ipl-logo

Symbolism In The Play Fences

630 Words3 Pages

In August Wilson's 1896 play Fences the focus in this play is Troy, a 53 year old head of household who struggles with providing for his family. Within this play Fence, fences are symbolized by protection, rose wanting to keep her family safe. It also symbolizes Rose and Troy's relationship as lovers. Last it symbolizes Troy against death, and how he is just trying to face it head on.
In the play Fences, readers can see how ‘’fences’’ are used to protect the characters within this play. “ Jesus, I want you to protect me as I travel on my way’’ (Wilson 21). When Rose sang this song, you can tell Rose desired protection for herself. “Some people build fences to keep people out, other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all, she loves you” (Wilson 62). This quote that Bono indicates to represents that Rose just wants to love and nurture her family within a safe environment. Troy and Corey think the fence is only a burden, therefore are so reluctant to finish building it. Rose continues to show she just wants to keep her family safe from the outside, longing to keep her family inside from the outside world. …show more content…

Troy not wanting to finish building the fence, shows his lack of commitment to there relationship …” And don’t be eaten the rest of them cakes in there” (Wilson 82). The cakes symbolize a fence between their relationship. It shows how Troy cannot touch her, not the cakes. When Troy comes home Rose says, “..dinner is in there on the stove” (wilson 82). This quote shows that Troy’s mistake with not just go away like anything else he has done. This quote shows us how much this problem means to Rose and she does not want any connection with Troy. Rose and Troy’s relationship weakens throughout the play, especially when troy crosses the line by cheating on Rose. That is when a permanent fence is built that Troy could not

Show More
Related

An Analysis Of August Wilson's Play Fences

353 Words | 2 Pages

August Wilson’s play Fences was written in 1983. Fences is the sixth play in Wilson’s Pittsburgh cycle. Pittsburgh is important because it represents a better life for blacks; it provides them with jobs and helped them to escape the poverty and racism of the south after the civil war. It represents promises and promises that were broken. I feel like Fences represents the struggles Troy and his family faced because of their complexion and their constant disappointments as black people.

Read More

Analysis Of Troy, Rose, And The Maxson Family In August Wilson's Fences

785 Words | 4 Pages

Troy, Rose, and the Maxson Family in Wilson’s Fences Troy Maxson is the main character in Fences and he thought he could control everyone that was close to him. As being read, it is easy to make the case that August Wilson's play Fences is a tragedy and that Troy Maxson is its tragic protagonist (Wessling). Troy is a poor black man who once had a dream of becoming a major league baseball player.

Read More

Comparing The Bond Between Father And Son In August Wilson's Fences

672 Words | 3 Pages

The dynamic between a father and son is never a simple journey, but instead, comes with curveballs thrown left and right. In Fences, by August Wilson, he writes of the hardships between a father and son relationship and the difficulties a father has over trying to shield his son from life’s cruelties, to the salvation found between being fenced in and finally being placed outside of the fence—both literally and metaphorically. Through out the play, there are numerous confrontations between Troy and Cory—whether it be when Cory asks Troy whether or not he loves him or when Cory throws his football helmet towards the direction of Troy—which show the difficult and complicated relationship between father and son. Also prevalent in the play, was the lack of a father and male figure in Troy’s own life, during his most influential and important years. Troy recognizes that and the way he was/is treated by society in general and wanted to “help” his son by showing Cory the difficult lessons Troy learned during his youth, as a way to lessen the pain that would be inflicted on his son later on.

Read More

Troy As A Tragic Hero In Fences, By August Wilson

875 Words | 4 Pages

In the play “Fences”, written in 1957 by August Wilson annotates how Troy’s childhood experiences affected his life and put a strain on his relationship with family and friends. Troy’s enormous amount of pride, flaw of judgment, and malicious actions lead to his shortcomings and resulted into him becoming a tragic hero. In the story, Troy had a lot of flaws in his character throughout the play. As Troy was growing up he never had the proper guidance, so he had to take care of himself the best way he could.

Read More

Fences Troy And Cory's Relationship

766 Words | 4 Pages

The title of the play, “Fences" , symbolizes the function of a fence literally, which is to keep people in and out. Troy & Cory are in the same bubble, because they are father and son. This bubble is guarded by a fence. In that bubble, they experience things together, including the conflicts they have about Cory wanting to play football. Cory understands in order for him to be able to move on with his life, he needs to come at peace with the resentment and anger he has towards his father.

Read More

August Wilson Fences Symbolism

1516 Words | 7 Pages

The play, Fences by August Wilson, is about Troy Maxson and his struggling family relationships. A recurring idea throughout the story is the construction of a fence around Troy's home. Troy's fence could symbolize two things, Troy is trying to protect his family from the outside world, or Troy is isolating himself from his own family. As the construction of the fence progresses, the more severely damaged Troy's relationships become. In this play, the underlying message is that, despite the fact that fences can both protect and isolate, Troy’s fence isolates him from his family rather than to protect his family.

