Category: Fences

The play Fences has several symbols which the author utilizes to place emphasis on certain themes such as racial, gender and social segregation. The fence represents the racial division apparent in society. It acts as a fortress that protects blacks from the white-dominated society. During one of their drinking sessions, Bono and Troy speak of the racial discrimination that goes on at their workplace. Blacks are limited to picking up garbage and not allowed to drive the garbage trucks as only Whites are deemed worthy of these jobs.

Moreover, racial segregation is seen when Troy failed to get an opportunity to play in the Major Leagues because he was Black. For this reason, he is angered by Corys desire to play football and discourages him at every point because of the fear that he too would be rejected because of his race (Wilson). As such, the construction of the fence symbolizes the innate nature for Blacks to be aware of their inferior social status and remain secluded as per the set White social norms. The White dominant culture restrains Troys and Corys dreams making them limited to take up meagre opportunities.

The fence also symbolizes the different gender roles prescribed for men and women. Rose asks her husband to construct the fence because she considers it a male-oriented role. The gender division between women and men is also observed during the fences construction when Troy admits to having an affair to Bono but does not lament it. He disregards the Roses efforts of being a good wife (Wilson). Instead, he calls on Rose to take care of Albertas child because he deems that to be her role as a woman.

In conclusion, the author utilizes the fence in the play as a symbol, of gender, social and racial segregation. The Black characters are faced with racial discrimination that limits their economic and social life. On the other hand, women such as Rose are left to take up their women roles as per societys expectations regardless of their husbands wrongdoing.

Works Cited

Wilson, August. Fences. 1st ed., Penguin Group, 1986.

Fences written by August Wilson is a play that revolves around the conflict within an African American family that takes place in the year 1957 in Pennsylvania. The plays title has a metaphorical meaning, and the unfinished fence the audience sees on stage symbolizes the uneasy relationship of the main character Troy and his wife Rose that gradually falls apart. Numerous conflicts depicted in Wilsons play reflect a new side of Maxsons family, their internal and external factors that made up the complicated nature of the characters.

In Act 1 Scene 4 several storylines cross that involves Rose and Cory, Troy and Bono, and Troys son Lyon. Briefly, the scene starts with the conflict between Rose and Cory about an untidy room of the son running to the football practice. It is then followed by Troy and Bono entering the house talking about the job promotion of the first one. Unexpectedly, the other son Lyon appears; however, the parents thought he was supposed to be in jail for gambling, which was entirely false.

Scene 4 takes place two weeks after the previous one, where the conflict was about Troys son Cory and his urge to play football. The father negatively refers to his sons wishes, but it does not stop him from playing sports, as the audience sees in Scene 4, «go on and get your book-learning so you can work yourself up in that A&P or learn how to fix cars or build houses or something, get you a trade (Wilson 38). In such a way, Troy disregards the possibility of his son being good at something he likes. The scene starts with Roses direction to clean the room, so Troy does not know about his sons whereabouts, especially if they are connected to football.

If talking about the goals of each character in the scene Cory must be pointed out first. The boy is hiding his going out late for football, which the father does not approve of. Rose is helping him with the lies because she wants what is best for her son. Later Rose defends Cory, showing that her main goal is to be a loving mother to her sons even though it means engaging in intense arguments with her husband. Troys aim in the scene is to show his superiority, fueled by his getting a new position at work, [Troys] gonna be the first colored driver. Aint got to do nothing but sit up there and read the paper like them white fellows (Wilson 48). His disregarding attitude towards the wife and later Lyon depicts ignorance and pride; however, he forgets that he cannot treat family employees. Lyons return shocks the family; his only goal is to rebuild the relationship with Troy once again; thus, the father does not give in and continues to let Lyon down.

The complete opposite characters of the heros and different goals nobody is able to achieve in the scene create numerous conflicts in the family. However, Troy seems to be the main instigator all family members are trying to soften and find the right approach, yet his past experiences and harsh nature is what slowly destroy his relationships.

From the playwright in Act 1, Scene 4, the audience sees Troys real self and his unforgiving character. The reasoning behind his nature becomes apparent after the story he tells about the motherland and his father. Troy inherited his bitterness and cruelty; thus, it is unclear if he understands it. The sons Cory, Lyon, and Gabe are shown in a different light, where they try to stand up for their life choices, like Corys love for football and Lyons for music. Rose is shown as a loving mother who wants only the best life for the kids, and all her attempts to persuade Troy to be kinder are in vain.

The audience sees the conflicts between Troy and his sons, where Lyon is softer in his attempts to reassure the father of his choices, contrary to Cory, who is more short-tempered like his dad. In another argument, Lyon calmly says, You and I are two different people, Pop (Wilson 21). On the other side, Rose is simultaneously sentimental in relation to his sons, thus can be bold if she is treated disrespectfully like Troy did at the beginning of a scene, when he called her and said she must come immediately upon his request, to which she said:  I aint no dog  (Wilson 46). Speaking about Troy, his language in the scene is arrogant, overbearing, and offensive at times.

The scene is public as the whole family is witnessing the conflicts in the company with Troys best friend Bono. All characters are aware of each other and actively engage in conversations and arguments. Not all characters are candid with each other, regarding that the scene starts with a lie, where Cory sneaks out to a game without his father knowing. Not respecting the choices Troy crushes Corys dreams: Papa done went up to the school and told Coach Zellman I cant play football no more&.Told him to tell the recruiter not to come (Wilson 60 ). However, the boys remain truthful to themselves as it shows in a later argument with Troy about their passions and reluctance to follow the fathers wishes.

