Fences is a play by an American scriptwriter, August Wilson, written in 1985, which addresses the challenges barring Blacks from success and having a united family. Wilson uses symbolism to advance the themes and build his characters in the play. The play talks about Troy, the main character, who rose through all odds to be the first Black garbage truck driver. A fence has been used as a barrier to symbolize family unity, separation, and racism; in the play, Rose aims to bring her family together while Troy separates with them by creating barriers, and racism separates Blacks from getting better positions in sports and workplaces.
Rose asks Troy to put up a fence in their compound; however, this does not mean a physical barrier but bringing her family together. Bono refuses to help his friend to construct the fence and reiterates that it was a family affair and that an outsider cannot be part of the process of uniting a family. Bono says, “I’m going home. I know you don’t expect me to help you now. I’m protecting my money. I wanna see you put up that fence by yourself. That’s what I want to see” (Wilson, 2. 1. 64). He had witnessed the deteriorating relationship between Troy and his two sons and did not want to meddle in their affairs. Bono asks Troy to fix the fence by himself, which translates to him solving the issues with the sons. However, during the construction, Troy engages in a heated argument with Cory before he chases him out of the yard. He says, “Nigger! That’s what you are! You just another nigger on the street to me!” (Wilson, 2. 4. 87). Troy’s remarks mean he disowned Cory as his son; this created a barrier between them.
Troy’s firm decision to deny his son, Cory, an opportunity to join a baseball team created a fence between them. Due to his previous experience of failing to get a chance to play, he still believes nothing has changed regarding racism. Rose, Troy’s wife, and Bono try to convince him, but he is adamant and unwilling to agree with any of them (Metzger). Rose says, “Times have changed from when you were young, Troy. People change. The world’s changing around you and you can’t even see it.” (Wilson, 1. 1. 9). When Cory steps down from his job at A&P to contrate on the football season, Troy disapproves of it and asks him to go back or look for a job elsewhere. Cory tries to tell his dad that a recruiter from North Carolina wants to sign him; Troy insists that the white man will not help him. He says, “I don’t care where he coming from. The white man ain’t gonna let you get nowhere with that football no way.” (Wilson, 1. 3. 36). He even refused to sign papers to allow his son to get recruited.
Troy creates a barrier between himself and his wife when he cheats on her with Alberta, a bar attendant. Rose is committed to bringing her family together, but Troy betrays her by indulging in an extramarital affair, breaking her heart and her love for him. The illicit affair ends with Alberta conceiving, which is when Troy confesses. He says, “I’m talking, woman, let me talk. I’m trying to find a way to tell you… I’m gonna be a daddy. I’m gonna be somebody’s daddy.” (Wilson, 2. 1. 66). Considering she has given her all to ensure her family is happy, this news hurts her, and a fence between them develops. Unfortunately, Alberta died while giving birth and Troy had to take responsibility for raising the baby. He had to beg Rose to help him since he could not manage to take care of the young baby. However, she tells Troy, “From right now… this child got a mother. But you a womanless man.” (Wilson, 2. 3. 79). This dealt a big blow to their marriage by creating a barrier between them.
Troy and his father had a fence between them for having an interest in the same girl. His father found him with Canewel’s daughter “enjoying” themselves instead of plowing as the father had instructed. The father whipped and chased him, only to realize he was not punished for failing to plow; his father wanted the girl for himself. Troy says, “Now I thought he was mad ’cause I ain’t done my work. But I see where he was chasing me off so he could have the gal for himself.” (Wilson, 1. 4. 52). On realizing his father’s intentions, he turned back against him and started whipping. The father overcame Troy’s strength and gave him a thorough beating, leaving him unconscious for a while. He could not stay with his father in the same house; he resorted to leaving. He says, “The only thing I knew was the time had come for me to leave my dad’s house. And right there the world suddenly got big.” (Wilson, 1. 4. 53). This incident created a barrier with his father; he decided to start his own life.
