Free Fences Essays: Hardships In Families During Racism

Hardships in Families During Racism

Betrayal and hardships can break a family’s bond. August Wilson in the play, “The Fences”, shows that racial segregation and injustice can create hardships for families, a personal lack of self esteem, and can lead to uncontrollable circumstances. August Wilson's play Fences tells the story of Troy Maxson, an African American garbage collector and ex-convict who once had a promising future in baseball. His circumstances as a youth led him to prison, after which he settled down with Rose and made a family. Like all of the "Pittsburgh" plays, Fences explores the evolving African-American experience and examines race relations, among other themes. The play was a hurtful, favorable play that displayed how racism

“The white man ain't gonna let him get nowhere with that football,” said Troy, again this quote shows a lack of trust in white people as he believes that one of the white recruiters won’t really take Cory and that Cory will never make a living out of it. What Troy does not understand is that times have changed since he was playing baseball and Rose manages to point this out through the quote, “ Times have changed since since you was playing baseball, Troy. That was before the war. Times have changed a lot since then.” (pg 9. Rose) Times have changed since Troy has played there was indeed an increase in black players such as when Jackie Robinson joined the MLB. Troy has this perspective on white people because of how he grew up and that is where the conflict happens because Troy and Cory did not grow up the same way therefore causing an array of

“ you’re gonna have to kill me! You wanna draw that bat back on me. You’re gonna have to kill me”( Troy,pg 88.) This finally shows the actual rise in the conflict. Where it only started out as arguments ended in violence. To say the least, after that mishap Cory was kicked out of the house and did not return until later in his life. In the last act of the play it becomes apparent that Troy Maxson the husband of Rose and father of his three children had passed away leaving everything unresolved with his youngest son Cory. During the time of the funeral Cory had once again showed up to the place he once called home, shocking everyone there along with meeting his young sister Raynell. The only thing is Cory did not come back home to go to his father's funeral. Cory tells Rose “ I can’t drag papa with me everywhere go. I’ve got to say no to him. One time in my life i’ve got to say no,” this shows how the conflict between the two of them broke their relationship into pieces. Their two different perspectives on white people was influenced by how they both grew up in different environments, which ultimately led to one saying yes and one saying no. Cory’s resentment towards his father's views and actions led him to finally saying no even if it meant not mending bridges and to his refusal of going to the