Fences is a play about conflict within the family, and Act 1 Scene 4 is an excellent representation of it. The scene reveals the characters true goals, which Troy does not approve of. It depicts the main heros cruel nature that does not listen to anybody, but himself and such inability to compromise is what leads to so many arguments in Maxwells family.

Work Cited

Wilson, Fences. 1983, Internet Archive. Web.

Introduction

August Wilson was a famous American playwright who is widely known for the cycle of ten plays that is titled Pittsburgh Cycle. They are devoted to the problems, struggles and hopes of African-American people in the USA, who were severely humiliated in the 20^th century. For instance, the play Ma Raineys Black Bottom is about a blues singer Ma Rainy who together with her band comes to Chicago to record a music album. Young and promising trumpeter Levi writes a dance version of her most popular song Black Bottom, and the producers want to insist on this version of the song, but Ma Rainey does not agree. She states that either everyone performs her demands or she refuses to record the track. Thus, work at the studio becomes a challenge for all characters of the story. This particular play was influenced by the most important of Five B Mentors, that is blues (CTG). Blues was the major source of inspiration for August Wilson, and Ma Raineys Black Bottom is a perfect example of it, since the story is about the singers of this music genre.

The major type of stories August Wilson wrote were plays, and almost all of them were staged in theatres. Wilson writes about the daily struggles of Afro-American people, showing them fighting against the stigma and stereotypes. His play Fences concerns these topics as well, as its characters face discrimination based on their race. At the same time, it touches upon other important topics. Fences is a lesson in accepting the Crookeds with the Straights as revealed in the lives of August Wilsons characters.

Troy

Troy is the protagonist of the story. He works as a garbage collector and is a former prisoner who served fifteen years in prison for murder. Troy tries to fight racial discrimination at the workplace since he is humiliated by the fact that because of his race he could not become a professional baseball player when he was young. He also tries to prevent his son from playing football in the university team, so he tells his wife Rose: The white men aint gonna let him get nowhere with that football (Wilson 8). He does not want his son to face the same sufferings and lost hopes as he did in his youth. At the same time, Troy is quite stubborn, as he does not want to acknowledge that the reality has changed: How the hell they [times] done changed? (Wilson 9). Troy is a very ambiguous character since he loves his wife but has a mistress and a baby with her, he does not want to give his son Lyons money and still gives it.

Troys whole life may be described as a struggle. First, with his parents, then with the poverty he had to face with when he was young, then he had to fight for himself in prison. Finally, throughout all his life he struggles with racial discrimination, and here it is possible to draw a parallel between him and the character of the song The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel. Til he cried out in his anger and his shame I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains (Simon and Garfunkel). However, it is hard to say whether Troy remained a fighter till the end of his life because after his mistress, Alberta, gives birth to their child, he becomes isolated from his family.

Being the protagonist of the story, Troy is a typical round character since his life is better and, in more details, described by the author. In Troys case, the readers see the dynamics from growth to degradation, may trace his thoughts and understand his character, which is typical of round characters whom writers depict in many roles (Foster 84). When looking at Troys enneagram, it is possible to see that he likely is the eight. The actions of people of this type are often motivated by their independence and their desire for fairness (Truity). Thus, Troy, throughout his whole life, struggles for the abandoning racial discrimination and urges his family to do so as well.

Rose

Rose is Troys wife, and she loves him and tolerates his faults. They never have any serious arguments apart from one that touches upon their sons interest in football. Unlike Troy, Rose strongly supports her child and tries to convince her husband to change his mind and let their son enter the university football team. She says to him: Hell tell you he aint talking about making no living playing football. Its a honour to be recruited (Wilson 9). Though Rose is quite mild with her husband throughout the play, she does not forgive his cheating, as she stops communicating with him after she finds out that his mistress is pregnant.

When speaking about her relationships with Troys first son, Lyons, they get on quite well, and she even protects him from his father in small family disputes. Thus, when he comes by to ask Troy for money, she says: Troy, leave your boy alone. He come by to see you and you wanna start all that nonsense (Wilson 13). She loves her husband, and it explains her love to all his children, including even Troy and Albertas daughter, Raynell.

It is possible to connect Roses destiny to the song Jesus Be a Fence around Me by Sam Cooke because her life seems completely ruined after he finds out about Troy and Albertas relationships. She fights her silent battle with herself and still seems completely calm, that may be described by the songs lyrics: Fight my battle (yes, Lord) if I just keep still (Sam Cooke). Though Rose is one of the protagonists of the story, her personage is not as vividly described as Troy. Thus, she may be considered the character of the second in command, who are usually shown not dynamically so that the readers may trace their development throughout the story but statically (Foster 86). In that case, the readers may understand their actions and motives but do not see the characters growth or degradation.

Bono

Bono is Troys best friend, whom he treats with respect and constantly follows his lead. Bono can be named to followers in a relationship, as he confesses to a friend about his affair with Alberta. He is sure that Rose loves Troy and says that some people build fences to keep people out& and other people build fences to keep people in (Wilson 16). Bono admires his friend for the wisdom, tact, and empathy he sees in Troy. This opinion is reinforced in him from the moment he learns about the upcoming wedding of Troy and Rose. Thus, Bono realized that his friend was the right person to follow.

Moreover, Bono succumbs to Troys stories and fantasies, which cannot be said about Rose. He listens to a friends made-up story about meeting Mr. Death. This can be explained by the fact that his devotion to Troy is blind, and he is confident in his strength and diligence. He states that my man Troy knows what hes doing&he might take me somewhere. (Wilson 18). Moreover, in the end, Troy represents pain and betrayal due to adultery.

Bono constantly leaves meetings early in order to return home to his wife Lucille. However, his role is to develop the character of the protagonist (Foster 88). Bono recounts the misfortunes, his friend endured, including the story of Troys imprisonment. Thanks to the fact that they were in prison together, Bono can observe what changes the character of a friend undergoes. In this way, he tries to be a positive influence in Troys life.

