, Troy and Bonos generations recollections may be compared to Lyons and Corys (Wilson 1418). When slavery was abolished, black people were compelled to work as sharecroppers, including Troys father. According to Troy, his father was so vicious that no woman would remain with him for an extended time, and therefore he was mainly raised alone. Troys father spotted the runaway animal as Troy was caring for his fathers prized mule (Wilson 1427). When Troys father discovered him with a girl he adored, he severely whipped Troy with leather reins until he submitted.

Troy was always defeated, regardless of how long he lived. Troys father sexually abused the minor child out of rage at him for failing to obey his demands, demonstrating that this mans father was considerably more evil than previously assumed. Troy was formerly afraid of his father but has grown to appreciate him. According to Troy, the experience marked a turning point in his development as a man (Wilson 1428). Even though he was impoverished and homeless, he couldnt bear the thought of living with someone who committed such atrocities. His isolation from his father shaped Troys view of manhood after the violence and betrayal of his father. One of Troys few redeeming characteristics was his keen sense of duty, which he valued highly. Troy became the primary earner for his eleven children when his father died.

On the other hand, Bonos parents retained vivid recollections. Despite their differences, neither Bono nor Troys dad served as a father or provider for Bono and his family, but Troys father did. Bonos father passed away when he was nine years old after a protracted battle with illness. Bonos father struggled with a condition known as The Walking Blues that made it difficult for him to remain in one spot for extended periods or change partners often. Bono was unaware and unable to locate his father (Wilson 1435). His father declared, echoing the thoughts of many other African Americans of his age. After their release from slavery, many African-Americans migrated to the northern states, especially metropolitan areas, searching for better possibilities. This occurrence is referred regarded as the Great Migration. Bono has chosen not to have children to prevent a repeat of his fathers turbulent behavior. Contrary to Bonos worries, the fathers attitude was not inherited from his mother; he adopted it to deal with his unique position. He has never breached his commitment to Lucille in 18 years.

They were nurtured differently, yet their journeys to adulthood were startlingly identical to those of their father. Troy could only spend time with his mother during Lyons early years since Troy spent most of that time imprisoned. Lyons, who grew up in a more prosperous household than Troy, believes he has earned the right to pursue his creative ambitions independently (Wilson 1442). Despite Troys absence from Lyons life, he gently steals money from the young man and returns it. Cory ultimately decides to leave home after an altercation with Troy, which parallels Troys conflict with Corys paternal grandpa. Troy and Cory assert that to be considered a man, one must leave the person who reared him after a brutal battle. To put it mildly, moving into adulthood is challenging.

Work Cited

Wilson, August. Fences The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. 2nd ed., edited by Michael Meyer and D. Quentin Miller, Bedford/St. Martins, 2020, pp. 1408-1453.

Introduction

It is worth noting that August Wilsons play Fences is considered one of the greatest achievements of contemporary African-American dramaturgy. It is part of a series of works revealing the tragic experience of African Americans living in 20th century America (Wessling 124). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the significance of the plays title as applied to different themes and characters of the play.

General Points

The title of the play directly intersects with the image of the fence, which is being built along with the development of the plot and evolution of the main characters. Curiously, the symbol of the fence is crucial for each character of the play. Initially, the reader cannot understand why Troy wants to build a fence. The author gives the audience the opportunity to answer this question autonomously. It is evident that the fence has a physical function; nevertheless, it also has a psychological connotation  this is a barrier that the father has built between himself and his family (Wessling 124). At the same time, the fence reflects Roses efforts to preserve what she values. The title is in the plural form to indicate the barriers existing between people on different levels.

Discussion

The plays title reflects the leitmotif of the plot  people erect a sensitive fence to protect themselves and their family members from the outside world that is often hostile. Simultaneously, by building such fences, they attempt to execute their control over other people, which also alienates them from each other. This way, a fence becomes something similar to a trap because driven by a deep internal feeling, individuals try to protect themselves and their loved ones from the circumstances they cannot control (Wills 50). As a result, they end up in an environment full of conflict. By building a protective fence, the heroes of the play attempt to secure themselves, but in the end, the only thing they have is disrupted relationships.

