August Wilson’s real name is Fredrick August Kittel, and he was born on April 27, 1945. His father

Throughout time there have always been conflicts of morality and injustice. August Wilson wrote this play about issues that were prevalent in the 1950’s but also still are sadly present today. In Fences, there is an abundance of evidence of cultural clashes. In this play these clashes span over racial, generational, and even gender lines and its effects on the characters.

Baseball is America’s pastime. The sport of baseball goes back all the way to civil war era, 1839. August Wilson saw the potential this sport had to send a message, and incorporated it into his play Fences. His collection of ten plays portrays the hardships of African Americans for every decade of the twentieth century (Wilson 961). Fences, in particular portrays the nineteen fifties (Wilson 961). When one reads Fences, yes it is about the struggle of African Americans in the time period, but it also incorporates baseball as multiple plot elements, and a metaphor for life.

In past times, racism and economic injustice headline the many problems that present themselves to society. Some people accept the horrors that appear with the issues while others take actions to change the issues for the better. August Wilson reveals that in his play Fences.” Written in 1957, Wilson’s play portrays an African American family during the time of the civil rights movement who struggle to reach the self-proclaimed American Dream in the United States (Wilson 963-1018). The protagonist, Troy Maxson, is influenced by Wilson’s stepfather, David Bedford (Martin and Downing). During the civil rights movement, African Americans carried few to no rights as an American citizen, presenting controversy to the world of political science and economic power. Wilson also contributes to the theory of Marxism in Fences. Introduced by Karl Marx, Marxist Criticism paints an identical picture of the way society reveals itself in the twentieth century. “Marx’s main interest was in economic power and the ways in which it disguised and manipulated.” (Schakel and Ridl 1455). Wilson incorporates those views into his play Fences. Wilson also reveals his intake on the views of Marxism. “Today I would say that the conflict in black America is between the middle class and the so-called underclass, and that conflict goes back to those who deny themselves and those who aren’t willing to (Lyons 1024).” The author believes that African American struggle contributes to the theory of Marxism.

August Wilson was a famous and influential playwright who wrote about the African American experience and conflicts with the White world. Although he may be argued as one of the greatest playwrights in America, I myself have only heard of his work once when my seventh grade English class read Fences, a play about a man and his son dealing with dealing with racism while also dealing with their own conflict when the son wants to follow in the steps of his father and become a professional athlete. I had honestly forgotten all about that one play I read eight years ago. Wilson’s name was barely among the many playwrights studied in my latter years. This could be because of the content of his plays. Much of Wilson’s work examines the negative aspects of being African American in America such as racism and poverty. When we read about African American literature in school, we read about empowerment and pride. It is ironic how students study White writers who tell stories like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Heart of Darkness with mistreated African American characters, but barely study those same stories written by Black authors, poets, and playwrights. Because African American literature was not glorified in the past, specifically speaking of a time before the Harlem Renaissance, it may take time for certain works of African descendants to be glorified at the same level as those of White writers, especially if their peak wasn’t during the Renaissance.

Fences can be viewed as a family play, it can also be viewed as a work specifically of the black man's place, or plight, in a predominantly white world. Either way, it has a very valuable message. It is a true art to be able to touch on so many aspects of life in a work, aspects that may be viewed differently by different people.. Wilson's work, and the character of Troy Maxson, makes me question many things, among them myself, as well as his intended message. This is why I am so in awe of Fences, and of Wilson's talent. This is why I am writing my paper on Fences.

Continuing his daily excursions to the library Wilson made a few friends and together they started "the Centre Avenue Poets Theatre Workshop, which sponsored readings and published small poetry magazines."6 Doing this he was encouraged to write poetry of his own and was soon being published by Black World and Black Lines. In 1965, Wilson stumbled across some old 78-rpm records and bought a few for a nickel apiece, one of which was Bessie Smith's Nobody in Town Can Bake a Jelly Roll Like Mine. When he got home he was so impressed with it he played it 22 times.l This was the first major influence on Wilson's life, and jazz continued to exert a profound influence on him and his career as a playwright through recurring images in his plays of the black musician. "Bessie Smith may very well be figured as Wilson's mother, for she gave birth to Wilson as what Houston Baker would call a 'blues detective, who is able to decipher black

August Wilson’s plays relate directly to his African heritage, and were and are a part of his success. His expression of the struggles of the blacks

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 like that 's what they were supposed to do and that 's all that was expected of them and etc.