A fence develops between Troy and his brother Gabriel, also known as Gabe when the former takes the latter’s compensation to buy himself a house. While fighting during World War II, Gabriel got a head injury, which made him develop mental-related issues. The government compensated him for his participation and effort during the war. People with disabilities are often exploited by their family members or those tasked with looking after them (McCormick). Troy was supposed to take of him, but instead, he took his brother’s compensation to settle his own family. In a heated argument with his father, he accuses him of taking advantage of Gabe’s mental state. He says, “It ain’t your yard. You took Uncle Gabe’s money he got from the Army to buy this house, and then you put him out.” (Wilson, 2. 4. 88). At some point, Gabe moves to Pearl’s house to avoid conflicts with his brother. He says, “I just moved over to Miss Pearl’s to keep out from in your way. I ain’t mean no harm by it.” (Wilson, 1. 2. 25). This indicates that Troy never values nor respects his brother. He treats him like a stranger without any relationship with him, which creates a barrier between the two.
Due to racial segregation, Troy did not get an opportunity to play basketball despite excellent performance in practice; his race denied him the opportunity. While serving his sentence for murder charges, Troy trained to play baseball. He did not intend to engage in criminal activities again but make a decent living. Troy trained to play baseball, and he turned out to be a good player. Despite his exemplary mastery and being among the top scorers, Troy’s team did not consider him; instead, it gave his position to someone else (Letzler). He laments, “Selkirk! That’s it! Man batting.269, understand?.269. What kind of sense that make? I was hitting.432 with thirty-seven home runs!” (Wilson, 1. 1. 9). Troy expresses how he gained nothing from his talent; he says, “What it ever get me? Ain’t got a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.” (Wilson, 1. 4. 9). Racial discrimination formed a barrier between him and his success in professional baseball that would have given him financial freedom.
Racism barred African Americans from getting driver’s positions for garbage collection; companies reserved such posts for Whites. Troy decided to raise the issue with his seniors and was directed to report the matter to the union. He complains, “You think only white fellows got sense enough to drive a truck? That ain’t no paper job. Hell, anybody can drive a truck. How come you got all the whites driving and the coloreds lifting?” (Wilson, 1. 1. 3). The union finalized the issue in Troy’s favor, where he became the first Black driver for the garbage collection company. The union’s decision marked the end of racism, barring Blacks from getting driver jobs in the garbage collection company. However, Troy was not lucky yet since there was another impending barrier; he did not know how to drive, nor did he have a driving license, even though he claimed driving was easy. Bono asks, “Do they know you ain’t got no driver’s license? That’s what I’m talking about. I ain’t asked if driving was easy.” (Wilson, 1. 4. 46). Even though he was not a qualified driver, Troy exuded confidence that he can drive.
Poverty is a fence distinguishing the lifestyles of Whites and Blacks. Troy was arrested and taken to prison after killing someone in a robbery incident; he was looking for something to feed his wife and son, Lyon. Troy says, “Now I got to worry about feeding you and her. Got to steal three times as much. Went out one day looking for somebody to rob… that’s what I was, a robber.” (Wilson, 1. 4. 64). On the other hand, Lyon borrows money from his dad every payday since he does not have a substantive source of income. His father complains that he has already budgeted his salary and has no extra money. “I ain’t got no extra money. Gabe done moved over to Miss Pearl’s, paying her the rent, and things done got tight around here. I can’t afford to be giving you every payday,” Troy complains (Wilson, 1. 1. 17). This indicates how they are paid little wages compared to the White, whom no complaints are heard in the play. Race is a barrier to decent jobs with good pay.
In conclusion, a fence has been symbolically used to describe the different experiences the characters in Fences have encountered. Rose asks Troy to put up a physical fence which is figuratively used to mean bringing her family together. Fences between members of a family have been a major reason for disintegration. Troy and his father, Rose, Gabe, and Cory parted ways because of relationship barriers that developed between them. Racism is a barrier for African Americans from getting decent jobs with better pay; Troy had to fight his way to get a driver’s position. In an earlier encounter, Troy was denied an opportunity to join a baseball team because he was an African American. It also contributes to the disparity in social classes where the Blacks are poor since they do not receive substantial pay and resort to criminal activities as Troy did.
Works Cited
Wilson, August. Fences: A Play. 6th ed., Plume, 2016.
Letzler, David. “Walking Around the Fences: Troy Maxson and the Ideology of ‘Going Down Swinging’.” African American Review, vol. 47, no. 2-3, 2014, pp. 301+. Gale Literature Resource Center. Web.
McCormick, Stacie. “August Wilson and the Anti-Spectacle of Blackness and Disability in Fences and Two Trains Running.” CLA Journal, vol. 61, no. 1-2, 2017, pp. 65–83.
Metzger, Sheri. “An essay on Fences.” Drama for Students, Gale. Gale Literature Resource Center. Web.