What Are The Similarities Between Fences And As Now

Act two, scene four, of Fences by August Wilson and the poem An Agony. As Now, by Amiri Baraka both contain a common concept, that isolation is both self inflicted, and avoidable. Both pieces of literature were written to show the attitude of broken men. Both authors created characters that had been through tough time, and who had grown into self loathing people who took no responsibilities for their actions. Each text showed how over the years both characters had slowly isolated themselves, and because of this, both men had become unhappy. The concept of isolation and the effects it has, was conveyed through the use of metaphors in both Wilson’s play and Baraka’s poem. Though the authors use different metaphors, they are both successful

He built metaphorical fences to keep everyone out, but he ends up locking himself in. Throughout the play, the fences Troy built got stronger and taller, as he continued to push people further away. Eventually the metaphorical fences that Troy had built became solid walls that could never be broken down. One example of this is seen when Troy has his final argument with Cory. “Oh, I see ... I don't count around here no more. You ain't got to say excuse me to your daddy. All of a sudden you done got so grown that your daddy don't count around here no more . . . Around here in his own house and yard that he done paid for with the sweat of his brow…” (Wilson, 87). After Troy had isolated himself from Rose, he became a weaker man. Seeing that his father was weaker than before, Cory had the courage to fight back when Troy treated him badly. Troy’s reaction to Cory’s disobedience pushed Cory even further away from his father, causing Troy to become completely isolated. Had Troy been an honest, patient, and sober man, he could’ve avoided isolating himself, and he would’ve had a happier

Though the authors both wrote about different types of isolation, they both conveyed the message through the use of metaphorical barriers. Troy physically isolated himself from his loved ones by building fences that turned into walls, and the man from the poem isolated himself by trapping his true thoughts and emotions in his body. Though each character isolates themselves for different reasons, they both end up unhappy, and they both could have avoided their isolation if they had done things differently throughout their