Read More

August Wilson Fences Literary Analysis

883 Words | 4 Pages

August Wilson's play Fences addresses a great content of interpreting and inheriting history. Throughout Fences, much of the conflict emerge because the characters are at disparity with the way they see their foregoing and what they want to do with their forthcoming. Fences explores how the damaged aspirations of one generation can taint the dreams of the next generation on how they deal with the creation of their own identity when their role model is a full of dishonesty. Wilson illustrates his qualities primarily through his use of symbolism in the play Fences.  

Read More

Fences Symbolism Essay

720 Words | 3 Pages

The fence symbolizes Rose and Troy’s differences in their personalities because they both use it in different ways. Bono says, “Some people build fences to keep people out...and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold onto you all. She loves you” (61). This quote shows that Rose may have wanted the fence to be built to help Troy and Cory bond.

Read More

Essay On Feminism In August Wilson's Fences

459 Words | 2 Pages

Even though she suffered from the beginning to the end of the play where her husband dies, Rose is proven to be very strong and takes charge of her family even with the death of her husband. She mends everything together just like the fence symbolizes in her family. She does not allow her family to be disrupted no matter what. Even though Troy is bold enough to open up to his wife about his secret affair, Rose  keeps her cool. Despite all that, she does not see it as an opportunity for her to get her revenge.

Read More

Symbolism In Fences By August Wilson

517 Words | 3 Pages

Fences by August Wilson is truly a phenomenal and well written play about the hard times for African Americans and the struggles between a family. Throughout the play Troy, the protagonist, is building a fence under the wish of his wife, Rose. Troy doesn't understand why she wants him to build the fence but his friend Bono does. The fence symbolizes many things in life like love, separation, and protection. Bono describes this as “Some people build fences to keep people out… and other people build fences to keep people in.

Read More

Madonna In A History Of The Breast

366 Words | 2 Pages

During the Middle Age period, European painters depicted Madonna as a sacred, yet mystical mother whose modesty, in terms of behavior and dress, was flourishing throughout the whole composition. The idealized image of Madonna as such served as an icon for the Christian woman who was taught from very little that carnal desires are vices that are meant to be punished. According to Marilyn Yalom, the author of A History of the Breast, for the medieval woman the female breast, “had a singular importance: it was the sign of attachment between mother and child, the link from one generation to the next, with all that implied in terms of rank, wealth, and moral responsibilities” (36). As a consequence, the medieval mother did not even think of the

Read More

Racism In The Play Fences

702 Words | 3 Pages

The play Fences is a drama written by August Wilson who was one of six children and also dealt with opeesrrions and racism when he dropped out of school due the struggles of racism. The play Fences presents the character Troy Maxson a person who has faced racism and discrimanation throughout his life. The Pulitzer Prize winning play is set in 1957-1965, a time when African-Amercians where hopeful for a better life. In Fences, racism haunts Troy Maxon’s life past and present. The play brings the view of racism in the world through Tory Maxson, family and friends.

Read More

The Theme Of Love In 'Fences' By August Wilson

985 Words | 4 Pages

The play “Fences” by August Wilson shows the dynamics in relationships and the multiple dramatic means by which they are established by using one pinnacle point. Wilson uses his main character Troy to stem of four other types of relationships. He shows the complexities of marriage and love in the relationship between Troy and Troy’s wife, Rose. He shows the commitment and betrayal of in the relationship between Troy and Troy’s

Read More

How Does August Wilson Use Language In Fences

1010 Words | 5 Pages

Fences by August Wilson is a play set in 1950s Pittsburgh which chronicles the life of an African American family. Language is a crucial component of the play, revealing the characters, conflicts, and meaning of the story. In Fences, Troy is a strong character who uses his language to assert his dominance, especially over his son, Cory. Troy treats Cory with a harsh exterior, which masks his deep hopes for a better future for his son.

Read More

The Importance Of The Father In August Wilson's Fences

1457 Words | 6 Pages

"When the sins of our fathers visit us, we do not have to play host. We can banish them with forgiveness; As God, in His Largeness and Laws"(Wilson X).This epigraph by August Wilson provides an insight into the importance of the topic in the play Fences. In Fences, the play depicts the relationships of the Maxson family and their friends. Troy Maxson, a middle-aged African American man, is happily married to his wife Rose and takes care of his son Cory whilst occasionally interacting with his other son from a previous relationship. However, the complexities of Troy 's past create issues for him and his family and their relationships begin to deteriorate.

Read More

More about Symbolism In The Play Fences

Related Topics

Open Document