The symbolic meaning of the title is revealed immediately after the reader gets acquainted with Troy Maxson. This person is someone who loves his family and is eager to do everything he can to protect his wife and sons. Importantly, he is an individual with a particular worldview and someone who has wraith, but he considers himself helpless. He wants his children to have the things he could not afford and never to face the challenges he had to face (Blackburn 339). Troy decides to build the fence so that it becomes a physical barrier protecting his family from the outside world while he also wants to establish a secure psychological environment for his children. The father cannot think of how his sons could deal with the difficulties and inequalities he had to overcome.

The theme of racism is also transmitted through Troys character and the symbol of a fence. In particular, the father finds himself in a situation when a barrier existing between people of different races has a form of institutional racism. At work, white people were the ones who would do the driving; meanwhile, the colored ones had to do all the lifting. He is eager to break this inequality, so he poses this question directly. He then wonders: They gonna fire me cause I asked a question? That is all I did& (1. 1. 2825). It may be assumed that it would not matter if an African-American worker was better qualified for the job  a white employee would still be driving the truck.

Importance of the Symbol for Other Main Characters

However, fences are not a symbol with a strongly negative connotation; in fact, it is always a mixture of moods and attitudes. In the case of Rose, a fence for her is something similar to a love shield (Wills 51). The woman sings: Jesus, I want you to protect me as I travel on my way (1. 2. 2852). She strives for the feeling of security and wants to feel that her family is protected by a greater force. The mother needs to have a safe environment in which she will be able to take proper care of her family.

In contrast to the female character, Troy and Cory are sometimes reluctant to continue building the fence. It is important that Bono understands the difference between Troy and Rose at some point. As he puts it: Some people build fences to keep people out&and other build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all (2. 1. 2908). For the father, the fence is a measure necessary for not letting other people in, while for Rose, the fence allows forming a secure area in which the family could be nurtured. The goal of the two heroes is to protect their sons, but their perceptions of how to achieve it are different.

Symbolism and Themes

Troys reluctance to finish the fence displays his poor commitment to his marriage, while Rose is eager to keep everyone together despite the difficulties faced. The reader may notice that the fence is being built throughout the play, and it is ready at the end. This process is so lengthy because Troy neglects his liability just the way he disregards his responsibility to be a loyal husband. Notably, he mentions that it is because of Cory, who is not always available for continuing the construction works. In his turn, Cory stresses that Troy dont never do nothing, but go down to Taylors (1. 3. 2864). The implication here is that Troy spends time with his mistress Alberta, and the fence becomes a symbol of not only infidelity but also some degree of indifference in regard to the family.

Apart from that, the fence is a symbol of a broken relationship between a father and a son. It is quite possible that the mother, Rose, asked her husband and son to build a fence in an effort to reinforce the connection between them. She might have noticed the growing distance and alienation between Troy and Cory, so their mutual effort could have reunited them. The fence could have become a symbol of a union if the plot had a different denouement. As was discussed earlier, for Troy, the fence is a barrier, which allows him to leave something out of his life. When talking to his father, Cory says: Tell Mama Ill be back for my things, and the father reacts: Theyll be on the other side of that fence (2. 4. 2946). This dialogue puts an end to the bond between a parent and a child, building both a physical and psychological barrier between the two. The choice of words allows assuming that the child is no longer welcome in his fathers territory.

The significance of the title of the play may be analyzed on a deeper level as well. Closer to the ending, the father builds a fence as a measure to protect himself from Death. When his mistress dies in childbirth, he addresses Death, saying: All right&Mr. Death. See now&Im gonna build me a fence around what belongs to me. And then I want you to stay on the other side (2. 2. 2930). It is clear that he understands that, one day, Death will come and take his life away as well as the lives of his family members. However, he is ready to fight, and this eagerness to struggle is quite revealing (Blackburn 339). It implies that he thinks not only about himself but also about his loved ones.

Nevertheless, his attempt to shield his family from Death is not that important. What is more significant is the barrier between a father and son and the loss of connection between a husband and wife. When Troys newborn child is brought to Rose, she agrees to take care of the baby; however, she tells her husband: You a womanless man (2. 3. 2933). This has indicated that a fence between her and Troy will remain forever, and no effort from his side will be able to change that. The complexity of the situation lies in the fact that Rose wants to keep her family away from hardships and temptations using the fence, but all of that has been detected inside the family itself.

