The Symbolism Of Fence In The Play Fences By August Wilson

Throughout the play, Rose manifests the symbol of fences as a mean of protection for her loved ones and from her own problems. Rose was portrayed in the book as an ever-dutiful wife who cares about her family and loved ones more than anything. Troy for example sometimes acts as a jerk around her but she sets him straight and when he makes sexual remarks in front of company she tells him to stop it therefore Rose is portrayed as very caring and

Throughout the play, readers see an incomplete fence which symbolizes Rose (Troy’s wife) and Troy’s drifting relationship. Rose wants Troy and Cory to build a fence to keep her loved ones protected. This is evident when Rose is seen singing the church hymn, “Jesus, be a fence all around me every day. Jesus, I want you to protect me as I travel on

The members of the family that makes the most effort to keep the family level is Troy?s wife, Rose. The narrator tells us that Rose is a gentle woman. She cares a great deal for her family and her husband, despite the challenge of making her home a positive environment under the strains of a man with such impossible qualities. The author explains her reasons for enduring Troy by saying that ? her devotion to him stems from her recognition of the possibilities of her life without him: a succession of abusive men and their babies, a life of partying and running the streets, the Church, or aloneness with its attendant pain and frustration? (526; I, 1). In light of the fact that Troy is a good man and provides for their family in a way of his duty, Rose loves and supports him and ?either ignores or forgives his faults, only some of which she recognizes? (526; I, 1). Despite his love and respect for his wife, Troy acts extremely disrespectfully towards Rose. Due to the lack of love and respect that Troy was shown as a boy, he does not know feelings to his family. He talks down to his wife as if she were a child, while at the same time he declares his love for her to his friend, Bono. Troy?s fault, however, in declaring his love for his wife and family. He says, ?I love Rose? (555; II, 1), but when the time comes for him to show his love, he only disrespects her. When Rose asks Troy what he and Bono are talking about one

I didn't know anything about August Wilson before I began my research. I was very surprised to learn about his separatist views, because his play seemed so universal to me. I was also very surprised to learn that he had left school two years early because of a racial comment from a teacher, and that he had acquired the remainder of his education from hours spent at the library. What I had not known was that many aspects of Fences can be seen as

Even when the family is at their lowest this fence has been the center of it all. Troys fences is that he doesn’t want an equal. As well when the characters Troy and Corey were fighting while building the fence.

The fence is a safe haven for them. Troy, the head of the household and a adulter. He stepped out on his marriagr to a woman that made him “forget his troubles”. His wife, Rose, was a very good woman to him.

A fence is a barrier enclosing an area of ground to mark a boundary. In August Wilson’s playwright fences, he establishes a metaphorical connection to each character with a fence against them. The fences were made to keep out old secrets and fear that could slip through the cracks. In the play, Troy has a fence up because of the pain his dad hurt him. Troy has been hurt and still has anger and pain deep inside him.

Negatively it could represent a barrier, isolation, or entrapment. On the other hand, it could symbolize protection, freedom, or even a dream. Depending on the character's perspective changes the definition of the term Fences comparing Rose Maxson, Troy's wife, and Troy's characteristics and their view on life this word brings contrasting ideas creating interesting symbolism; nonetheless there are similarities that complete the play as a whole with an overall meaning of Fences. As the protagonist, Troy Maxson is a complex, dynamic character.

Rose, Troy’s wife in the play was the obvious voice of reason between the two; all she wanted was an interrupted happy family life. The fences that she put up were not physical fences but rather emotional and psychological ones used to keep her family in line. These fences were made very clear to both the reader and the other characters in the play. For example when Bono (Troy’s best friend) is questioning Troy’s commitment to Rose he said, “Some people build fences to keep people out… and others build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you.” (898). This excerpt perfectly described the different values shared between Rose and Troy but is also a common generalization of gender roles in most family. The only fence Rose ever set up for Troy was one of loyalty and commitment. She believed in the strength in numbers whilst Troy strongly believed in the power of individuality.

To Rose, the fence indicates love. A love she has for her family she doesn’t want broken. Rose sees the opportunity to define the love she has for her family. The fence is the barrier to keep people in and out so they can’t intrude or try to break apart the love she has for each one of them. Rose is a strong

Rose’s fence manifests itself in a protective perspective - she fights tooth to keep her family together - essentially she is the backbone of the family. In an attempt to keep Troy at home , she begs for him to build a fence. This is one of the first instances when Rose reveals to readers her fence. As the story progresses , Wilson reveals that Cory is not the only one pleading for independence from his father ; his uncle Gabriel is also searching for self-sufficiency in his life.

The first reason why the play was named Fences is because the main action of the play is building the Maxon’s fence in the backyard. The fence building project carries on throughout the whole play and is completed at the end. The main cause of this drag is due to Troy neglecting his construction work. He complains that Cory was never around to work on it but Cory states that all Troy does is go down to the Taylors (5). This statements makes it clear that Troy is having an affair with Alberta. Therefore, the fence was used as a symbol to show that Troy has been neglecting his family.

" Troy realizes that his battle with death is going to fall apart and that his only result would be building a fence. He builds this fence in hope that it protects his family and him. The fence is used in describing Rose and Troy. It describes their personalities and the way they see things. Rose sees the fence as a symbol of keeping the family together whereas Troy sees it as keeping out.

Rose and Troy have been together for eighteen years, however troy cheated on her with another women whom became pregnant. Rose angriness symbolized the devil coming back for round two, which cause troy to have a conversation with death himself. Troy tells death,” "I'm gonna build me a fence around what belongs to me. And then I want you to stay on the other side" (Wilson 77). Troy believes that if he keeps his problems outside of the fence, he can keep what he loves inside.

Troy also talks about the devil in this play and how the devil was coming for him, so the fence also represents a line between him and the devil. “Death ain’t nothing to play with.