"Fences" by August Wilson
"Fences" is set in an African-American section of Pittsburgh, PA during the 1950s and 1960s. The play gets its title from the fence that the main character, Troy, is building for his wife Rose at the beginning of the play while chatting with his friend Bono. Bono has bet his wife Lucille that he will buy her a refrigerator if the fence ever gets built, which it does, by the end of Act 1. The play revolves around the father-son conflict between Troy and Cory Maxson. Troy is an African-American garbage collector who was a great ballplayer for
Rose takes in the child, but refuses to obey Troy ever again. Troy is willing to fight for his own rights, eventually becoming the first garbage truck driver (as opposed to collector) in the city, but he denies his son the glory he was deprived of as a sportsman. the Negro Leagues, before blacks were allowed to play in the major leagues. Cory is also a great athlete, and wants wins a football scholarship to college. However, he does come home from his service in the Marines to see his mother and his half-sister Raynell. The final scenes of the play show Troy's legacy, after his death. He begs his father to let him give up his job at a grocery store, so football scouts can see him play. The play ends with Cory making peace with his mother, singing with Raynell, and Gabriel futilely trying to play a song on his trumpet. Cory is still so embittered at his father's selfishness; he refuses to go to his funeral. Troy is also cheating on his devoted wife, Rose. His father refuses, and bars him from playing on the high school team. However, he shows compassion to his mentally disturbed brother, Gabriel, who received a head wound in World War II and has a strong friendship with Bono, his fellow garbage collector. This illustrates Troy's insensitivity to his son. Eventually, Troy's mistress Alberta dies giving birth.
Common topics in this essay:
Negro Leagues,
Cory Gabriel's,
Pittsburgh PA,
Bono Bono,
Eventually Troy's,
War II,
Raynell Gabriel,
Troy Cory,
,
Troy African-American,
wife rose,
troy cory,
garbage collector,
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Acceptance Essays