Further Points

Moreover, the title of the play symbolizes all the difficulties the main character, the father, has faced throughout his life. Troy grew up in a family with an abusive father. He did not come from a well-off family and had to live in poverty (Blackburn 339). Growing up, he became quite a promising athlete, but racism intrinsic to society did not allow him to become a professional player. As an adult, he gradually becomes more and more separated from his family by a multitude of different fences. However, the end of the play leaves the reader with an open ending. After Gabriel finishes his dancing, the audience may assume that Troy finally becomes free and finds forgiveness. After he dies, nothing prevents him from feeling harmonious, and nothing can disrupt his peace.

It should be stressed that the author of the play uses the symbol of a fence to indicate the multi-layered internal conflict inside the family and individuals (Blackburn 340). The title of the play is a direct reference to this idea. Everybody in Fences needs to overcome their own sins and barriers, while the literary device Wilson has used is simply a tool to drive the reader through the complex conflicts inside the reading. As the characters evolve, their fences either grow together with them or become less noticeable, but for every hero, a fence represents both love and hurdles of life.

Conclusion

Thus, it can be concluded that Fences by August Wilson is a play the parts of which require close reading. The fence the family has built together indicates something different for everybody. As the family was erecting the fence, people protected by it would become more and more distant from each other. However, when the work was done, the family would reunite again despite the losses experienced. The title of the play is a collective symbol of all the obstacles each member of the family had to face.

Works Cited

Blackburn, Regina Naasirah. Erupting Thunder: Race and Class in the 20th Century Plays of August Wilson. Socialism and Democracy, vol. 17, no. 1, 2003, pp. 339-358.

Wessling, Joseph H. Wilsons Fences. The Explicator, vol. 57, no. 2, 1999, pp. 123-127.

Wills, Anne Blue. Heroes, Women, Wives: Writing Other Lives. Fides et Historia, vol. 49, no. 2, 2017, pp. 49-52.

Wilson, August. Fences. Literature: A Portable Anthology, edited by Janet E. Gardner et al., 4th ed., Bedford/St. Martins, 2017, pp. 2820-2963.

Introduction

Reputedly, Fences is one of the most famous dramas in American literature. In 1983 August Wilson wrote a story of a man who built fences around himself. The play is full of metaphors concerning fences which reveal the major theme and idea, building fences. Depicting the life of the average African American family Wilson articulates the universal truth that if someone builds a fence, the builder is at once fencing in and fencing out (Bloom 139).

It is important to point out that Wilson portrays negative outcomes of such building in a very lively manner. The dramatic structure of the play, use of numerous metaphors, and, of course, depiction of such a modern hero as Troy make Wilsons ideas obtain physical form.

Dramatic structure of the play

Admittedly, drama is not flexible as other forms of literature (McMahan et al. 736). The playwright is limited in time and space, so it is essential to be precise when writing a play. Wilson manages to reveal his ideas within the necessary limits. The story is told in two major parts. The first part is revealed in the very beginning of the play, more so, in the very setting of the play: a small dirt yard, partially fenced (Wilson 788).

In this first part of the play Wilson portrays the process of building fences. Troys memories, Troys dialogues with the members of his family make the viewer see how Troy is building his fences, and why he is doing that. The image of the incomplete fence enhances the idea of building fences.

The second part of the play is its very ending. This part reveals the outcomes of fences building. Troy is buried. Now he is completely fenced from the rest of the world. The fence around the yard is completed. This part of the play is concerned with the outcomes of fence building. Wilson draws a conclusion in this part: a man, who is trying to build a fence around himself, manages to do it, but he fences himself in, and makes this person absolutely lonely.

This specific structure makes the play really appealing since the playwright ends his story with a strong and evocative scene when insane brother of Troy, Gabriel, opens the heavenly gates to his brother and makes him free from the fences Troy was building during his life. Of course, the viewer understands that the fences are destroyed too late.

This makes the end very strong, since the viewer starts thinking about his/her own fences. It goes without saying that such a dramatic structure serves the major aim of the play: to reveal the negative outcomes of building fences.

