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How Does August Wilson Build Tension In Fences

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In August Wilson’s play “Fences” the author uses parallel plot, conflict between characters and motifs to build tension between the characters. Wilson uses parallel plot between Troy and his father and Cory and Troy to build tension between them. For example, Troy is similar to his father by blowing off work and disobeying his father and Cory is similar to Troy with his attitude about his father. He also creates conflict between characters to build tension, an example of this are the fights between Troy and his loved ones. The third narrative element Wilson uses are motifs. The motifs used in this play are focused around baseball, death and fences in a physical and a psychological state.
August Wilson uses parallel plot to build tension between characters by connecting the fights between the fathers and their kids. On page 51 to 53 Troy talks about his last big fight with his father before he left home at the age of fourteen. Troy says “My daddy sent me out to do some plowing, I tied up …show more content…

Some motifs used by the characters are baseball and death. Troy talks frequently about baseball and talks to death as if he were ready to fight him at any moment. An example of the baseball motif is used in Troy’s fights. He talks about strikes with Cory and bunting with Rose. He talks to death after after Cory strikes out. He yells at Death “Come on! It’s between you and me now! Come on! Anytime you want! Come on! I be ready for you...but I ain’t gonna be easy” (Wilson, 89). The fence motif is used mainly by Troy who decides who is welcome in his home and who is welcome inside his family. In conclusion August Wilson uses parallel plot, conflict between characters and motifs to build tension in his play “Fences”. These narrative elements to build tension because they fit the characters and the plot of the story. The main character build the most tension in this story due to their complicated backgrounds and different

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