Bono can be personified with the song Brothers under the sun by Bryan Adams. His blind confidence and devotion to Troy makes him listen to and admire his friend. In any situation, Bono is ready to help Troy and sees in him the good that he noticed initially. There are lines in the song that describe a persons willingness to be next to a friend: Wherever you go  Ill be there beside you / Cos you are my brother  my brother under the sun (Bryan Adams). Thus, Bono appears as a hero who will always come to the aid of a friend and will be there.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Troys dream of playing professional baseball and the bitterness of a missed opportunity become the main motive of the work. Unfulfilled desire puts pressure on the hero and does not allow him to live freely and calmly with his family. Langston Hughes in Harlem says that the delayed dream is fester like a sore (Hughes). Thus, Troy destroys his family and cannot be realized. However, Fences should be read as it teaches friendship and the need to pursue dreams.

Works Cited

Adams, Bryan. Brothers under the sun. Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron. A&M Records, 2002.

Cooke, Sam. Jesus Be a Fence around Me. Mary Lou. SAR records, 1961.

Foster, Thomas C. How to read literature like a professor: A lively and entertaining guide to reading between the lines. New York: Quill, 2003.

Simon, Paul and Garfunkel, Art. The Boxer. Bridge over Troubled Water. Columbia, 1968.

Wilson, August. Fences. Penguin Books, 1991.

The play Fences by August Wilson covers a variety of complex themes, such as race, family relationships, history, identity, change, morality, culture, dreams, duty, and others. Written in 1986, this literary work clearly displayed the tensions among blacks who wanted to clutch their African legacy (Ali 1). One of the main symbols used by the author is a fence, which is reflected not only in the title but also throughout the play. The significance of this concept is not overly obvious, and a better understanding of this literary work is required to determine how fences relate to different characters and themes. This essay aims to discuss the idea behind Wilsons play that physical and metaphorical fences that are built by characters negatively impact their lives by dividing them and creating barriers.

At first sight, it appears that the only fence present in the play and significant to the plot is the one that Troy and Cory are building. It symbolizes the separation of the Maxson family from the outer world. However, there are multiple perspectives on the importance and meaning of this symbol. Indeed, Rose believes in the need to protect her family from external threats and asks her husband to build a fence. She thinks that doing so would be beneficial for her loved ones. As noted by Ali, Rose needs Troy to build the fence as methods for securing what was her own, keeping what is needed inside her family, and keeping out what should stay out (7). Her desire is justified because white supremacy and racism affect society, and the woman feels the need to distance herself from the danger and preserve privacy.

In turn, Troy finds his wifes belief unjustified and neglects this task. He sees no purpose in Roses wish to keep something out with a fence (Wilson 64). Moreover, he accuses his son Cory of not helping him and being scared of work (Wilson 26). This conflict between the characters points of view is central to the play. As Troy neglects his family and Roses wish for an actual fence, he builds emotional barriers between himself and his son and wife. In this regard, the main characters lack of commitment to building a fence reflects the negligence of his duties as a father and a husband. The escalation of the conflict occurs when Troy banishes Cory from his territory. In other words, a border between the main character and his son marks the emotional and spiritual distance between them. Not only a physical but also a metaphorical fence is crucial to the plays plot and relationships among the characters. It is evident that Troys emotional barriers sharpen the conflict and eventually destroy his family.

Another perspective on the fence symbol in Wilsons play should be discussed with regard to Troys inner issues and challenges in life. He faced various problems as an African-American and a son of an abusive father, such as poverty, homelessness, inequality, and cruelty. Troys dream of being a successful baseball player was destroyed because of racism and his lack of control of disparities in society. In other words, the main character faces numerous barriers throughout his life, which affect his fate and relationship with others and the world as a whole. In this regard, Ali notes that Fences is a play on the conflict between the authorities of the other with the autonomy of the self (9). Troys connection to his family, African-American culture, and heritage is affected by various metaphorical fences. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the impact of societal barriers on the protagonists life and family.

Furthermore, another perspective on the role of fences in Wilsons literary work is with regard to the concept of death. After Albertas death during childbirth, Troy attempts to separate himself from what he fears. His perspective changes as he decides to build a fence around what belongs to him (Wilson 80). In this regard, there is a significant difference in how Troy and Rose view the meaning behind creating that barrier between the inner and outer worlds. The woman asks her husband to build a fence to keep her family together as she can feel the growing distance between them.

In turn, the man does not realize that it is possible to create a border to keep something within rather than push something away. In his view, a fence can make death stay on the other side (Wilson 80). According to Ali, when Troy finally manages to put up the fence, he completely isolates himself from society, which is a sign of antisocial behavior rather than the wish to protect his family (2). Therefore, while Rose hoped that a barrier would make her loved once feel safer, Troy makes a mistake and dies of a heart attack after challenging death.

To conclude, Wilsons play Fences demonstrates how physical and metaphorical fences symbolize various barriers that negatively impact characters lives. It is impossible to isolate oneself from society and numerous challenges. As can be seen, a virtual fence did not protect Troy and his family from tragic outcomes. It only contributed to creating the emotional barriers between the protagonist and his wife and son, as well as resulted in Troys death. Furthermore, Wilson portrayed how societal issues and inequalities build metaphorical fences for African-Americans affecting their lives.

Works Cited

Ali, Hasan Hadi. The Culture Heritage Protection: Suggestive Themes and Views of August Wilsons Fences. Litinfinite Journal, vol. 4, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1-12. Litinfinite.

Wilson, August. Fences. Plume, 1986.