Troy  the modern hero

Admittedly, to reveal his ideas Wilson uses one more tool. He creates a lively modern character. It is necessary to point out that Wilsons Troy is one of the brightest examples of the modern hero since he is not only bad or good, only tragic or comic (McMahan et al. 786). Troy is a living man who is characterized by myriads of good and bad features.

Sometimes he is too distant from his wife and children. For instance, in his talk with his friend Troy confesses about his love affair, but at the same time it is possible to feel that he loves his wife and sometime can express his affection (Wilson 790-791). Troy can be characterized as a stern father, but he still loves his children. Even in his disapproval of his sons longing to enter big sport it is possible to feel care.

Troy simply does not want his son, Cory, to experience the same disappointment: I decided seventeen years ago that boy wasnt getting involved in no sports. Not after what they did to me in the sports (Wilson 806).

Of course, times has changed and Cory has a real chance to become a famous and successful player, but Troy does not see the changes because the fence he built in his mind is too high to see it (Wilson 805). Thus, Wilson creates a hero who is, so to speak, multifaceted. This characteristic feature of the modern hero Troy makes it possible to understand why he built the fence around him.

Metaphors and symbols  direct messages to the audience

It goes without saying that the image of the main character and his fences is enhanced by the use of metaphors and symbols which play essential role in revealing the playwrights ideas. Admittedly, the major symbol of the play is physical representation of the fence, which is incomplete in the first part of the play and is finished in the second, culmination part of the play.

The viewer is exposed to the major idea of the play all the time. Troy is building a fence around his yard in the real world and around himself in his mind. He wants to defend himself from the hostile world, but instead he isolates himself. Troys fences do not let him see numerous opportunities which appear in a rapidly changing world.

Interestingly, Troy also uses numerous metaphors dreaming about swinging for the fences (Bloom 139). Wilsons main character does not admit he has built fences (does not see new opportunities and does not always let somebody in), but he still wants to escape from the metaphorical fences. Troy wants to go beyond his own fences. These metaphors also enhance the idea of being imprisoned in ones own fences.

One of the most evocative symbols of the play is the final performance of Gabriel who is breaking the fences for his brother and sets him free. Notably, Wilson articulates an idea that in many cases only insane can ruin fences whereas normal people build new ones.

This idea is articulated by the scene when Lyons is trying to stop Gabriel when he is opening the gates for Troy (Wilson 834). Admittedly, these are only some of the brightest metaphors used in the play. And the whole scope of these metaphors reveals the major idea of the play.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is possible to note that Wilson made his idea of the negative outcomes of building fences absolutely explicit in his famous play. More so, specific structure of the play, numerous metaphors and symbols create a complete picture of fences which can exist in human life.

Moreover, Wilsons modern hero, Troy, is a kind of illustration of a fenced individual. Wilson reveals his sorrows and his happy moments, but apart from all this Wilson claims that any fences lead to loneliness. Notable, Wilsons expressive and emotional play makes people think of their own fences and their own ways in the world.

Works Cited

Bloom, Harold. August Wilson. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2009.

McMahan, Elizabeth, Susan Day, Robert Funk. Literature and the Writing Process. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007.

Wilson, August. Fences. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan Day, Robert Funk. Literature and the Writing Process. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. 788-834.

Introduction

Fences is a tragic play by August Wilson, premiered in 1985. It tells of a black man in the 1950s USA, Troy Maxson, and his relationships with his family and only friend, Bono. The play received critical acclaim, and, in 2013, a film adaptation. As a tragedy, Fences shows its central characters downfall, caused by his flaws. This essay will examine some of the characters and themes of the play.

Summary

The entirety of the play takes place in front of Troy Maxsons, the main characters house. As he interacts with and eventually alienates his friend and family, the viewer learns more about the personal flaws  stubbornness, inflexibility, selfishness  which causes him to conflict with those who trust him. After he drives away his wife, brother, two sons, and only friend, he has one final bout with Death  whom he describes as a white, hooded figure  and dies. His broken family reunites for his funeral, and his brother, who believes himself to be Archangel Gabriel, blows his trumpet in an attempt to open the gates to Heaven.

