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August Wilson's Fences

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The complex dynamics of family relationships are depicted in August Wilson's play "Fences," which reveals that while family ties can be a source of support and comfort, they can also be a source of conflict and pain.
This quote from Bono: "Some people build fences to keep people out, and other people build fences to keep them in." Troy Maxson, the main character, had to fight for all he had as a black man in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, including his job as a garbage collector. His connection with his son Cory is rocky, and he wants to prevent him from playing football out of concern that he would experience the same disappointment as Troy did as a young man. Yet in the end, his son's demand for safety causes their relationship to crumble. For …show more content…

That's what we're talking about. We ain't talking about no baseball. This quote emphasizes the conflict between obligations to one's family and selfish ambitions when Rose confronts Troy about his adultery. Troy uses baseball as a means of escape, a means of achieving his goals, and a means of claiming his independence. Yet Rose views his activities as a violation of the devotion and trust that support their marriage. This quotation emphasizes how crucial it is to understand how actions performed in pursuit of personal objectives may have a significant influence on family connections.The quote "You can visit the sins of the father upon the child (Rose) refers to the idea that the mistakes or wrongdoings of one generation can impact the next. This quotation is essential in the context of "Fences" because it emphasizes how Troy's history has affected his son Cory. Troy's perspective and parenting style have been influenced by his encounters with racism and his own problematic relationship with his father. Troy is committed to supporting his family and making sure that his kid does not experience the same prejudice and hardships that he faced. But, in the end, their disagreement and friction stem from his attempts to keep Cory safe.Troy …show more content…

Death, personifying the inevitability of death as a character that will come to take him. "Alright . . . Mr. Death. See now . . . I’m gonna tell you what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna take and build me a fence around this yard. See? I’m gonna build me a fence around what belongs to me. And then I want you to stay on the other side. See?" He uses the metaphor of building a fence around his yard to keep Death away, symbolizing the desire to control and protect what is his. Troy's desire to build a fence to surround what is his implies a sense of control over his life and family. Due to other family members' potential feelings of exclusion or control as a result of Troy's behavior, this ownership and demand for control may cause disputes within the family. Troy's desire to build a fence around Death also emphasizes the dread and worry that might accompany the concept of

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