"Fences" - August Wilson

I have actually read "Fences" for another class and have personally enjoyed the play both times. This play is one that I think hits on an area that is in the everyday world, but is attempted to keep quiet and subtle -- the feeling of inadequacy and jealousy. Troy is the main representation in this play of inadequacy. As learned throughout the play, Troy had dreams of becoming a baseball legend and was not given the opportunity to fulfill those dreams. I think that this can be relatable to all. It is a frustrating circumstance to be held back from a dream by obstacles that can really not be removed. Sadly in life, sometimes a different route must be chosen because of the inability to physically accomplish the goals. It is not necessarily always because we are not good enough for the goal but that instead instances keep us from being able to show that we indeed are. Troy is a character that has several interpersonal problems. Like mentioned earlier with this baseball dream failing, he also grew up in a family that was not the most stable and experienced many things in which no child should be introduced to. Troy's past causes him to be a man with much perseverance, however, a man who does not necessarily know how to divide such perseverance. Although Troy tries very hard to be a good provider for his family, he does not see his constant pressure of gratitude in return. He constantly reminds Cory that he gave him life and that "[no]one can else give him that." He does the same thing to Rose using lists of all of the things that he so calls "gives up" for her and their family. In reality though, I think that this is done as a defense mechanism. I think that Troy knows that he is not living up to the potential that he should be and tries to cover up that knowledge with hopes of fooling others around him of how much he helps. 

 A reoccurring situation I have noticed in several of our stories so far in the semester is the role of parents and their individual struggles and impact on the family. Like in many of the other stories, the parents in "Fences" are definitely far from winning any applause. The parent's relationship in the book is not necessarily a bad one (of course other than Troy's cheating), but it is one that more so butts heads. I saw Troy and Rose being a couple that truly did try to find the best in one another and love each other as best as they knew how. This "trying" however, was not successful and caused the two to have several fights. In return, the kids were almost forced to become more distant and the family soon faltered. Unlike Troy, Rose really tries to be a good mother and wife. She is constantly telling the boys that "supper is in the kitchen" or that she'd cook them up something. When not cooking, she is often seen just doing laundry or things around the house. Rose is not heard of complaining about anything until after Troy reveals his cheating to her. After that it is like she just lets go. The audience is then seen that she was also struggling with the same things that Troy was, only in her own ways. She too felt trapped and was using happiness as a daily goal. 

The idea of "Fences" as the title is one that was very well thought out. Fences, as often heard, can be used to either keep people in, or to keep people out (pg 61). The fence in this story I think could be used in both ways. Troy uses even the building of the fence to trap Cory. He constantly tells Cory to help with it, but I felt like as soon as Cory would start to help, Troy gave him another task to delay the project. I can only see this as Troy's attempt to keep Cory at home so he can not become more successful than himself. He also uses the fence to keep things out however. Troy is heard threatening the devil to stay out towards the end of the play. At this point in the play, Troy has just lost his newborn's mother. Like Bono mentions, he thinks that the fence was Rose's way of keeping the family in. As learned later in the story, she most likely could feel Troy slipping away from her. Between that and Cory getting older, I could see her trying to keep things in tact and in an area that seemed reachable to her. 

We all have things that we try to keep hold on to in life. I think that "Fences" recognizes the negative effects that doing so ends up having, which is a very valuable life lesson to learn. Many times, by holding things with a tighter grip, we end up pushing it even farther away in the end. This is seen by several characters in the play - Rose losing Troy, Troy losing everything. 

commenced (p 52) - a small sword, especially of the 18th century, having a narrow blade and used for thrusting.
"He had them leather straps off the mule and commenced to whupping me like there was no tomorrow..."