AUGUST WILSON "FENCES"

Of all the books I have read so far, “Fences” by August Wilson has always been my favorite of them all. I have read it over and over again, and the more I read it the more clearer and interesting I find it to be. “Fences” was published in 1983 and has received quite a handful of awards. August Wilson, author of “Fences” died on October 2, 2005 at the age of 60 after being declared as one of the most influential writers in the 20th century. “Fences” tells the story of the struggles an African American family had to go through, both at home and outside home. August Wilson's use of social commentary is quite significant. He also throws more light on the American dream which was hard to achieve by African Americans during the post slavery times. The symbol of a “fence” also shows barriers as different conflicts among the characters.
First and foremost, August Wilson uses “fences” as a symbol of the American dream, as the backbone of the overall theme of the story. Literally, the white Pickett fence built in the Maxson’s house symbolizes the image of the American dream. Their house, education and some opportunities they attained (like Troy getting to drive at work) are also symbols of the American dream. The American dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. And it is this dream that the Maxson’s like any other African American family in the early 1950’s were trying to achieve.
August Wilson also uses “fences” as a symbol of Troy Maxson’s separation and isolation. Troy’s negative view on society made him a closed minded person; it eventually builds up a barrier between him and his son Cory. He feels that since he did not get anywhere trying to play baseball, his son would also fail trying to play a football. By doing this he not only shuttered Cory’s dreams of playing football but also his chance of going to college and living a better life in future. Troy also built a fence between him and Rose when he had a child with another woman. After eighteen years of what seemed to be a perfect relationship, Troy ruined everything by cheating on his wife with another woman and so Rose wanted to have nothing to do with him again after that incident. Again, Troy built a fence between himself and Lyons when he refused to go to watch Lyons play in the band, claiming that it was a waste of time and that Lyons should rather find a better job like the one he was doing. Lastly, Troy built a fence between himself and death, after claiming he had wrestled with death for three days and three nights and won, but that fence did not hold for long since death had the best of him.
It is observed that in spite of all the conflicts that went on in the Maxson’s house there was still some amount of love that they showed to each other. Rose was more or less the backbone of the family. She was really selfless and always tried to keep the family protected and united at all cost. She also corrected Troy whenever he went wrong and even it didn’t take Bono (Troy’s closest friend) that long to notice that and so he even made Troy aware of that shortcoming of his, “Some people build fences to keep people out… and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you.” Also, in another perspective, Troy not letting Cory play football in an attempt to create a better future for him shows Troy’s love for his son. Troy’s acceptance of Gabriel into his house after he got injured in the World War and he also bailing him out of jail several times also shows Troy’s love for his family. All their efforts to keep the family together were in vain since the whole family broke up anyway.
When reading the play, one initially believes that the fence building project didn’t really do anything for the family because their conflicts got the better of them but we start to see hope for the family again after Troy passed away. Readers not only see how barriers can break people down but how they can bring a family together. Troy Maxson’s death brought the whole family back together again. Troy was gone and so were the fences he had built between himself and his family. They put all hatred aside and came back together as a family to witness the funeral of their dear relative.