Fences by August Wilson is a play that follows the lives of one African American family in the sixties and it illustrates how challenging everyday tasks can be. When analyzed from a reader response perspective, it shows how irresponsible choices and not so perfect past can affect the present relationship’s that are presented in the play. Wilson reveals true motives of certain characters like Troy Maxson, who hinders his son’s football dream simply because he was not able to fulfill his own dreams to become a baseball player due to the color of his skin. The reader also see selfish characteristics like Troy’s infidelity with another woman. This unfortunately leads to an illegitimate child. Moreover, Troy commends his brother, Gabe, to go to
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It is the story of a, “responsible, yet otherwise flawed black garbage collector in pre-civil rights America” (Shannon X). It gives insight on conflicts that is relevant to adolescents, adults and older people of all nationalities. More importantly it revolves around Troy’s life and those around him. The reader sees the internal conflict that this character faces. Starting with his struggle with his own father who abused him, to the racism he experienced when trying to go professional in the major-league baseball, “he is someone whose life has been deeply scared by the world of professional sports” (commondreams.org). This event is what keeps him from allowing his son to play football. He tries very hard to keep his son from following the same footsteps as he did yet he ends up managing Cory’s life recklessly. This leads to rival between the two which ultimately ends their relationship. From a reader response point of view, one could suggest he wants to change his son’s life simply because he cannot change his own. Next is the symbol of the fence. Although in the play it is a simple structure that Rose wants built in her yard, it is much more than that. For each of the characters it means something to them. For Rose, it represents safety and security that her family will always be protected. For Cory, it is a barrier that is blocking him from his dreams which mirrors his father’s role in his life, and lastly is Troy. The fence for him is a literal and metaphorical. He builds the fence to keep death out and it represents the barrier between himself and the real world that is changing around him. Lastly is death. The role of death and the devil, is simply to represent Troy’s struggles in life and lack of a better excuse as to why things has happened to him. In the play the reader see’s Troy giving death a personality, or human characteristics. Furthermore, if Troy had the option to change anything
It is the story of a, “responsible, yet otherwise flawed black garbage collector in pre-civil rights America” (Shannon X). It gives insight on conflicts that is relevant to adolescents, adults and older people of all nationalities. More importantly it revolves around Troy’s life and those around him. The reader sees the internal conflict that this character faces. Starting with his struggle with his own father who abused him, to the racism he experienced when trying to go professional in the major-league baseball, “he is someone whose life has been deeply scared by the world of professional sports” (commondreams.org). This event is what keeps him from allowing his son to play football. He tries very hard to keep his son from following the same footsteps as he did yet he ends up managing Cory’s life recklessly. This leads to rival between the two which ultimately ends their relationship. From a reader response point of view, one could suggest he wants to change his son’s life simply because he cannot change his own. Next is the symbol of the fence. Although in the play it is a simple structure that Rose wants built in her yard, it is much more than that. For each of the characters it means something to them. For Rose, it represents safety and security that her family will always be protected. For Cory, it is a barrier that is blocking him from his dreams which mirrors his father’s role in his life, and lastly is Troy. The fence for him is a literal and metaphorical. He builds the fence to keep death out and it represents the barrier between himself and the real world that is changing around him. Lastly is death. The role of death and the devil, is simply to represent Troy’s struggles in life and lack of a better excuse as to why things has happened to him. In the play the reader see’s Troy giving death a personality, or human characteristics. Furthermore, if Troy had the option to change anything