Symbolism in August Wilson's Fences

Troy Maxon is an African American who reflects the family values of his family, ones that are heavily influenced by culture and socioeconomic status. In many ways, because of his own value code and his socioeconomic and cultural status, Troy comes to the realization that he has built "fences" around himself from anger, bitterness, and self-loathing. This analysis will discuss the use of fences as a symbol for the barriers Troy has put between himself and others and himself and his own development.

Wilson's Fences portrays the Maxon family, an African American family of lower socioeconomic status truing to survive against significant odds in urban Pittsburgh. Troy was denied the opportunity to play major league baseball because of reasons of race and ethnicity. As such, he has built a fence between himself and those he views as a threat who try to rob him o

Related Essays

Light in August .... Until chapter six, Light in August displays this mode. .... may prefer the symbolic mode to such an extent that they tend to press Faulkner's symbolism too far, and .... (2584 10 )

A Doll's House .... Another playwright of the era, August Strindberg, admitted that the play's artistic merit .... and the Cycle, we find that Ibsen's writing is all about symbolism. .... (1437 6 )

Pablo Neruda .... sonetos, Viente poemas is filled with tense, desperately sad poems that use nature symbolism to analyze .... His stepmother died in August, 1938 (Pring-Mill xxxii). .... (1671 7 )

The House of the Spirits .... They are children, knowing nothing, deserving nothing (August, 1993). .... What happens in the story is loaded with symbolism; the introduction of Clara's magical .... (1231 5 )

Themes in A Rose for Emily .... is illustrated by Faulkner using a variety of techniques, particularly symbolism. .... and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august names of that .... (710 3 )

Category: Literature - S