Symbolism In Fences By August Wilson

The play, “Fences,” focuses mainly around Troy Maxson. Troy was a baseball player but never had the chance to fulfill his dream of playing in the League because of his stint in jail and his race. Troy is a hard worker and takes care of his family the best he knows how given his lack of education. His dear wife, Rose loves her husband and in spite of his faults she maintains her loyalty to him. Troy has two sons, Lyons and Cory. Lyons is from a previous relationship and Cory is his and Rose’s son. Troy tries to teach the same values to his son Cory that his father taught him in a time where things were changing and opportunities for black young men to have a more rewarding career were more prevalent than in the 1950’s. The play “Fences” written by August Wilson can be analyzed through historical criticism, by looking at the symbolism, metaphors, and setting throughout the play.
Setting – The play is set in the front yard of the Maxson house. They live in a two-story block house, set off a back alley. Two chairs that sit on the front porch are in need of paint work. This appears to convey that the Maxsons aren 't precisely the wealthiest people. Cash is a consistent …show more content…
In conclusion, there is an old saying, “hurt people, hurt people.” Not sure who said that but it sure is an exact example of how Troy Maxson treated his entire family. He hurt his son Lyon by not being in his life as a father figure, he hurt his son Cory by not letting him have the opportunity to play football for a college in North Carolina and he hurt his dear wife, Rose by having an affair and fathering a child from that affair. Troy never took time with his brother Gabriel properly after he came home from the war, he just let him wander the streets but he will bail him out each time he was arrested for disturbances in