Introduction
August Wilson’s play “Fences” has received recognition for the moving exploration of African-American characters’ daily lives and struggles. This theme used to be relevant in the 80s and remains relevant today. Troy Maxson is a former baseball player but is now a trash collector; even though he is a deeply flawed character, he illustrates the Black community’s struggle for justice. Notably, the play is riddled with symbolism that connects the character to his inner struggles, and the fence is the most prominent. The play’s characters build literal and figurative fences to protect themselves from injustices and unfair treatment.
Symbolism of the Fences Play
From early in the play, viewers or readers can determine that the symbol of fences is used as a protective force for the characters. For instance, Rose tells herself that she would like Jesus to serve as a “fence all around me every day. Jesus, I want you to protect me as I travel on my way” (Wilson 1.2.3-3). Rose desires protection; a fence can help her create a safe and calming environment. As Cory and Troy work together, Cory points out that Rose wants the fence to protect her family unit: “Other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all” (Wilson 2.1.30-2.1.32). However, Troy is seen stepping out on Rose with his mistress Alberta, which means that he neglects to build the protective fence every time he neglects his family.
For Troy, the fence comes to represent a symbolic barrier between himself and Death after he learns that Alberta died in childbirth. Addressing Death, he exclaims, “All right… Mr. Death. […] I’m gonna take and build me a fence around this yard. See? […] And then I want you to stay on the other side” (Wilson 2.2.55). Even though he perishes in front of death, the moments when he tries to protect himself from dying dehumanize him.
Conclusion
To conclude, the fence symbol is the play’s focal point, as Troy is always working on making it bigger, representing the characters’ relationships that either bend or break. The themes explored in “Fences” are still relevant to modern-day readers. The examples of the characters show that limiting oneself figuratively or suppressing one’s emotions can never lead to anything good. No’ fences’ should be built to explore one’s potential and break the boundaries truly.
Work Cited
Wilson, August. “Fences.” Internet Archive. Web.
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