Themes

Baseball is a significant theme in the play and serves as a central part of Troys character and history. His greatest regret is his failure to make it into the Major League despite allegedly being a sufficiently capable player. He blames systemic racism for it: dont come telling me I was too old. I just wasnt the right color (Wilson, 2017, p. 42). Baseball metaphors occupy a significant part of Troys vernacular, such as referring to mistakes as strikes, or his place in life as standing on first [base]. Even the plays title, Fences, is a reference to swinging for the fences in addition to the literal and metaphorical fences Troy builds that keep the other characters out  or in. However, there is an argument that the entire social, racial, and political world view Troy derives from baseball is misguided (Letzler, 2014, p. 302). Whether one agrees with this or not, Americas national pastime plays an integral part in the story.

As Troy has three children a significant part from each other, the difference between generations is put into perspective. It has been pointed out that these children were born precisely seventeen years apart, represent Troys paternal responsibilities to three successive generations (Nadel, 2018, p. 74). While his relationship with Raynell is understandably short, and Lyons story happens mostly off-stage, it is his lack of understanding and subsequent falling out with Cory that the viewers see unfold.

Characters

The plays characters are defined by their relationship with Troy Maxston, each highlighting a different flaw in him. It is his stubbornness that drives away his middle son, Cory. He gets invited to college on a football scholarship, but Troy goes to significant lengths to prevent him from being accepted. He claims that the same racism that kept him out of the Major League will affect his son, as well. Even after being shown successful non-white athletes, he refuses to admit that times have changed and heed anyones experiences but his own. The play does not make it clear whether his fatherly protectiveness or jealousy cause that his son might succeed where he failed. In the end, the viewers see Cory making his way in life, having joined the US Marine Corps.

Lyons, representing the second generation of the Maxstons, followed a different path from Cory. While his father had dominated Corys life, Troy was absent for most of Lyons childhood and youth. Lyons also has a strong aspiration his father disapproves of: music. This disapproval is not as evident as with Cory, but Troy again refuses to acknowledge it, or see him perform when he joins a band. Their relationship seems to be purely transactional, as Lyons visits occasionally to borrow ten dollars. However, it also shows that Troy feels some obligation or duty towards his son since he lends him the money. Later, when Lyons establishes a source of income and tries to repay his debts, his father refuses to take it or not present at all. By the end, Lyons finds himself serving a prison sentence for fraud, but finds the people to form a band even there, and intends to continue his musical career after his release.

His wife Rose falls victim to his selfishness and unwillingness to let an opportunity pass. He appears bored and complacent with his family life, driving him to have an affair with another woman. Although Troy has difficulty justifying it, he feels no remorse for it, again falling back on his baseball metaphors: after eighteen years I wanted to steal second (Wilson, 2017, p. 73). Rose confides that she had also thought about an affair and reminds him that he is not the only one whos got wants and needs (Wilson, 2017, p. 74). It falls on deaf ears as her husband, again, refuses to acknowledge anyones perspective but his own.

Troys relationship with Gabriel, his war veteran brother, is already deteriorating at the beginning of the play. Gabriel received a large pension from the government, which Troy spent to buy their house. This decision is initially justified since Gabes head injury left him in no condition to manage that money (Wilson, 2017, p. 31). However, he eventually desires a degree of independence and moves out, noting at every visit that Troys mad at me (Wilson, 2017, p. 28). Finally, Troy signs the papers that allow his brother to be institutionalized, claiming that he had signed nothing but a release form, but since he is illiterate, the authorities might have tricked him.

Discussion

Fences uses its themes to connect with a broad audience. The plays tragedy and Troys flaws are universal, not uniquely African-American or American in general. While racism plays a significant role in the main characters worldview, the play, its events show that although it may not be gone entirely, things have improved over his lifetime. It is telling that when he speaks about his fight with Death, Troy describes a white-robed figure with a hood. This similarity has not gone unnoticed: by depicting Death as a Klansman, Troy explicitly links his wrestling match to his struggles against racial injustice (Davis, 2014, p. 57). Despite this view, other characters suggest that it was his advancing age that prevented him from furthering his baseball career, and no overt racism is shown in the play.

Conclusion

Fences is a modern drama, using the metaphor of baseball to show one mans family destroyed through nobodys faults but his own. He might have had the best intentions, but his stubbornness, short-sightedness and lack of empathy take the best of him in the end, costing him everyone he has loved. These flaws are universal, and the characters, including Troy, are presented as sympathetic and believable. The setting may be uniquely American, but under the surface, humans are still humans, and tragedy, drama, and Death spare no one.

