“FENCES”

August Wilson
 AUGUST WILSON
He was an American playwright. Called the “theater's poet of
black America", he is best known for a series of ten plays
collectively called The Century Cycle, which chronicle the
experiences and heritage of the African-American community
in the 20th century.
Famed playwright August Wilson wrote his first play, Jitney,
in 1979. Fences earned him a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award
in 1987. Wilson won another Pulitzer Prize in 1990, for The
Piano Lesson. In 1996, Seven Guitars premiered on the
Broadway stage, followed by King Hedley II in 2001 and Gem Born : 27 April 1945, Hill District
of the Ocean in 2004. Died: 2 October 2005, Swedish Medical
Center, Seattle, Washington, United
Awards: Tony Award for Best Play, Pulitzer Prize for
States
Drama, MORE
 S U M M A RY O F T H E S TO RY
At the beginning of the play, Troy, the central character of the play, goes to his house for drinking and talking
to Bono his friend. It is their payday. Bono in the course of the talk tells Troy that he is cheating his wife Rose
by having an affair with Alberta. Troy tells about his youth and his love for the baseball. He also mentions
that he was not given an opportunity to play in the major leagues. When the black players are allowed in the
games, he had grown old enough to play. Rose reminds him to build the remaining work of the fence. While
Troy and Cory are working on the fence, Cory tells Troy that he has resigned his job from the local grocery
store as he is recruited into the football team by a college. He asks for the permission from his father to let
him play as a coach from the North Carolina is coming to see him play. Troy rejects his plan and tells him to
get his job back. Troy is assigned as the first colored garbage truck driver in the city. On the other hand, Cory
comes home infuriated knowing that Troy told the football coach that Cory could not play in the match. Troy
bails his brother Gabriel from the jail. He tells Rose that in three weeks it will be decided whether to send
Gabriel to asylum or not. Bono and Troy work on the fence. Troy confesses Rose about his affair with Alberta.
Rose reacts saying that Troy can only take but not give. Troy grabs Rose's arm. Cory grabs Troy from behind.
They fight and Troy wins.
 After six months, Troy goes to hospital as Alberta is admitted at the hospital for
childbirth. Rose tells Troy that he has mistakenly sent his brother Gabriel to the
asylum as he could not read the paper and signed without knowing what was
written. Alberta gives birth to the baby girl and dies. Troy brings home his baby,
Raynell. Rose takes in Raynell as her own child, but refuses to be dutiful as
Troy's wife. Troy insists Cory to leave the house and provide for himself. Cory
points out that the house and property, from which Troy is throwing Cory out,
should actually be owned by Gabriel, whose government checks paid for most of
the mortgage payments. He says that he has taken his brother's property
forcefully and illegally. Troy physically attacks Cory. Troy kicks Cory out of the
house and he soon leaves. Eight years later, Raynell is shown playing in her
newly planted garden. Troy has died from a heart attack and Cory returns home
from the Marines to attend Troy's funeral. But later, Cory refuses to attend the
funeral. Rose teaches Cory that not attending Troy's funeral does not make Cory
a man. Raynell and Cory sing one of Troy's father's blues songs. Gabriel too
comes, released or escaped from the mental hospital. Gabriel blows his trumpet,
but no sound comes out. He tries again, but the trumpet does not play. Being too
disappointed and hurt, he dances. He makes a cry and the Heavens open wide.
He says, "That's the way that goes," and the play ends.
 MAIN THEME OF THE BOOK

Responsibility and love - Troy recognizes his responsibility to Rose and

Cory but fails to understand the importance of treating them with love.
Coming of Age - Troy also grew up pretty much motherless since his
father was so "evil“.
Loyalty - throughout most of the play, Troy's friend Bono (Mr. Bono)
had mentioned that he believed Troy to be cheating. Bono interferes, his
concern for Troy's marriage being the frontrunner in their relationship.
 C U LT U R A L , H I S T O R I C A L A N D
P O L I T I C A L I M PA C T

 In Cultural, Another major theme explored in this play is the link between the generation gap
and racism. Having lived in an era where slavery still existed, Troy’s mind is still filled with the
idea that racism is still widely existent. As a black person, his past was filled with the Jim Crow
laws and segregation, preventing him from receiving proper education. Troy ends up going to
jail, and when he finally got out, he could not make a living through his natural talent and skill
in playing baseball mainly because he was labelled as a middle-aged man who just got out of
jail. Because of his dark past, he is unable to adapt to changes around him which leads him to
think that his son will end up living the same life and experiencing the same prejudices he did.
For me, this book influences the readers and the society which shows the sad reality of the past
wherein the society was less open-minded compared to now. In the past, social class and race
were the core criteria for judgement, specifically for the factors of discrimination.
 In historical, After the Civil War, baseball was a popular sport for both
African Americans and white people. However, a “gentleman’s
agreement” established by team owners in 1890 banned African
Americans from being able to play in the major leagues. This caused the
African American population to start their own league, called the Negro
National League. Though this league contained a lot of talented athletes,
their salaries were notably less than that of the players in the Major
League. The first African American baseball player who was able to win
over fans and play in the MLB was Jackie Robinson. He was able to
impress both his teammates and fans by being able to “not fight back”
when receiving racial slurs from other players and fans. This allowed other
African American players to follow in his footsteps as well. Jackie
Robinson is significant in this play because his story is similar to Cory’s,
who is also African American and receives a football scholarship. For me
this book, In our society today we’re mainly accepting unlike the past they
are failed with discrimination.
In Political, In the past year mostly in the society they were aware that
white people were dominate the government, if there are placing the
black people in authority its like the people were opposing the idea.
This book gives awareness to the people for the society.

We integrate a standard “cheating” experiment into a broad household

survey and find clear support for this prediction respondents who
perceive corruption in state affairs are more likely to cheat.
 M O R A L L E S S O N O F T H E S T O RY

THE QUINTESSENTIAL “HARD FATHER”

- We required hardships of our own as a father. We have the

responsibility in the house, to feed, and provide for our family.
SHOW LOVE TO YOUR CHILDREN

-  As a parent it can ingrain responsibility and character and still show
love.  Talk to your kids.  Show interest and attention.  Hug them when
they succeed and even when they fail. There are better ways to parent.