Introduction

Fences is an American play composed by playwriter August Wilson in the year 1985. The play examines the progressing African-American life experiences related to cultural practices and races among other themes. It is important to analyze the play fences and understand how different perceptions of the characters regarding their past and what they did about their future lives played a critical role in enhancing the conflicts between them.

Bibliography

August Wilson is one of the most prominent playwriters of all time. He was born on 27th April 1945 and died on the 2^nd of October 2005 (August Wilson). His father, Frederick Kittel, was a German immigrant, while his mother, Daisy Wilson, was of African American origin. Wilson began his education at St. Richards Parochial School and later transferred to Connelly Vocational High School. At the age of 15, he pursued a private education and earned his high school credentials at Carnegie Library, Pittsburgh. When his father passed on in the year 1965, he was 20 years old (August Wilson). He adopted the famous name August Wilson  at the time and began his journey in art and poetry. Wilson and Rob Penny co-founded the Black Horizon Theater in 1968 as Wilson sank deeper into the world of poetry (August Wilson). His play Fences can be analyzed through various aspects including:

Language

In the play, characters deploy the Black English dialect creating imageries of their life experiences. The language used by Wilson efficiently conveys the typical life of African-Americans in Pittsburgh. The Black English language links the characters in the play with a specific context of their culture. For instance, in the play, Troy is a powerful character, and he deploys his language to express his dominance over his son, Cory. He is strict with Cory although he wishes for a better future for him. For example, when Cory inquired his father, Troy, why he seems to dislike him, Troy answered harshly,

Liked you? Who the hell say I got to like you? What law is there say I got to like you? Wanna stand up in my face and ask a damn fool-ass question like that. Talking about liking somebody, come here, boy, when I talk to you. (Wilson 37). Cory feels terrified and walks toward Troy, who continues to use harsh language.

Troy uses softer language when conversing with his wife, Rose, about Troy. He says, I dont want him to be like me! I want him to move as far away from my life as he can get. You are the only decent thing that ever happened to me. I wish him that. But I dont wish him a thing else from my life (Wilson 39). Regardless of the harsh language used by the character, Troy wants the best for his son.

Setting

The play is set in 1957, a significant landmark period for The Civil Rights Movement. It was the year when several black communities felt entangled between oppression and violence without any possibilities of a better future (Palko). The play was strategically set in the filth yard of Maxson in a two-story building. Two old chairs are placed on a porch in bad condition and in need of painting. The message behind the setting clearly communicates the low living standard of Maxson. The setting constantly reminds the audience how money is the basic concern of Troy and his family.

Pittsburgh was the hometown of Wilson, and he used it as the setting of almost all his plays. Pittsburgh is a significant place because many African American people live there. African Americans moved to the North to escape racial discrimination and poverty in the South (Palko). They hoped to secure jobs in the North (Pittsburgh being of the cities in the North), but unfortunately, others such as Troy did not find stable employment opportunities. Troy complains,

Woman&I do the best I can do. I come here every Friday. I carry a sack of potatoes and a bucket of lard. You all line up at the door with your hands out. I give you the lint from my pockets. I give you my sweat and my blood. I aint got any tears. I done spent them (Wilson 40). Pittsburgh signifies accomplished and broken promises since there are people who got employment opportunities while others such as Troy only resorted to manual activities for survival in the town.

Plot and Characters

• Troy Maxson is the protagonist of the play
• Rose Maxson, Troys wife
• Cory Maxson, Troys son
• Gabriel Maxson, Troys bother
• Jim Bono, Troys friend
• Lyons Maxson, Troys son from a previous marriage
• Raynell Maxson, Troys illegitimate daughter

The play is subdivided into two acts. The first act has four scenes, and the second act comprises five scenes. The play commences on a Friday during Bono and Troys payday. Troy Maxson works in a sanitation firm in Pittsburgh after his dream of becoming a profound baseball player failed. He was rejected due to his old age hence becoming bitter over the missed opportunity. He brought tension in the family by denying his son the chance to participate in other sports activities.

In conclusion, August Wilson uses various tactics to communicate his intended message in the play and to build on the themes on which he is focusing. Language is a fundamental aspect that he uses to show the feelings and desires of different characters in the play. The setting he chooses is symbolic and instrumental in illuminating the true picture of society at the time. Thus, the play is well formulated and critically crafted not only to entertain the audience but also to build on the themes.

Works Cited

August Wilson. Biography, 2020, Web.

Palko, Janice L. August Wilson: Pittsburghs Playwright. Popular Pittsburgh, 2016, Web.

Wilson, August. Fences: A Play / By August Wilson; Introduction by Lloyd Richards. New American Library New York, 1986.

Introduction

The play Fences, by August Wilson addresses us to Troy, who has to struggle for providing for his family. Two great actors, Denzel Washington and James Earl Jones showed the character of the protagonist and his relationship with a son in two different ways. As a result, the effect on the audience is entirely different. A dramatic atmosphere with complete silence and tension during Joness play and relaxed, laughing people during Washingtons. The question is not to find out who plays better but to understand the reason for the different reactions of the audience.

Main body

While watching the play with Washington, it may seem that this is a comedy. The first reason for laughing public is definitely the tone and delivery of the actor. The artist does not tell jokes and plays not for laughs. However, the slightly mocking, ironic, and sarcastic acting of Washington makes us feel that the character not even angry and aggressive but surprised and outraged. Secondly, many people went through the same things as parents. They understand and share his speech with their own experience. Unfortunately, it is true that sometimes it is impossible not to shout at the children. Finally, laugh does not necessarily mean that people do not get the idea and do not feel the tragedy of the situation. As a part of black comedy, humor is a sort of mechanism for accepting truths and pain.

