Fences: Family and Fence

August Wilson did not name his play, Fences, simply due to the melodramatic actions that take place in the Maxson household, but rather the relationships that bond and break because of the “fence”. The “fence” serves as a structural device because the character’s lives are constantly changing during the construction of the fence. The dramatic actions in the play strongly depend on the building of the fence in the Maxson’s backyard. Fences represents the metaphorical walls or fences that the main characters are creating around themselves in order to keep people in or vice versa.
The title may seem straightforward, but in actuality it is a powerful symbol which can either have positive or negative meanings. The title also describes the entirety of the play. The “fence” most obviously seen throughout the play portrays protection. Rose creates a personal “fence” by singing a song seeking protection from whatever is on her way. “Jesus, be a fence around me every day. Jesus, I want you to protect me as I travel on my way” (21). Also, the fact that Rose wants the fence built adds to the meaning of her character because she sees the fence as something positive and necessary.
Bono observes that Rose wants the fence built to hold her family together. “Some people build fence to keep people in… and other people build fences to keep people in. Rose wants to hold on to you all. She loves you” (61). The “fence” is a symbolization of Rose’s love and her desire for a fence which shows that Rose represents love and nurturing. Also, the “fence” shows Troy protecting himself form Death telling him to come when he’s ready. “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 a fence around what belongs to me. And I want you to stay on the other side. You stay over there until you’re ready for me” (77). In vice versa, the “fence” also portray separation. Troy creates a personal “fence” that keeps people out by neglecting his two sons which eventually draw away from him and cheating on his wife with a woman named Alberta. Troy’s lack of commitment to finishing the fence that Rose wants put up represents his lack of commitment in his marriage. He doesn’t understand that Rose wants to keep the family close because he never truly had a close family.
He becomes a womanless man. “From right now… this child got a mother. But you a womanless man” (79). Troy pushes Lyons away by refusing to hear him play his “Chinese music” (48). He also damages his relationship with his other son, Cory, by preventing him from playing football and rejecting his only chance to get recruited by a college football team. The “fence” also depicts that Troy is disowning Cory when they get into an argument and Troy kicks him out on to the streets. Troy states that Cory’s things will be on “the other side of that fence” (89).
As a result, Troy ends up driving everybody away just like his father. The “fence” acts like a physical divider between the Maxson’s household and the outside world because Troy doesn’t bring anything others would normally have into his house and Rose does not want any outsider intruding her family. The play, Fences, in conclusion acquires many interpretations of the “fence” that is mentioned variously. Despite there only being one physical fence, it represents many figurative fences throughout the play. The “fence” is signified as having both positive and negative connotations.
Approximate price: $22
We value our customers and so we ensure that what we do is 100% original..

With us you are guaranteed of quality work done by our qualified experts.Your information and everything that you do with us is kept completely confidential.You have to be 100% sure of the quality of your product to give a money-back guarantee. This describes us perfectly. Make sure that this guarantee is totally transparent.The Product ordered is guaranteed to be original. Orders are checked by the most advanced anti-plagiarism software in the market to assure that the Product is 100% original. The Company has a zero tolerance policy for plagiarism.The Free Revision policy is a courtesy service that the Company provides to help ensure Customer’s total satisfaction with the completed Order. To receive free revision the Company requires that the Customer provide the request within fourteen (14) days from the first completion date and within a period of thirty (30) days for dissertations.The Company is committed to protect the privacy of the Customer and it will never resell or share any of Customer’s personal information, including credit card data, with any third party. All the online transactions are processed through the secure and reliable online payment systems.By placing an order with us, you agree to the service we provide. We will endear to do all that it takes to deliver a comprehensive paper as per your requirements. We also count on your cooperation to ensure that we deliver on this mandate.