August Wilson's: "Fences"
August Wilson’s: “Fences”
In “Fences”, August Wilson tells the story of an ex-negro league baseball hero,
Troy Maxon. Troy is a bitter man, withering away in his own hatred for the way things
“are”, as well as his inability to see the world has changed. Troy has an “iron grip” on his family in the beginning, however as the story progresses the family breaks loose of the physical and emotional ties that are holding them down. Wilson uses character, setting, and symbolism to set the scene for Troy’s inner torment. Through characterization Wilson introduces Troy. Troy is a garbage collector. The year is 1957, which is the dawn of the civil-rights era. Troy is a former negro-league baseball player who was robbed of his chances to play in the major-leagues because of his race. Troy states, “I’m talking about if you could play ball then they ought to have let you play. Don’t care what color you were” (Wilson 1577; act I; scene 1). Troy has a lot of resentment for his missed opportunity with baseball, and is very hesitant to allow his son, Cory, to follow down the same road with football. Troy is unwilling to accept things in 1957 are beginning to change, and there are more opportunities for African Americans. Troy’s relationship with his wife, Rose, is very complex. While Troy loves her, he marries her to change his ways. Troy to Rose, “I done locked myself into a pattern trying to take care of you all that I forgot about myself” (Wilson 1608 act II; scene 1).
Troy wanted to marry her to become what he believed to be a “responsible man”, however after so long of living the ordinary married life, he feels “fenced” in. In
“Breaking
In “Fences”, August Wilson tells the story of an ex-negro league baseball hero,
Troy Maxon. Troy is a bitter man, withering away in his own hatred for the way things
“are”, as well as his inability to see the world has changed. Troy has an “iron grip” on his family in the beginning, however as the story progresses the family breaks loose of the physical and emotional ties that are holding them down. Wilson uses character, setting, and symbolism to set the scene for Troy’s inner torment. Through characterization Wilson introduces Troy. Troy is a garbage collector. The year is 1957, which is the dawn of the civil-rights era. Troy is a former negro-league baseball player who was robbed of his chances to play in the major-leagues because of his race. Troy states, “I’m talking about if you could play ball then they ought to have let you play. Don’t care what color you were” (Wilson 1577; act I; scene 1). Troy has a lot of resentment for his missed opportunity with baseball, and is very hesitant to allow his son, Cory, to follow down the same road with football. Troy is unwilling to accept things in 1957 are beginning to change, and there are more opportunities for African Americans. Troy’s relationship with his wife, Rose, is very complex. While Troy loves her, he marries her to change his ways. Troy to Rose, “I done locked myself into a pattern trying to take care of you all that I forgot about myself” (Wilson 1608 act II; scene 1).
Troy wanted to marry her to become what he believed to be a “responsible man”, however after so long of living the ordinary married life, he feels “fenced” in. In
“Breaking
Cited: Blumenthal, Anna S. “’ More Stories Than the Devil Got Sinners’: Troy’s Stories in August Wilson’s Fences.” American Drama 9.2 (Spring 2000): 74-96 Resource center. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. O’Reilly, Mollie Wilson. “Fertile Ground: August Wilson’s ‘Fences’.” Commonweal 137.11 (2010): 20+ Literature Resource Center. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. Shannon, Sandra G 1994. 150-164. Literature Resource Center. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. Wilson, August and Stephen R. Mandell. Compact 7th ed. Wadsworth: Cengage Learning, 2009.