Reference List

Davis, A. R. (2014) Wrestling Jacob in the Book of Genesis and August Wilsons Fences, Literature and Theology, 29(1), pp. 47-65.

Letzler, D. (2014) Walking around the Fences: Troy Maxson and the ideology of going down swinging, African American Review, 47(2-3), pp. 301-312.

Nadel, A. (2018) The theatre of August Wilson. London: Bloomsbury.

Wilson, A. (2017) Fences. Web.

Characters are the primary driving power in dramas, novels, and plays. Their roles in these stories help in developing and advancing the plotline. In particular, Fences, a play by August Wilson, displays numerous characteristics of Troy Maxson and how these personalities influence the environment and those around him. Troy is a diligent African-American; he began his career as a garbage collector and eventually as a driver in the sanitation service. Troy endured a difficult life and left his home aged 14. Further, he laments his predicaments on how he experienced hardship under the care of his father. Troy was an outstanding baseball player who could compete in the top-flight leagues had he not spent his early years in jail.

Troy is amusing, controversial, inspirational, and upsetting in equal measure, but he is one person who talks a lot. His conversation is filled with bravery, specks of obscenity, and poetry. He shares stories with unflinching zeal, at times frustrating Bono, Rose, and his other acquaintances. Furthermore, he is seen as a responsible man, providing his wife Rose with his earnings. Moreover, his responsibility is encompassed when he fails to aid his son in following his passion for playing college football to protect him from pain and heartbreak.

He is intolerable to people with diverse opinions towards his philosophies, and hence they frequently dispute with Rose. Troys words are charming as he uses them in describing nature as he is resentful of his adventure and the things he lost. His past description is a clear depiction of enslaved African American peoples atrocities; thus, he serves as a storyteller of the past in his family. Moreover, he is a hypocrite; he requires his loved ones to lead realistic and decent lives while allowing himself the opportunity to have an extramarital affair. He also fights against his bosses racial policies by challenging the restriction of black employees to lifters rather than drivers on garbage trucks.

The central idea I will discuss is the theme of father and son dynamics shown by Troy and Bono with their fathers. As Troy said explicitly in Act I, Scene IV, his father was a constant cause of conflict and was filled with tension and hate at times. Troys father acts as the role model for a cautionary story (Wilson 1415). Troy, on the other hand, is entirely perplexed and ultimately emulates his fathers behavior. Despite Troys accusations that his father was wicked and the devil, his father has continued to beat him brutally. Troy does not go out of his way to demonstrate to Cory how much he cared about Lyons throughout their relationship to compensate for his missed time. When Lyons tries to get Troy to watch him perform in Act I Scene IV, it serves as an excellent demonstration of their utterly opposed outlooks on life. However, in the paper, various scenes are precisely analyzed and various incidences are revealed, which portrays the existing differences and friendships among the protagonists.

Cory must face the burden of his fathers resentment, and his inability to comprehend what a father-son relationship must perform a crucial part in the scenes climax. The relationships that a person develops throughout their life have a profound effect on their character. The drama is set at the Maxson familys middle-class home, which is enclosed by an incomplete fence. This illustration represents the typical Black American household navigating a discriminatory and unequal society. Due to this, Troys entire existence is condensed into a specific spot in his domain, and Troy is its defender.

Troy and Bono inform Lyons about their southern upbringings and experiences with problematic dads in Act One, Scene Four. Despite their pessimism, Troy and Bonos generations recollections may be compared to Lyons and Corys (Wilson 1418). When slavery was abolished, black people were compelled to work as sharecroppers, including Troys father. According to Troy, his father was so vicious that no woman would remain with him for an extended time, and therefore he was mainly raised alone. Troys father spotted the runaway animal as Troy was caring for his fathers prized mule (Wilson 1427). When Troys father discovered him with a girl he adored, he severely whipped Troy with leather reins until he submitted.

