Balleza Gad Guterman Theatre History 2050 December 1st, 2017 Fences Fences, by August Wilson, was originally performed at the Forty-Sixth Street Theatre on Broadway in 1987. Directed by Lloyd Richards, the historic run consisted of 11 previews and 525 performances. The play featured actor’s such as the incomparable James Earl Jones as Troy Maxon and Mary Alice as Rose. According to Moira Macdonald’s review in the The Seattle Times, ““Fences” wraps you and whirls you in a heady cyclone of words, ultimately
August Wilson was born Frederick August Kittell, later adopting the maiden name of his mother, Daisy Wilson, not only to disavow his father, but to represent a significant rite of passage marking both his discovery and celebration of ties with Africa. He grew up in the “Hill”, a small district in Pittsburgh that was populated by poor African-Americans. His life was filled with a childhood of poverty and hardship along with discrimination from attending a predominantly white Catholic school. An analysis
Fences Analysis In the play “Fences” by August Wilson the play’s attitude toward women is biased, and if the play was written by a female I think it would have a stronger feminine influence. Issues such as racism and discrimination against blacks may be raised in the play that the author did not bring up, and the women in the story somewhat do generally typify women in the 1950s. To support my interpretation, the women in the play were homebodies, just worrying about the household because they felt
Literary Analysis of Fences by August Wilson In this Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play titled Fences by August Wilson, the Maxson’s family both individually and collectively are force to overcome their past in order to embrace the future. The protagonist, Troy Maxson is trapped in different virtual fences: Childhood upbringing, skin color, slavery and manhood. In Susan’s words, Wilson "situates Troy within three of baseball's mythic settings: the garden, the battlefield, and the graveyard " as
In August Wilson 's play Fences, he uses his piece to explain that someone unable to control their actions caused by selfish, hatred, or angry emotions will cause issues in one 's personal life, general decisions, and in family life. Wilson hopes to target people who can 't control their emotions and wishes to prevent the negative effects of uncontrolled actions caused by negative emotion. The inability to control one 's emotions can harm their friends, decision making, and family. Wilson main
A fence is used for separating people or to keep others out. Fences are used for good reasons and bad reasons. The reader can see this by examining how the author shows how the family is growing apart from each other. This is important because it helps the reader understand how fences functions as a symbol in the play. In the play, "Fences" by August Wilson, the fences are used as the Symbol in the play. Towards the end of the play Troy tends to separate him self from his family. Troy
August Wilsons “Fences” takes us on a journey that transforms the 20th century impression of a Negro Family with Insatiability, Tenderness, and Sacrifice. The famous play is an autobiography of an American Negro man who loses his dreams for the people he loves. Fences demonstrates us what sacrifice looks like and how egocentricity still exist today. Fences takes place with a family in Pittsburgh from 1957 to 1965. The characters are Troy, Bono, Rose, Lyons, Gabriel, Cory, and Raynell. Fs important
"Fences" by August Wilson tells the story of a black family in the 1950’s and the dramatic events they have had to overcome as a result of racism. The theme of racism shapes each character in the play, aiding each of the characters in becoming who they are. The main character, Troy, is portrayed as a stereotypical black man during that time. The way he behaves is a reaction of the harsh racism of the era, racism that has negatively impacted the people he cares the most about. He was in his early
“Jesus be a fence all around me every day. Jesus, I want you to protect me as I travel on my way” (Wilson 1.2.21). The play Fences follows the journey of an African American family, the Maxons, and their struggle to handle the appearance of both physical and metaphorical fences. Fences shows the difficulties that the Maxons face in an attempt to balance love, loss, and laughter. The Maxson family lives in Pittsburgh during the 1950’s, and they meet tensions when searching for equality within their
Fences, a play written by August Wilson, is about how life was for African Americans in the late 1950’s. The play talks about how their race determined how people would treat them, where they could live, what kind of job they could have, and what kind of activities they could participate in. There is a character in the play, named Troy Maxson, who was a pervious baseball player in the Negro League Baseball, because of his race; he was not allowed to play in the Major League Baseball. Since Troy didn’t