Symbolism In The Play Fences

Summer Reading: Fences
1. What do fences have to do with the play? Are there fences in the play that aren't related to backyards?
Throughout the play characters’ lives are impacted because of the Fence-building project. Relationships are made and destroyed in the backyard. Fences also come between a relationship between Rose and Troy. In the play, Bono realizes Rose wants the fence built to keep her loved ones tight. The symbol fences exploit her loving character trait. There are fences inside the house between relationships, one being with Troy and his wife. Bono makes other observations symbolizing that fences can hold people inside and outside of the fence, just like in the marriage between Troy and Rose. Troy is trying to escape

Troy’s son, Cory, is afraid of his Dad due to Troy’s aggression towards him. Later in the play, Cory becomes his own person and stands up to his father which ultimately leads to a very heated argument in the backyard. The way Cory should be raised becomes a major problem that puts Rose’s and Troy’s relationship in jeopardy. Lyons, Troy’s oldest son, only visits his Dad when he needs to borrow money. Lyons and his Dad only see each other to settle a money dispute. Troy’s relationship with his father is very poor. Troy’s father abandoned him when he was young. Troy grew up like most of his sons did without a good father figure. Troy and his father are similar because they both have done shameful acts to their

Rose feels they have been in the same place in their relationship since day 1. They both have different ways to raise Cory. Throughout the story Rose’s thoughts on how to raise Cory are undermined by Troy, who ultimately becomes the main decision maker throughout the story. Rose never gets the opportunity to give her input without Troy. Most of the story Troy is stuck in the past with various illusions. Rose attempts to bring Troy back to reality. Troy only believes his actions or sayings are right, no justification. In order to solve these problems Rose continues to put her trust and faith in Troy. There are no signs in the play of Troy trying to solve these problems. Rose cannot fix the relationship on her own, it takes both parties. Troy instead of trying to fix these problems has an