August Wilson's Imagery of Separation in Fences - Essay Example

August Wilson's Imagery of Separation in Fences August Wilson's play “Fences” depicts the relationships of the characters involved in building the Maxson's backyard fence. It also serves as a metaphor for either the building or breaking of the relationships “encompassed” by this fence (Shannon 17). The fence here could also serve as a metaphor for the home, as fences, especially during the story's setting, are usually associated with homes. In this play, each character's view of the fence depicts their personal stance on the status of their relationship with the tragic-hero of the play, Troy Maxson. Consequently, Troy's view of the fence is a representation of his thoughts or feelings about his relationships with the people inside his home --- his son Cory, his brother Gabriel, and his wife Rose. The play tells the story of these relationships and how the instability of the fence, the forced completion of the fence-building task, and the reluctance to really give importance to that task, serve as a hint of the resulting separation of the people in these relationships (Shannon 20). Troy is not happy and is reluctant to build the fence. His view of the fence seems to represent his relationship with his son, Cory, and his brother, Gabriel. And while Cory shares the same sentiment as his father regarding the fence, Gabriel does not have any view on it. Troy and Cory does not see eye to eye especially with the latter's interest in playing football. Troy refuses to allow his son to pursue his dream, while Cory refuses to give in to his father's inner baggage and hurt regarding life and football. Troy did not have the opportunity to play football when he was younger due to discrimination against blacks, while Cory gets the attention and interest of a good football coach because Cory is good at it. Cory tells Troy: “You just scared I'm gonna be better than you, that's all” (1.4.166). Gabriel, on the other hand, does not have views regarding the fence. Troy commits Gabriel to a mental asylum, which gets him half of Gabriel's disability check. Troy's intentions are suspicious. It is good to remember that earlier in the play, it is hinted that Gabriel's disability check is the one used to buy the house where Troy lives with his family. The fence seems to represent the reluctant and unhappy relationships Troy has with his son and brother. Rose, on the other hand, wants so much to have the fence finished. It seems to represent her desire to “embrace” her family together and protect them from the harms of the outside world. Yet Troy responds to this emotion by cheating on her. Troy's refusal to build the fence according to his wife's wishes represents his failure to nurture their marriage. Troy cheats on Rose and gets his lover pregnant. This marks the beginning of their estrangement. Rose tells Troy: “You always talking about what you give...and what you don't have to give. But you take too. You take...and don't even know nobody's giving!” (2.1.122). their differing views on the fence represent their clashing views on their relationship as marriage partners. Instead of the fence embracing them together inside the home, it separates them. Still, Rose's steadfast love toward her family and her notion of a family in general is obvious. She tells Troy: “I'll take care of your baby for you...cause...she innocent...and you can't visit the sins of the father upon the child. A motherless child had got a hard time...” (2.3.8) The Great Migration happened when the blacks were emancipated from slavery. It is the blacks' pursuit of a better life up north. Troy went through this era, and views his past with great disappointment. Despite him having separated himself from the bondage of the miserable life of the blacks then, he seems to still be haunted by the beliefs it molded in him. Most of the conflict in Troy's relationships with the people around him comes from their opposing views in treating the past and the present. For example, Bono, Troy's best friend, pledges that he will never abandon a child, just like he was abandoned as a child. He is also loyal to his wife. It is his way of coping with his present situation. Troy, on the other hand, has successfully distanced himself from his father, yet still allows his bad memories to dictate his present decisions. For example, he does not want Cory to leave his job and play football instead. Despite the changing of the times, Troy is still haunted by the idea that Cory might experience the same disappointment in football, and the same hardship in looking for a “nice” job. The parallelism of the fences to the Great Migration is Troy's failure to put closure to his past. It remains as unfinished business for him. It greatly influences his major actions toward his family and friends. Thus, fences is a powerful imagery of the crumbling of Troy's relationship among the characters of the play, particularly his family. Come to think of it, the fence is yet incomplete, and the tools are at one side of the yard. It is not absolutely abandoned, but it is obvious it is not given the necessary attention and focus. It also is in need of paint --- another indication of the lack of attention (Shannon 31-2). The fence is eventually finished out of Bono's prodding to Troy to complete the task. Yet Troy seems too late when he finally decides to take action on it. Also, the damage to his relationships has already been done, that the reluctance Troy shows in giving the fence the needed attention is reflected in the reluctance of his wife and his son to mend the relationship. Instead of embracing the family together, the fences serve as a metaphor for their separation. Works Cited Shannon, Sandra G. August Wilson's Fences: A Reference Guide. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2003. Print. Wilson, August. Fences: A Play. New York, N.Y: New American Library, 1986. Print. Read More