Conclusion

Despite foresaid arguments and fascinating acting of Washington, the version with Jones I like more. I believe that such cases are extremely dramatic and they cannot be seen in terms of comedy. Jones does not look like a comic and his acting nobody would ever understand as a joke. Through the actors play, through the way how he looks at the son, through hands-on the shoulders of the son at the end of the dialogue, we can suggest that actually, he loves his son.

Although, being a powerful and hardened man, he cannot show his real love. In my opinion, the hero feels a huge pain that his senses are unseeing for the boy, especially after everything he has done for him. This is why Joness character is so angry and maybe even desperate. Everybody needs not only to receive love but also to give it.

Throughout the history of black American culture, the pursuit of dreams has played a pivotal role in self-fulfillment and internal development. In many ways an individual’s reactions to the perceived and real obstacles barring the path to a dream define the very character of that person. This theme has been quite evident in black literary works regardless of time period or writing style. For example, in both Fences, by August Wilson, and Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, dreams enhance the plot and message of the story, though the two stories develop under different circumstances. The importance of dreams in character development is one common thread that unites Fences and Their Eyes Were Watching God, two stories penned by authors similar only in their racial backgrounds.

While Their Eyes Were Watching God focuses little on the dreams of men, the author’s attitude toward this subject is clear from the very first paragraph of her novel. She claims that men’s dreams are ‘mocked to death by Time’, implying that men are so inherently passive that they have less control than the ‘tide’ over their own desires (Hurston 1). Logan Killicks and Joe Starks provide physical representations of this opinion. Logan’s dream seems to be to find a beautiful woman to love. While his marriage to Janie fulfills this wish, the reader witnesses Logan’s inability to hold on to Janie; Janie soon leaves Logan with no control and little hope. Joe, too, fails to succeed, but he is shiftless in another way. While he perseveres in accomplishing his dreams, he spends his life pursuing the wrong dreams. Janie accuses him of not seeing or understanding a ‘whole heap uh things’ he ‘could have’; how true it is! (Hurston 86) Rather than accepting the facts of life and making plans around them, Joe unrealistically expected everyone and everything to conform to his desires. Tea Cake is the one male who does accomplish his dreams. However, his unique personality explains his success. Tea Cake has priorities and knows exactly what will make him truly happy, and he does not give up on his dreams, no matter how unrealistic they may seem. Even though he ‘ain’t got no business’ getting ‘familiar'(Hurston 105) with Janie, he comes back ‘day after day’ (Hurston 111) because he realizes that Janie will make him happy. Hurston’s observations of the actions of the male characters in Their Eyes Were Watching God provides crucial commentary on how different characters react to adversity.

In Fences, as well, the reader understands Wilson’s view that weak characters, usually men, will allow excuses and roadblocks to interfere in the attainment of their dreams. Troy best typifies the kind of behavior that succumbs to bitterness and inaction rather than persisting in a dream. His defeatist attitude shows in his relations with his son; he tells his son that football ‘ain’t gonna get’ him ‘nowhere’ (Wilson 8). Because Troy’s dream to play professional baseball never materialized, he tells Cory to learn something that ‘can’t nobody take away’ (Wilson 35). However, Troy’s life revolves around baseball; while he may not have played professional ball, it is clear that baseball gave him something priceless. Still, Troy is so upset about his failed dreams that he blames all his failures on others and becomes one-dimensionally focused on tangible goals. He drives those who love him away. In the other male characters of the play the same trends of hopelessness and lack of effort are evident. Wilson clearly demonstrates the self-inflicted pain that Troy and others suffer as a result of the frustrations of their desires.

In Their Eyes Were Watching God Hurston provides the antithesis of this male weakness through the strong perseverance of Janie in fulfilling her dreams. At the beginning of her novel, Hurston comments that the ‘dream is the truth’; women ‘act…accordingly’ (Hurston 1). This contrasts greatly with her indictment of the condition of man. The reader witnesses throughout the novel Janie’s great internal strength as well as her flexibility in accomplishing her goal of finding true love. While she certainly meets failure in the shape of Logan and Jody, she eventually does find happiness because of her resilience. Through two failed marriages she still manages to hold on to her ideal of the ‘blossoming pear tree’ (Hurston 11). Her dreams may have changed in form, but remained the same in substance; as she put it, her ‘old thoughts’ simply needed ‘new words'(Hurston 32). Joe died too proud to acknowledge his mistakes, but Janie made her horrible experiences little more than a ‘sobbing sigh’ (Hurston 192) due to her endless search and eventual discovery of ‘peace’ (Hurston 193). Janie displays enviable qualities of optimism, a sense of self-worth, and dedication in the pursuit of her dreams.

August Wilson also counters his weak male characters in Fences with the strong female presence of Rose. Rose’s dreams center around a hope for a stable, loving family, something that she lacked as a child. Rose sacrifices everything to ‘hold on’ to her family because she realizes how important her strength is to the rest of the family (Wilson 61). She even mothers the child that Troy has with another woman because she knows how much that child will need love. Rose denies herself of her ‘wants and needs’ because her ultimate dream is to build a foundation and a future; she recognizes that this is the most important priority in her life (Wilson 71). While her path is not always easy, Rose sticks to it because she knows exactly who she is and what she wants. She does not condone Troy’s actions, even warning him that he is ‘livin’ on borrowed time’, but she recognizes that his mistakes should not ruin her dream. Rose shows traits of motivation and adaptability that allow her to accomplish her dream in spite of her circumstances.

