Fences

media type="custom" key="24491670"


 * Title:** Fences
 * Author:** August Wilson
 * Date of Publication: 1981**
 * Literary Period:** Post-Modern
 * Genre: Drama and comedic**

The play is set in a poor Black city during the 1950s. The Blacks are second class citizens in an area that they pre-dominate. They live in an urban setting which binds them to labor intensive jobs like mills and factories.
 * Describe the setting and then explain the relevance of the setting.**


 * Themes (These statements should be complete sentences and completely developed ideas)**
 * In an attempt to to gain value and appreciation members of the same oppression will oppress each other rather than unify.
 * The life of a child is a direct product of the sins of their father. The child ultimately sins trying to embrace or reject the father's philosophy.


 * Plot Summary (Please do not copy and paste. Simply list the high points of the novel) - Consider creating a visual flow chart or graph and posting it here.**


 * Troy and his best friend Bono talk (complain) about jobs. Bono mentions a woman Troy has been seen with with.
 * Troy adamantly/harshly dissuades his teenage son Cory from pursuing a football scholarship to the disdain of his wife Rose.
 * Troy's adult son Lyons asks for money which Troy reluctantly gives because of Rose's compassion. Troy feels Lyons only ever visits for cash.
 * Troy reveals Alberta's pregnancy and his longing for renewal of youth and vivaciousness and chance. Rose speaks freely and independently.
 * Rose agrees to raise Alberta's motherless child for the child's sake not Troy's.
 * Troy slowly slips away. Symbolically he dies when he begins to dedicate his energy to preparing for Death to knock.
 * Troy passes away. Cory returns home for the occasion but refuses to go to the funeral as he feels that his only opportunity to stand up to his father. With Rose's persuasion, he does go.
 * Gabriel opens the gates of heaven through the silent notes of his trumpet and the play ends.
 * Gabriel opens the gates of heaven through the silent notes of his trumpet and the play ends.


 * Memorable Quotes and their SIGNIFICANCE.**
 * "I didn't know to keep up his strength I had to give up little pieces of mine. I did that. I took on his life as mine and mixed up the pieces so that you couldn't hardly tell which was which anymore" (1700). Rose feels that she has put so much of her life into Troy and that many aspects of herself revolve around Troy but the feelings between them are not mutual.
 * "I don't want him to be like me! I want him to move as far away from my life as he can get. . .I decided seventeen years ago that boy wasn't getting involved in no sports. Not after what they did to me in the sports" (1666). Troy wants Cory's life to be better than his own but in reality, Troy's actions create a worse life for Cory.
 * "Don't you think I ever wanted other things? Don't you think I had dreams and hopes? What about my life? What about me. . .you're not the only one who's got wants and needs" (1685). Rose is finally able to stand up for herself and have her own emotions, thoughts, and feelings outside from Troy.
 * "Some people will build fences to keep people out. . .And other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you" (1679). This quote is central to the play as a whole as it creates the most prevalent theme of family and unity and the desire to hold on to the things that mean the most to you.

Foreshadows Troy's affair and lack of focus. Emphasizes the issue of race during this time period.
 * Describe the significance of the opening scene.**

This scenes picks up after Troy's imminent death, and eight years after the birth of Raynell. The whole family gathers for his funeral: Cory, Rose, Bono, Lyons, even Gabe at the end. Nearly all of these characters struggle with honoring him at a funeral, because nearly all of these characters have a strained and broken relationship with Troy throughout the text and throughout their individual lives. Raynell, however, brings a stark contrast to the anger and resentment of each family member. She doesn't know Troy - in his best or his worst. She represents the innocence and the hope for change in a world where grudges are held to the grave.
 * Describe the significance of the closing scene.**


 * List importance characters and their significance.**
 * **Troy Maxson:** protagonist and patriarch of the play. Has a strong sense of obligation to his family. (is the only married man in the play) Deeply believes in providing for his family but does not understand the necessary emotion he must also provide.
 * **Rose Maxson:** Is blessed and unique to be married in this time and place. Stands up for herself and never submits to her husband out of forced obligation but rather inclination and desire. She is very moral. It says a lot that she forgives Troy and raises Alberta's child.
 * **Cory Maxson:** The sins of the father always last. Cory has traits of his father that he embodies and also tries to resist. He hates his father's stance on football and college and fails to see the wisdom in it. Joins the army right before Vietnam will happen.
 * **Bono:** Troy's best friend and advisor. Tries to dissuade Troy from seeing Alberta.
 * **Lyons Maxson:** Seems like a bum. In his thirties relying on his girlfriend and father for money.
 * **Gabe:** Troy's brother who was brain damaged in WW2. Listen to what he says for symbolic meaning.