August Wilson's Fences Analysis

"Fences" by August Wilson took place in 1957, before the Civil Rights Movement in 1960s. During this time period, racism and discrimination was still highly around which made it harder for African Americans to pursue their American Dream. Wilson, an African American male who dreams to be a major league in baseball, was denied the opportunity to reach his American Dream because of his skin color. This causes him to perpetual internalized oppression. Although some characters such as Rose, Cory and other sense the changes of racism in the present, there are others like Troy who stilled stuck to the American past. Throughout the play, Wilson uses setting, characterization, language, and dialogue to show racism and how it has affected Troy he did not able to let go of his past of believing inequality for the American Dream, although things are changing in the present compare to the past.

Pittsburg is located on the northern of United States and in 1957, after the Civil War many African Americans moved from the south to the north to overcome poverty and racial discrimination. For they hope to find job in factories but however were disappointed. Pittsburg is use as the setting because it represents promises for African Americans for a better life but also broken promises. For this reason, Troy chooses to come live in Pittsburg for a better future when he ran away and escape from his father. However, because of his race he was denied the opportunity to reach his American Dream. Moreover, the setting of the Wilson play is located in the yard in fronts of the entrance to Troy house, an ancient two-story brick house. Troy house was describe as “a wooden porch badly in need of paint”, “porch lacks congruence”, “a sturdy porch”, and “dubious value.” This seems to suggest that he is not the richest person but barely seem to make a living. Also, it