Themes in August Wilson’s Fences
August Wilson’s Fences gives a clear description of the sufferings that many people, particularly people of African American decent, go through when they move to the city while on a poor family that really struggles to stay together. Wilson centers his focus on the head of the family, Troy Maxson, a 53 year old man who happens to be the key character in this play whose location is not clear though is set in the hard times of the 1950s. Other characters in the play include Rose Maxson (Troy’s second wife), Gabriel Maxson (Troy’s brother), Lyons Maxson (Troy’s eldest son), Jim Bono (Troy’s friend, particularly in drinking), and Raynell Maxson (Troy’s daughter), among others. The title of the play is symbolic of the barriers that most families place around themselves in an effort to protect themselves and their children against ill-minded people. Even though the book has experienced mixed reactions from its readers, the plot of the play is fantastic. Some of the themes that Wilson canvasses in the play include: The Creation order, racial discrimination, dissatisfaction, masculinity, family relationships as well as the changing African culture.
The theme of racial discrimination is one of the themes presented in the play Fences by August Wilson. Though not presented strongly, there are several instances when this theme is showcased. Ideally, Troy, the protagonist in Fences loves baseball. He is relatively good at playing baseball and his behavior clearly shows that is really wishes to play profession baseball. However, Troy cannot play professional baseball because of the color of his skin and this can be seen when Troy retorts that "I'm talking about if you could play ball then they ought to have let you play. Don't care what color you were" in Act 1 Scene 1. Additionally the statement “you born with two strikes on you before you come to plate” as asserted by Troy points to a possible African American frustration (Carino 3). When viewed critically, such remarks can only come from a person who is being discriminated against because of his or her color. Sadly, Troy does not get the opportunity of playing professional baseball until the play ends. In the play, Wilson writes that the league was later merged and blacks were allowed to play. Unfortunately for Troy, even though he was overly good in baseball (being able to hit every ball that came his way) he is left out of the team because his age (Williams 48)
Dissatisfaction is also another theme that can be derived from August Wilson’s Fences. In most cases, dissatisfaction is the cause of alienation, isolation and bad relationships and this can be seen in Fences as a very important themes. The main character Try is by all means dissatisfied by the kind of life he living throughout the play. Troy seems to be dissatisfied with his marriage with Rose and this can be seen in Act 1 Scene 1 when Bono, on noticing that Troy does not seem to be satisfied with his marriage, points it out by saying that "I see where you be eyeing her." Additionally, even though Troy has a liking for the baseball game, he is kind of not satisfied with his prowess in the game especially because he is not allowed to play professional baseball on grounds that he is black color; in Act 1 Scene 1, Troy remarks that Troy: "I'm talking about if you could play ball then they ought to have let you play. Don't care what color you were." Troy’s remark in this scene clearly shows that he is not happy with his color and this can be seen to be yet another illustrious source of Troy’s frustration in the play. Dissatisfaction in life is yet again evinced in when Troy fall for Alberta. As mentioned earlier, there are a plethora of facts pointing towards Troy being dissatisfied with matrimonial life and this fact expressly finds proof in Act 2 Scene 1 when Troy starts and affair with Alberta. It is not Troy alone who showcases dissatisfaction in the play Fences by August Wilson. Troy’s wife also showcase dissatisfaction when she inherently refuses to come to terms with the fact that Troy is not dissatisfied with her even though Troy makes several attempts to tell her that he is not dissatisfied with her.
Masculinity is yet another notable theme in August Wilson’s Fences. Keith Clark, in his book titled Contemporary Black Men's Fiction and Drama, admits having a keen interest in exploring masculinity as depicted in the play Fences by August Wilson. Professedly, men in the play are portrayed to be exhibiting masculinity. For instance, in Act 1 Scene 1 Troy and Bono meet outside the house to discuss their issues. However, Rose on seeing them, asks them to go and talk inside only to receive a sexist feedback from Troy when he says “What you worried about what we getting into for? This is men talk, woman.” Admittedly Troy is the main perpetrator of masculinity because down in the same thread of conversation (same Act and same Scene) after the sexist remark cited above, Troy utters another masculine remark to Rose by saying that “This is men talk. I got some talk for you later You go on and powder it up.”
Additionally, family relationship is also another theme in the play, and is portrayed as complex phenomena that often leads people into unprecedented confrontations. As Cody and Sprinchorn note, the play is set the beginning of the civil right movements and revolves majorly on the relationship between Troy and his family (447). The relationship between father and son is seen when Troy tries to give direction to his son in the career path he should take. Just like his father, Cory (Troy’s son) is a gifted baseball player who wins an athletic scholarship but his father is reluctant to allow him take the scholarship. In can be inferred that, Troy is not comfortable to allow his son pursue athletics as a careers due to the humiliations he underwent because of his color; he does not want his son to go through the same humiliation he went through. Troy instead wants his son to think of another career that relates to practical trade. To Troy, as reported by Cody and Sprinchorn, the relationship between a son and his father is that same as the relationship between an employee and an employer (447). Inherently, Troy’s past makes him to be so much concerned about the future of his son.
Other themes in the play include hope as imparted by Troy’s wife (Cody and Sprinchorn 447), dream (Troy constantly dreams of a better future) the American Dream.
Works cited
Carino, Peter. Baseball / Literature / Culture: Essays, 2004-2005. Jefferson: McFarland, 2006. Print.
Clark, Keith. Contemporary Black Men's Fiction and Drama. Urbana [u.a.: Univ. of Illinois Press, 2001. Print.
Cody, Gabrielle H, and Evert Sprinchorn. [a - L]. New York, NY: Columbia Univ. Press, 2007. Print.
Williams, Jamal. I Have a Mic & a Dream. S.l.: Iuniverse Inc, 2009. Print.
Wilson, August. Fences. New York, French, 1986. Print.