Troy was always defeated, regardless of how long he lived. Troys father sexually abused the minor child out of rage at him for failing to obey his demands, demonstrating that this mans father was considerably more evil than previously assumed. Troy was formerly afraid of his father but has grown to appreciate him. According to Troy, the experience marked a turning point in his development as a man (Wilson 1428). Even though he was impoverished and homeless, he couldnt bear the thought of living with someone who committed such atrocities. His isolation from his father shaped Troys view of manhood after the violence and betrayal of his father. One of Troys few redeeming characteristics was his keen sense of duty, which he valued highly. Troy became the primary earner for his eleven children when his father died.

On the other hand, Bonos parents retained vivid recollections. Despite their differences, neither Bono nor Troys dad served as a father or provider for Bono and his family, but Troys father did. Bonos father passed away when he was nine years old after a protracted battle with illness. Bonos father struggled with a condition known as The Walking Blues that made it difficult for him to remain in one spot for extended periods or change partners often. Bono was unaware and unable to locate his father (Wilson 1435). His father declared, echoing the thoughts of many other African Americans of his age. After their release from slavery, many African-Americans migrated to the northern states, especially metropolitan areas, searching for better possibilities. This occurrence is referred regarded as the Great Migration. Bono has chosen not to have children to prevent a repeat of his fathers turbulent behavior. Contrary to Bonos worries, the fathers attitude was not inherited from his mother; he adopted it to deal with his unique position. He has never breached his commitment to Lucille in 18 years.

They were nurtured differently, yet their journeys to adulthood were startlingly identical to those of their father. Troy could only spend time with his mother during Lyons early years since Troy spent most of that time imprisoned. Lyons, who grew up in a more prosperous household than Troy, believes he has earned the right to pursue his creative ambitions independently (Wilson 1442). Despite Troys absence from Lyons life, he gently steals money from the young man and returns it. Cory ultimately decides to leave home after an altercation with Troy, which parallels Troys conflict with Corys paternal grandpa. Troy and Cory assert that to be considered a man, one must leave the person who reared him after a brutal battle. To put it mildly, moving into adulthood is challenging.

Work Cited

Wilson, August. Fences The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. 2nd ed., edited by Michael Meyer and D. Quentin Miller, Bedford/St. Martins, 2020, pp. 1408-1453.

Fences (2016) and A Midsummer Nights Dream are intriguing narratives that shed light on interpersonal conflicts that prevent individuals from achieving life satisfaction. The main characters in both plays strive to satisfy their desires, but several factors, including their hopes and dreams, prevent them from succeeding. Nevertheless, the authors send a message that hopes and dreams are critical in motivating individuals toward gains, but memories can limit or support their development.

The main similarity between the characters in the film and the play is their conflicting interests amid significant barriers. Shakespeares play begins with the plight of two couples caught up in a love triangle. Hermia is in love with Lysander, but his father wants him to marry Demetrius. On the other hand, Helena loves Lysander but cannot be with him because of his feelings for Hermia. In Fences, Troy and Cory can hardly come to terms with their lives because Troy has given up on his dreams and focuses on taking care of his family, while Cory has wild ambitions of playing pro football. However, the odds are stacked against them as racism and marginalization limit them from advancing. The characters struggles differ because the play features individuals stuck in a romantic brawl where fairies determine the outcomes. Meanwhile, the film addresses real-life economic and social issues that limited African-Americans from prospering during the 19^th and 20^th Centuries.

Memories play a significant role in both narratives, as Troys memories of failure prevent him from supporting his son, thus leading to their disconnection and suffering. On the other hand, the memories of the main characters in A Midsummer Nights Dream lead them to question all that had happened during the previous night, but they are obligated to ignore all their feelings and advised that these experiences were mere dreams. Thus, dreams are a limiting factor in Fences but promote peace and stability in Shakespeares play. I sympathize with the dreamers in the film and the play because their hopes and ambitions are substantial and worth struggling for. Troy and Cory seek to improve their lives and provide for their loved ones, while the characters in the play wish to experience true love. Therefore, their limitations present issues and diminish their satisfaction due to their complexity.

Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a narrative that informs its readers of the two conflicting sides of human nature. The author heavily relies on symbolism and metaphors to describe how easily good and evil can mix, making it difficult to discern the difference between them. Hence, the main lesson the author intends to put across is that people should not always trust what they perceive on the surface or judge others according to what they know because several underlying factors determine an individuals true nature.