We will first discuss the play “Fences” this is a story in which the main character is a hard working African American Man. He is a good provider for his family. His wife is able to be a great homemaker and mother to his children, one of which is from another woman. Troy, who is the main character, has to make decisions not only for his family but also for his brother who is handicapped from the war. This places a lot of responsibility and pressure on Troy. Troy feels discrimination from many areas

having come along ‘too early’ to build a career in baseball as a black man keeps Troy

In this unit we read a play written as a book, called “Fences”. Fences is about racism written in the 1986. The play is based around the main characters Troy and Rose, and their son Cory. Troy has stated that he has felt the need to provide a life for Cory but doesn't need love him. Troy is wanting Cory to stop playing football and get a real job at the A&P so he can provide for himself. Rose has been trapped in between all of this. All in all, the play Fences written by August Wilson uses the narrative element of characterization of Troy and Rose, the metaphor of sports, and conflict that Troy creates to show tension.

As the roles of an African American men begin to evolve during the post-slavery time period, women’s roles remained unchanged. In this case, in August Wilson’s play Fences, Wilson’s perspective on gender roles explains the traditions of both men and women, the oppression and objectification of women, and the social roles. For instance, “Indeed, Wilson’s perspective on responsibility might appear dubious to those unfamiliar with his decidedly male ethos, which he links to the history of black male-female relations in America” (Shannon 199). Conflict arises between Troy and his family because of his representation in gender roles that were traditionally meant to play. This is the view on how Troy communicates with his wife, Rose throughout the play. Furthermore, because of the strict gender roles, Troy has a narrow view as how African Americans are being treated in the society and a tunnel view on what he believes on how the world operates.

Winner of multiple awards such as the Tony Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize, August Wilson is known most for his forceful cultural plays. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wilson was born to a white father that later abandoned his family, and a black mother. Wilson dropped out of school in the ninth grade after being accused of plagiarism. Wilson after went to public libraries and read various books; this was an initiation for Wilson and his successful future. When Wilson first started writing he didn’t think he was able to write his own works because of such great writers before him. “Quote black literature criticism”. However

One of the hallmarks of good plays is their timelessness. Well-scripted plays tend to endure for very long periods and to remain relevant in their portrayal of the issues that affect people in their everyday lives, as well as to address themes that remain pertinent to society despite the passage of time. August Wilson’s Fences is one such play, and it successfully highlights the experiences of African Americans in the 1950s and explores the relationships among the minority Black community in the pre-Civil Rights era. Fences is relevant even in a modern context because of its intimate portrayal of the difficulties of life as part of a marginalized and underprivileged community. Fences is especially popular in the modern era because of the author’s attention to detail, and the subtle but incredibly effective use of literary devices to enhance the themes of the play. By using a relatable protagonist who audiences can easily relate with, and through the use of complementary literary devices that enhance the story in Fences, August Wilson successfully crafts a classic play that has endured different time contexts and continues to be relevant in the prevailing social environment today.

August Wilson's production of Fences uses a variety of theatrical elements to suggest how the atrocities that permeated the black community prior to the great migration have remained prevalent thereafter the migration to the North and have singlehandedly corrupted the black male perception of fatherhood to such a degree that it has left generational Trauma. However, Wilson does allow his production to become a story that one might characterize as a coming of the age due to Character progression and transformation. In this essay, I will allude to the setting, plot, characters and several character interactions to assist me in bringing forth my argument. The play takes place during the year 1957 in the city of Pittsburgh. African Americans had begun stretching out North in hopes of escaping the horrendous conditions of the South. For blacks, this movement was intended to bring about greater access to opportunity and overall social equality. However, the lack of understanding about the North lead to a romanticized viewing of the North. Furthermore, In the North, blacks were presented with the same issues faced within the South. This mental depiction was quickly replaced by the reality that social and economic inequalities persisted from state to state for blacks in America. Access to both decent work and homes remained scarce for members of the black community thus leaving blacks once again subject to a life of marginalization.