Fences by August Wilson

"You can't visit the sing of the father upon the child"

Rose is a woman of compassion and understands that the child is innocent, but she leaves Troy as a 'womanless man'

The Pittsburgh Cycle

Wilson's ten-play cycle that explores the african american experience in the 20th century (each play represents one decade)

what decade did Fences represent

1950s

Setting

1957, Pittsburgh

Wilson's plays are influenced by the ___

4-Bs Blues - cultural resp to world Baraka (writer) - write directly/aggressively Borges (writer) - fantastic/magical realism Bearden (painter) - black life presented in richness, wanted to match Bearden's style of art in his writings

Epigraph @ the beginning; how is this seen thru out the play

"When the sins of the father visit us, we don't have to play host" - Troy + his father, Troy embodies bits of his father - Lyons + Troy - by the end of the play, Lyons becomes a little like Troy thru immoral actions - Cory + Troy - Rose tells Cory that Troy gave him what was best in him

August Wilson's Background

- from pittsburgh - dropped out of hs @ 15 - became writer as a teen - mother threw him out of house bc of his lack of direction - in army for one year - became writing poetry (little success at first but grew as he presented his plays at Yale) - 2 pulitzers, 7 drama critics circle awards, 23 honorary degrees

Song of Old Blue

Blue -> troy Uses Biblical references A story of honor and reconciliation -- sometimes honoring the past is to reject it, to learn from it even though the memory of it may still be there

Societal Fences

Built by racist + segregationist history in American life -- seen in sports in this play

Why doesn't Cory want to go to Troy's funeral? What is Rose's reaction?

He feels that he needs to say "no" to him for one; Rose tells him that not going to Troy's funeral won't make him anymore of a man, she says that Cory is like Troy and that Troy was only doing what he thought was best for Cory , out of love "I've got to find a way to get rid of that shadow"

How does Troy attempt to escape his responsibility to his family?

He has an affair with Alberta; he says that he feels happy and like he can laugh when he's away from his responsibilities + with her

What does Rose say about Troy in the last scene?

He meant more good than harm, even though sometimes he bruised and cut trying to take her in his arms She also says that she made a mistake by not letting him leave room for her; couldn't tell what parts of her were truly hers or Troy's - but she recognizes that she made this choice

How does Wilson portray the American dream for European immigrants and for African Americans

He says that for Europeans, the American "dream dared and won true" and that the cities took them happily;; however, he says that African Americans "were offered no such welcome or participation"

How does Troy feel the weight of responsibility to his family?

He wants to protect them from harm from outside (so he builds a fence),, believes that his past experiences define the future for his children too, thus limiting them from reaching their full potential Troy feels burdened sometimes and feels like life is stagnant

How does Troy build a fence around himself?

Limits himself from seeing change/opportunity in society

What is troy maxson's job?

Picks up the garbage; becomes a driver later but is *separated* from his friends behind the truck

The planting metaphor - RAYNELL

Raynell poking at garden to grow, Rose tells her that it takes patience and she must give it time

The planting metaphor - ROSE x TROY

Rose "planted" herself within Troy, giving him time to bloom and flourish; but she soon realized that the soil was rocky; but she still nonetheless held on to Troy, being the best wife she could be

Who requests the fence be built around the house?

Rose -- to keep her loved ones close to her "Jesus, be a fence all around me every day. Jesus, I want you to protect me as I travel on my way."

Compare Rose + Troy on their hopes for Cory

Rose wants Cory to chase his dreams, wants Troy to realize times have change Troy wants Cory to continue working at A&P and to forget about football based on his past experience with baseball

Gabriel

Suffered WWII brain injury and believes that he is Angel Gabriel; carries basket of fruit and a trumpet waiting for the Day of Judgement and the gates to open (for when Troy dies)

Emotional fences

Throughout the play, Troy builds a fence around his family, but at the same time, his family members build fences around him (keeping distances for protection) EX: Cory + Troy EX: Rose + Troy EX: Bono + Troy

Prison fence symbolism

Traps troy from witnessing changes/reaching potential

Troy's name

Troy - city of troy Maxson - amalgamation of Mason and Dixon (Mason-Dixon line separated slave states from free states) Troy used to live in south then lived in north

Raynell

Troy and Alberta's daughter; she resembles hope for the family

Cory

Troy and Rose's son, has tensions with his Troy, loves football but never gets to pursue his dream, leaves home for Marines, doesn't want to go to Troy's funeral

Irony of the fence (troy)

Troy builds the fence to keep things out that might threaten the family, but he figuratively confines his family to the same fate

Always looking for the "curveball on the inside corner"

Troy couldn't afford a mistake, pressure to be good

Lyons

Troy's oldest son by previous marriage; Plays jazz music; ends up in the workplace for cashing out others' checks

Gates of Heaven

Troy's only way out

"bunting"

Troy plays it safe by staying with rose + bono, insulting in a way

Bono

Troy's best friend; tells Troy to be careful and not to lose Rose

Staying on first base for 18 years

Troy's life is stagnant, he wants change but its risky

Rose Maxson

Troy's wife and mother of his second child, Cory. Rose is a forty-three year-old African American housewife who volunteers at her church regularly and loves her family

Irony of Troy going to see Alberta

Wanted an escape from responsibility, but got more responsibility (became a father) out of his actions

Why is Troy so bolstering of himself?

Wants those around him to admire him the way his fans once did

Troy's path with baseball

Was limited because of race barrier in MLB; views sports for African Americans with disappointment, driving him to push Cory away from football

Troy's fight with Death

fought for 3 days + 3 nights Death wears a white robe Always telling him to come back, not afraid Builds fence around house and tells him to stay on the other side

How does Wilson portray the 1959s (surface v reality)

on the surface -- flourishing underneath -- currents of tension

How does August Wilson portray the Maxson house?

strong with a "sturdy porch" in need of repair and maintenance "ancient" + "badly in need of paint" "lacks congruence" is of "dubious vaule" located "off a small alley in a big-city neighborhood" OVERALL -- weariness, exclusion, frustration, disappointment