In both Their Eyes Were Watching God and Fences references to dreams continually appear. It seems logical that the concept of dreams and their attainability would be frequently addressed in writings of black American authors; after all, blacks have always encountered numerous difficulties in accomplishing anything that whites would never face. In Fences especially racial barriers play a great role in the impossibility of dreams; however, Fences also demonstrates that how an individual reacts to adversity can greatly influence his or her life. Their Eyes Were Watching God provides a more universal analysis of whether dreams can be achieved; Janie faces less barriers because of her race than she does because of the people surrounding her. An interesting aspect of Fences and Their Eyes Were Watching God is that the women do display much greater hope and dedication than do the men. One possible argument for this could be that women have historically played a subordinate role to men while also having more responsibilities; because of this, women are forced to ignore many hardships and continue in their dreams while men can simply give up. Regardless of this, it is fascinating to observe how many parallels there are between Fences and Their Eyes Were Watching God regarding dreams. The two books little resemble each other on a purely literal level because Wilson and Hurston use such unique writing styles; however, the message and opinions of the two are remarkably similar.

The crucial importance of dreams in one’s life plays a key role in both Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, and Fences, by August Wilson. The two stories, differing in characterization, setting, and plot, have similar themes of the necessity of discovering one’s true desires and living by the standards of those dreams. Zora Neale Hurston and August Wilson are continually recognized simply as ‘black authors’; perhaps these similarities in content will lend some meaning to the term.

Hard upbringing can often destroy the best in people while bringing out the worst in the individuals who surround them. In the story Fences, Troy Maxon, a middle-aged African American man with a difficult and burdening past, uses the experiences of his ruthless childhood and struggles of early adulthood as an excuse for his cold-heartedness towards his wife and three children. Eventually, his actions shift his loved one’s feelings to those of anger and hatred as time passes by. Through the use of much symbolism, ironic circumstances, and an abundance of life-changing themes, August Wilson, the author, portrays the effects of one character’s difficult past on everyone who associates with him along with the oppression that stimulates from doing so.

In the 1950s, the struggles of segregation were still present in society as the United States, especially the South, facing the challenges of the Civil Rights Movement. In spite of the transformations that were taking place, many African Americans during this time period persisted in holding opposite races accountable for the positions they held in life. Troy Maxson, the main character in Fences, is a stereotypical individual that maintains holding grudges towards those who have lessened his value in life, including his abusive father and Major League scouts. As a young child, Troy enjoyed the sport of baseball; however, his failure of becoming a professional is his excuse for refusing to allow his middle son, Cory, to participate in his school’s football team. Troy is often characterized as a selfish entity that denounces his wife and children, for he pursues searching for an “escape” from his hardships in life, even if it involves the betrayal of his wife of eighteen years. He regularly spends time with his best friend, Bono, for he faced the same struggles in his childhood as well. Troy also has a brother, Gabriel, who is placed in the story to provide a sense of humbleness and regularly separates the chaotic situations with his appearance. All of these characters play a vital role in developing Troy’s character throughout the entirety of the play Fences.

Troy Maxson was a substantial baseball player in his earlier years who blames his unsuccessfulness in joining the majors on the discrimination of his race; however, his wife regularly reminds him that he became too old before African Americans were accepted by professional teams. The shadow of Troy’s injustice has burdened him for many years with increased bitterness towards all who played a role in his failure. He often refers to the actuality of life and death in terms of baseball, taunting death by stating, “Death ain’t nothing. I did see him. Done wrastled with him. You can’t tell me nothing about death. Death ain’t nothing but a fastball on the outside corner. And you know what I’ll do to that!” (10). This particular pitch was considerably effortless for Troy to knock out of the park, meaning he can easily conquer death, for he has already succeeded once in his battle with pneumonia. Not only does Wilson utilize the terms of baseball as a form of portraying Troy’s viewpoint on death, but his usage of the sport also presents an explanation of his affair with Alberta. After eighteen years of marriage, he has the audacity to confront his Christian wife with the news of his betrayal. Once again, in order to explain his reasoning for his mistake, Troy refers to baseball, “… I was safe. I had me a family. A job. I wasn’t gonna get that last strike. I was on first looking for one of the boys to knock me in. To get me home” (70). Rose immediately returns Troy to the true subject of their conversation, confused as to how he could do this to her. His affair, along with his justification, presents another trait in Troy’s character, selfishness.

Along with the use of symbolism, the author introduces the theme of how the growth of one’s unhappiness can often be brought upon others, just as Troy does to his family. Wilson continues this theme with another member of Troy’s family, his middle son, Cory. Cory exceeded the expectations of his high school football coaches, even receiving an offer from a nearby college to continue his career. When Troy receives news of Cory’s potential prosperity, he instantly searches for an approach to sabotage his own son’s success. He expresses his concern to his wife, “I told that boy about that football stuff. The white man ain’t gonna let him get nowhere with that football. I told him when he first come to me with it. Now you come telling me he done went and got more tied up in it” (8). Troy speaks of his discontent with Cory’s choices, viewing his decisions as an obligation rather than a love for the sport. Rather than being pleased with their accomplishments of Cory, he repeatedly refers to his own inability as a reason for him to proceed in the opposite direction. Along with exhibiting, again, Troy’s selfishness, this topic of debate also demonstrates an additional theme of the ways in which the past can affect one’s future decisions. He allows his own personal experience to affect the way he approaches Cory’s opportunities for success, even if he is making the wrong choice.