The events that transpired in the narrative are not actual events because of their high levels of disorganization and the occurrence of supernatural episodes that are difficult to explain. For example, the old man, who looked like Goodman Brown, had a serpent-headed staff, which later transported him to where the ceremony took place. Additionally, Goodman Brown suddenly finds himself in the forest without any idea of how he is there. Hence, the events are not logical and do not reflect real occurrences.

Goodman Brown is transformed after his experience because he does not trust others and does not want the darkness to consume his wife, Faith. Goodman is mesmerized by how the highly respected minister and the lady who teaches children Bible verses are immoral and corrupt. As a result, he avoids entanglements with these characters but is forced to go on with the ceremony and declare himself saved.

Hawthornes story describes the lengths to which some individuals can go to associate themselves with God and declare their righteousness in the eyes of fellow men when they are the devils accomplices once they turn away from the light. Puritans prioritize being in a covenant relationship with God but ignore their actions. Therefore, the author proposes that the pretense is like cancer that slowly eats away societal morality and should be abolished to save humans from wickedness.

The play is Fences by August Wilson, written in 1983. This play is set in the yard of the main character, Troy Maxson. There is a suggestion that the setting is August Wilsons native town, Pittsburgh, as many prompts mention it within the play. The central conflict involves the main characters attitude to life and his family. The play shows the story of Troy Maxson, who settles down after complicated years of life. It is essential to analyze Fences to understand the work deeper.

The plays protagonist is Troy Maxson, an African American male working as a scavenger. He is concerned about his familys well-being and strives to provide them with proper conditions. Rose Maxson is his wife; she is a housewife, but Rose respects herself and loves her child. Cory Maxson is a son of Troy and Rose; he is involved in complicated relations with his father, who is reluctant about Corys going to football college. Lyons Maxson is Troys son from his first wife; the man is a musician. Gabriel Maxson is Troys brother, who was injured in World War II. He has mental struggles and behaves in a childish way. Raynell Maxson is Troys illegitimate daughter fathered out from Troys mistress, and Jim Bono is Troys best friend, whom he met in jail.

Fences is a complicated play; it received many interpretations from critics and readers. For instance, a fence is a border that separates family members, making the distance unbearable. Moreover, Troy constantly meets and creates fences with his family, especially with the son. The main topic discussed multiple times in the play is dissatisfaction with life. For instance, the protagonist feels uncomfortable about his job: all I want them to do is change the job description (Wilson 1). Additively, he is not happy about the mental disorder of his brother: If my brother didnt have that metal plate in his head& (Wilson 14). Furthermore, he escapes to his mistress to receive a different understanding of himself (Wilson 38). Troy is dissatisfied with his relations with Rose; therefore, he has an affair with his mistress. Moreover, there is dissatisfaction about love and affection for Cory, Troys son: Who the hell tell say I got to like you? (Wilson 37). The topic of unhappiness in life is seen through the main characters phrases.

Characters use African-American dialect; Wilson creates natural language similar to one spoken in his native town. Indeed, Wilson uses specific colloquialisms such as nigga to demonstrate the reliability of the simple language of the characters (Wilson 34). The tone is colloquial; it tells the reader about the lifelike representation of African Americans, probably, signals average or low education, and reflects views of Wilson himself. It is possible to mention the presence of a gloomy and tense atmosphere; perhaps, actors would wear authentic clothes and minimal makeup. Moreover, shacks made of sticks and tarpaper remind readers of poor conditions (Wilson 30). Overall, the visual image will be simple, dark, and unpolished, with broken objects around the location.

Furthermore, some sound effects are present here; for instance, Lyons constantly mentions it. I just stay with my music cause thats the only way I can find to live (Wilson 8). Oppositely, Troy does not like it: I dont like Chinese music. All that noise (Wilson 26). Troy is unfamiliar with music art; he cannot enjoy sounds and life. These elements add to the plays general atmosphere of tension and gloom.

Overall, Wilsons Fences is a masterpiece of playwriting, and it is a valuable input into literature. The play reveals significant themes, and it might help many people rethink their lives. The work impresses most spectators and readers with its simplicity and complexity simultaneously. Moreover, the protagonists attitude to life is an excellent example of a tragic hero trying to find his life path. The play is a great work that makes the reader think about life and values.

Work Cited

Wilson, August. Fences. Internet Archive, 1983. Internet Archive, Web.