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Class And Poverty In Fences, By August Wilson

1710 Words7 Pages

In the book Fences by August Wilson he touched on many serious topics that are presented in the real world. Yes this book is fictional, but that doesn't mean he wasn't trying to convey a message about the world we live in. He focuses on lots of different topics, but one of them is class and poverty. Wilson is able to touch upon how it affects everyone in a family setting. Some can't seem to leave poverty, others can't leave their families, and some people feel awful about themselves because of poverty. There were connections between two authors named Riech and Hooks that really show how this story is pretty realistic when it comes to poverty. Even though Fences is a fictional story the author August Wilson was able to portray the effect of …show more content…

Lots of people in poverty have to ask people and family members for money. People who live this lifestyle sometimes feel worthless because they don't have what others have. In today's world our worth is determined by our materials, or even how much money we earn.". Hooks said, “We were socialized early on, by grandparents and parents, to assume that nobody's value could be measured by material value… one could be hardworking and still be poor.” Her family already knew that she and her siblings would be judged on their material status, but they wanted the children to see people for their work ethics and personality. Later on in her article Hooks even talks about how rich people are uncomfortable when poor people are still able to live a meaningful life without all the materials they have. If our worth is based on our materials, that can make people who don't have as many materials worse about themselves. Even more so when they have to ask or take money from people who are dear to them. This emotion is clearly shown in this play. Troy feels worthless because everything that he owns was paid off with his brother's disability checks. Nothing really feels like it's his, and that he didn't earn it. Troy says, “that the only way I got a roof over my head… cuz of that metal plate… if my brother didn't have that metal plate in his head… I wouldn't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.” (Wilson 28) The sadness, worthlessness and guilt are shown through this part of the play. He hates the fact that nothing really is his own. It wasn't paid with his money but by his brother's disability. It is clear Troy is basing his worth off of what material gains he has, and not how hard he has worked throughout his life. This conditioning makes the story feel more

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