In August Wilson's play Fences, the author skillfully utilizes the literary technique of metaphor to develop the characterization of Troy Maxson. The metaphor of baseball serves as a recurring motif that illuminates Troy's personality, struggles, and ambitions. Throughout the play, Troy compares various aspects of life to the game of baseball, drawing parallels between his experiences and the sport he loves. For instance, when reflecting on his past and the racism he faced, Troy states, "I was standing on first base waiting for the next man to hit me home" (Wilson 16). This metaphorical comparison portrays Troy as a man constantly striving for advancement and seeking opportunities to overcome the barriers he encounters.
Fences Final Michael Goussios EGCC Mrs. Dewberry ENG102 February 10, 2023 Abstract This essay focuses on the main character, Troy, in the play Fences. He persistently exemplifies the scheme that he is an inadequate father. Countless times all throughout this essay, Troy reveals himself closing the relationships that are closest to him.
August Wilson’s play Fences was written in 1983. Fences is the sixth play in Wilson’s Pittsburgh cycle. Pittsburgh is important because it represents a better life for blacks; it provides them with jobs and helped them to escape the poverty and racism of the south after the civil war. It represents promises and promises that were broken. I feel like Fences represents the struggles Troy and his family faced because of their complexion and their constant disappointments as black people.
The lack of power in one’s life can impact their development as one grows. In the play “Fences” by August Wilson a lack of power is shown in every character, especially Rose. Rose is a black woman in the 1950s in Pittsburg. Which meant she had too little to no power because of her place in society. Rose’s lack of power, in the beginning, made her not able to stand up for herself and make her own decisions.
Based in 1957, Fences depicts how life was in 1957 for an African American family. The play is based in the Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the play has a certain dialect that gives off a rhythmic tone in the play. August Wilson uses the four B's and they represent; Jorge Luis Borges, Amiri Baraka, Romare Bearden, and the Blues. The pace of the play gave off a great melodic feeling, which was the Blues. For each transition from scene to scene, there was a song of the blues that was played.
Resentment and feelings of isolation are effects of destructive family problems. Every family undergoes certain problems and have their strengths and weaknesses. Some patriarchs of families may see tough love as too tough or not tough enough. In Fences by August Wilson, the protagonist, Troy Maxson’s excessive pride created a tense and bitter relationship between him and his sons. After his promising baseball career ended, Troy settled in with Rose and started a family.
The play, Fences by August Wilson, is about Troy Maxson and his struggling family relationships. A recurring idea throughout the story is the construction of a fence around Troy's home. Troy's fence could symbolize two things, Troy is trying to protect his family from the outside world, or Troy is isolating himself from his own family. As the construction of the fence progresses, the more severely damaged Troy's relationships become. In this play, the underlying message is that, despite the fact that fences can both protect and isolate, Troy’s fence isolates him from his family rather than to protect his family.
In the play “Fences” , August Wilson introduces a family whose life is based around a fence. The play is about an African American family who struggled, but still believed there have been a breaking point. Troy is accustomed to being beneath the ‘white man’. As a result, Troy gave up on his dreams, and goals which led to a downfall in his livelihood.
Bernadin 1 Patricia Bernadin Mrs. Noel English II 4 April 2017 Literary Analysis: Fences A Fathers Sins The notion of loyalty is something that is valued in a family trying to survive a stressful life. Fences is a play written by August Wilson about an African American Family having a hard time with a man due to his refusal of acceptance and loyalty.
August Wilson's play Fences addresses a great content of interpreting and inheriting history. Throughout Fences, much of the conflict emerge because the characters are at disparity with the way they see their foregoing and what they want to do with their forthcoming. Fences explores how the damaged aspirations of one generation can taint the dreams of the next generation on how they deal with the creation of their own identity when their role model is a full of dishonesty. Wilson illustrates his qualities primarily through his use of symbolism in the play Fences.
A fence is defined as enclosing an area of ground to mark a boundary, control access, or prevent escape. In the play Fences written by August Wilson, symbolism is used to convey ideas. Wilson’s uses the symbol of fences in order to show how barriers can be positive or damaging. At the beginning of the play, Rose badgers Troy about putting up the fence around the house.
The obsession with dominance over others is a negative trait with terrible consequences. Troy Maxson, a father of two children and a friend of few, goes through his life, compulsed to assert his superiority over the people he knows. This leads to a downward trend with negative repercussions and eventually strips him of everything he ever loved. In Fences by August Wilson, Troy Maxson’s desire to be dominant with his two sons and his friend, Bono causes his life to be arduous, pushes his family away and creates a lack of sympathy. One method Troy employs to be dominant is by making people indebted to him.
The title, Fences, is both literal and symbolic. Throughout the play, Troy is building a fence with his son Cory. However, Troy procrastinates building the fence and goes to Taylor’s all the time. Cory says, “ He been saying that the last four or five Saturdays, and then he don’t never do nothing, but go down to Taylor’s” (29).
Fences by August Wilson is a play set in 1950s Pittsburgh which chronicles the life of an African American family. Language is a crucial component of the play, revealing the characters, conflicts, and meaning of the story. In Fences, Troy is a strong character who uses his language to assert his dominance, especially over his son, Cory. Troy treats Cory with a harsh exterior, which masks his deep hopes for a better future for his son.
"When the sins of our fathers visit us, we do not have to play host. We can banish them with forgiveness; As God, in His Largeness and Laws"(Wilson X).This epigraph by August Wilson provides an insight into the importance of the topic in the play Fences. In Fences, the play depicts the relationships of the Maxson family and their friends. Troy Maxson, a middle-aged African American man, is happily married to his wife Rose and takes care of his son Cory whilst occasionally interacting with his other son from a previous relationship. However, the complexities of Troy 's past create issues for him and his family and their relationships begin to deteriorate.