The fence which Rose asked of her husband also plays a significant role throughout Fences; this project serves as both a literal and figurative device. Troy often questions Rose’s proposal of this new addition to their home until Bono explains her reasoning. While discussing this topic, Bono clarifies, “Some people build fences to keep people out… and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you” (61). Although Troy is aware of his wife’s love for him, Bono is concerned about Troy’s love for Rose; Bono uses this quote as an attempt of convicting Troy of his wrongdoings. He describes in depth the meaning of the fence to express how greatly Rose wishes to keep her family together. She hopes to hold her loved ones close to her which is why the fence becomes a positive and necessary chore. At first, Troy is very reluctant to complete this task for his wife which can also display his stubbornness; however, the author uses this to symbolize his lack of commitment in their marriage as well. Troy also holds a completely different perspective concerning the significance of the fence. In Troy’s eyes, the fence is a blockade between his life and death; once the barrier is broken, his life will come to an end. Troy wrestles with thoughts of death in many parts of the play. Troy relays his message to Mr. Death by stating, “Alright… Mr. Death. See now… I’m gonna tell you what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna take and build me a fence around this yard. See? You stay over there until you’re ready for me” (77). Troy is confident in his battle with death, for he knows everyone must be defeated at some point in their lifetime. It appears ironic that the fence does not appear finished until the day of Troy’s funeral. The completion of the fence as a whole also describes the strength of the Maxson family and ironically the strength of the man who tore them apart, who also brings them together in death.

The play Fences is used as a figurative and literal representation of the lives of people during times when Civil Rights became a severe issue. People held different perspectives during this time, solely based on their treatment in previous years. Through the use of symbolism, irony, and life-changing themes, Arthur Wilson provides the reader with the outlooks of different types of people. He mainly focuses on Troy Maxon who houses much bitterness and hatred in his thoughts and actions while portraying how these feelings have the potential to destroy a family.

Othello and Troy are the two main characters in their situational plays. Othello is from “Othello, the Moor of Venice,” by William Shakespeare and Troy from “Fences,” by August Wilson. Both men come from two completely time periods but manage to have a lot in common. Othello is a young, dark man from Venice who has recently in the play gotten married to his delicate beloved wife, Desdemona. He is described as a relaxed man but as a soldier he is bold. Unlike Troy, who lives in a small house with a picket fence in the back of an alley way. He has two children, Corey and Lyons, with his wife Rose. Troy has been shaped in this play due to the fact of racism and the society’s views on things, but he might come off harsh but its only because he will and is doing anything in his power to keep his family safe. These characters are still viewed to this day because they have grown up on two different sides of the spectrum, one being poor and the other growing up being a warrior. Othello and Troy both wanted to see and have their lives in a different way but had a major downfall in the end.

Othello’s motivation is ambition, his ambition is to win Desdemona over. “So please your grace, my ancient; a man he is of honestly and trust, To his conveyance I assign my wife, With what else needful your good grace shall think, To be sent after me.” Othello Tell the Duke he will do anything in his power to win over Brabantio’s word in the marriage.Troy faces similar circumstances, but his ambition was finding his happiness again. He is unhappy with his job because he wants to know the reason why he must pick up the trash and why he isn’t able to drive the truck. This is caused to the fact of racial discrimination. “You think only white fellows got sense enough to drive a truck. That aint no paper job! Hell, anybody can drive a truck. How come you got all whites driving and the colored lifting?” This shows how unhappy he is with his job, but he just wants to understand it and not complain. Towards the end of the play Troy decides to have an affair with the waitress down the street from him, thinking this might make him happier in life.

Another similarity between these two men is their lack of trust and emotional commitment to their wives although both women have proved their love to their husbands’ multiple times. Othello was not able to see the rumors of his wife “cheating” and how she proved it to him was by leaving her father’s house to marry him. In that time period disobeying your father may have gotten you executed. Iago stated “O, beware, my lord, of Jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock, The meat it feeds on.” Lago tells Othello not to be a jealous man and saying how this can damage a marriage. Iago is doing everything in his power to manipulate Othello by using his own emotions against him. “Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy. To follow still the changes of the moon with fresh suspicions. No. To be once in doubt.” Othello speaks on how jealousy won’t get the best of him and backs up his own claims with their relationship by saying he choose him, despite him being black. While stating all of this he slips up and states that he may have jealousy with Desdemona. With Troy, Rose figures out Troy is cheating with another woman, but she has proved her love through sheer years but staying with him through it. “I’m talking, women, let me talk. I’m trying to find a way to tell you… I’m gonna be a daddy. I’m gonna be someone’s daddy.” With his betrayal she still manages to be with him and help him with the baby. “I’ll take care of your baby for you… caus… she innocent… and you can’t visit the sins of the father upon the child.” For Rose to help raise her husband kid shows the amount of love she has for him.

Throughout these plays blindness has been shown on both characters parts. Othello has been blind to see that Iago has been lying to him this entire time and has put tension between him and Desdemona. Iago wants to seek evil on Othello because Iago was over looked to be the Moor of Venice and Othello got picked instead. “What tell’st thou me of robbing? This is Venice; My house is not a grange.” A big scene gets caused when Othello and Desdemona go off to get married and Iago decides to tell Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, that she has been “stolen.” Iago is trying the most to get Othello to trust him so that he can tell him anything and Othello will believe him. Othello believes his honorable military services will out weight the wronging’s of Brabantio’s daughter so he will still be able to be married with her. “Though in the trade of war I have slain men, Yet do I hold it very stuff o’ th; conscience To do no contrived murther. I lack iniquity.” Lago tells Othello that he wanted to stab Roderigo once he heard Roderigo was talking about Othello behind his back. This shows how Iago was trying to manipulate Othello and how blind he has been. Throughout the play Othello became to blind to see and understand the truth because he is so infatuated with Desdemona. In Troy’s case he was blind to see that Rose knew that he has not been happy for a while now. “Woman… I do the best I can do, I come in here every Friday. I carry a sack of potatoes and a bucket of lard. You all line up at you my sweat and my blood.” You can clearly see that Troy is getting fed up. This shows that he isn’t the happiest he has been since he has been on edge. “Rose, I done tried all my life to live decent… To live a clean… hard… useful life. I tried all my life to be a good husband to you. In every I knew how. Maybe I come into the world backwards, I don’t know.” Troy’s attitude has completely changed because how he is constantly mad and angry with everything, so he fails to realize that Rose has become aware of these things.

Both men experience anger since they went through tough times in their life. Othello’s emotions took a drastic turn when Iago told him that he believes Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. “Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by. I would not kill thy unprepared spirit. No, heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.” Othello’s confronts her about the cheating but anger got the best of him, which lead him to killing Desdemona. In Troy’s case he gets angry with his son because he is constantly asking for money. “You was in the neighborhood all right, nigger. You telling the truth there. You was in the neighborhood cause it’s my payday.” Troy anger gets shown many times throughout the play with his son because the only time his son comes to see him is to get money. Further in the scene Lyons comes back to talk to his father, “Naw.. You go ahead and keep that ten dollar. Put it in the bank. The next time you feel like you wanna come by here and ask me for something… you go down there and get that.” Troy gets angry because he works good and hard for his money ad hi son doesn’t seem to see that, Lyon take advantage of his father. The men from both plays create anger since they believe they both get taken advantage of.

In the play Othello and Desdemona face a big part of dramatic irony. This is when Othello fails to realize Iago has been deceiving him about Cassio and Desdemona “sleeping” together. “For I will make him tell the tale anew where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when he hath, and is again to cope your wife. I say, but mark his gesture.” The audience is aware of Iago’s deception, but Othello is blind to realize this until he has lost the love of his life. Troy and Rose deal with something completely different, situational irony. In the beginning of the play Troy talks about hoe he dislikes his job and he want to be raised to another position. He wants to be the first African American driver of the garbage truck versus picking up the trash. “Ain’t got nobody to talk to… feel like you working by yourself.” He believed that he would be happier if he got the job but once he got it, he realized that all it did was make him more miserable. In the beginning Troy builds a fence around his yard to hold his loves ones in and to keep death out. Bono states “Some people build fences o keep people out… and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you.” Toward the end this becomes situational irony when Troy has a heart attack after an argument with Cory and death meets him inside his fenced in yard.

Othello and Troy are both strong and powerful me who have overcame a lot through their life time, but have come to realize the major downfalls they have faced. Even though they come from different time periods they still have many similarities that make them closely related. Overlooking their completely different lives you can come to realize that most can be related. Even if they both went through deep conflicts with their loved ones, leaving them both in the dark at the end.

Around the early 1900s, racism was a huge thing. Black African Americans faced many problems during this period of time because of certain things that others wanted to discriminate in. Because of these actions, African Americans weren’t allowed to do certain things, well just about anything. This forced African Americans to look at the world with hatred and it limited many of their opportunities in life. In the play Fences by August Wilson, Troy had always dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but because of his racial appearance, he wasn’t able to. This particular experience made Troy look at life totally different now. He thinks everything has something to do with racism now. Racism took on a very important role in Troy’s life and we can tell based on some of the careless mistakes he made throughout his life. Because of these careless mistakes, Troy caused so much tension amongst his family.

One of the careless mistakes Troy makes in the play is when he was trying to prevent his son Corey from playing football. Corey had a great scholarship offer that would’ve led him to a successful football career, but his father stopped all of that. “Corey will not be involved in no sports. Not after what they did to me in the sports” (Wilson ), stated Troy. Troy only did this because of his experience with sports and what he had to go through, he felt like Corey would’ve gone through the same thing. Although Troy thinks stopping Corey from playing football is the best decision he is making, it’s not because he is preventing Corey from achieving his dreams.

As it was stated before Troy is only trying to protect his family. He doesn’t want his family to experience anything he had to go through or take the wrong route that would lead them to jail. Troy feels like he is obligated to protect his family from his past mistakes. Troy had to go to jail for 15 years because he tried to rob a man and he ended up stabbing him in retaliation. While Troy was in prison his older son Lyon really didn’t have a father figure in his life. But Lyons grew up accepting and being okay with Troy’s absence. Lyon’s passion was to become a musician. But unfortunately Troy sees that as a dangerous path. Troy says “You living the fast life wanna be a musician running around in their clubs and things (Wilson ). He doesn’t find playing music a serious thing. He wants Lyon to work somewhere with structure rather than the free-lance world of music. Troy thinks with Lyon wanting to partake in music, would result in him doing the same thing he did to end up in jail.

Troy makes a decision that shifts the tone of the play when he decided to have an affair with his crush Alberta. Troy thinks he is trapped in a relationship that he is not happy in. But he doesn’t blame anyone but himself. He feels like trying to balance being a father and trying to provide for his family was overwhelming, and he needed to escape. So he committed an affair with Alberta and they had a daughter named Raynall. Minutes after giving birth, Alberta died and Rose was willing to take Raynell in as if she was her own. Troy’s careless actions show that he was willing to break any type of boundaries he was limited to. His selfish act put his and Rose’s marriage in jeopardy. Troy’s decision caused major problems in his family, and he lost his authority in the household.

In Fences, Troy Maxson had it rough when he was growing up. That led to him having a harsh attitude about everything because of how society looked at black people in the 1950s. Racism has always been tough for him. Troy was once young trying to follow his dreams, but because he was black several obstacles were thrown at him. Racism and going to jail changed the way Troy viewed the world. This was something that caused Troy to make all of the selfish mistakes. Whether it was crushing Cory’s dreams, neglecting Lyons, or breaking his vows with Rose. All of these decisions caused tensions amongst his family and eventually fenced them away from him.