August Spies

In the Mid 1940s, On April 27, 1945, an inspiring poet and playwright was born. August Wilson wasn’t originally born as ‘August Wilson’, he was born as Frederick August Kittel, Jr. August Wilson was the fourth child out of six children and the oldest son. He was born in Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Frederick August Kittel, Sr. a German immigrant and baker and Daisy Wilson, a cleaning woman of African descent. He had a rather humble childhood. He was mainly raised by his mother…

but it has no place in the free world. Yet this practice of grouping people into categories extends far beyond a science fictional world of the future. Most examples of labeling are born out of ignorance and prejudice. In William Faulkner’s Light in August, when Joe Brown struggles to pin the murder of Miss Burden on Joe Christmas, he desperately exclaims that Christmas has African-American blood. With this, the sheriff resolves that Joe Christmas really did commit the murder. “I always thought…

Fences by August Wilson is a play set in 1957 about Troy Maxson and the problems he deals with at work and at home. In this play Troy deals with his son Cory wanting to play college football, trying to find equality in his work place, and an affair. Although this play’s main character is Troy, his wife Rose is a character that has her own share of problems. Rose is ten years younger than Troy and they have one child together, Cory. She is a loving and faithful wife who always finds it in her…

Fences, a play by August Wilson present a typical class working African American by the name of Troy Maxson and his family living in a hostile environment. Troy and his best friend Bono works for a garbage company they feel as if the company discriminate against black truck drivers. Troy and Bono are married but Bono doesn’t have kids. Every Friday is payday and every payday Troy have a son outside his marriage name Lyons which he only shows up to borrow money or payback the money he owes Troy.…

The Piano Lesson by August Wilson explores the conflict within a family to sell their long-held piano. The inciting incident occurs when Boy Willie tells his sister Bernice that he plans on selling the piano. Berniece is completely opposed to this prospect. The piano has a history through their family and she finds that it is a tradition that she must keep alive. The crises occurs when Sutter’s ghost prevents Lymon and Boy Willie from being able to move the piano. Boy Willie finds this…

Fence is used mainly to surround and protect. Many occasions in the play a sense of fence is created to put away someone or something. Discrimination is sent out as a fence to keep away Africans from whites. Troy says all drivers of trucks are white he says “You think only white fellows got sense enough to drive a truck. That isn’t no paper job! Hell, anybody can drive a truck”. Racial discrimination is set out as per job given. He urges that all people can drive. He tells Cory that whites can’t…

Land has been a major theme in many of the novels we have read this semester. But this was the first time where we see an object standing in the way of getting land. In the play The Piano Lesson, Boy WIllie and his sister Berniece fight over what to do with the treasured Piano that was left to them by their late ancestors. Boy WIllie wants to sell the piano in order to buy Sutter's land. Berniece, on the other hand, is horrified at the idea of selling the piano because of it's importance to her…

The first scenes of the play Fences by August Wilson is one of the most significant moments. The author uses this scene to foreshadow a number of things and to also contrast and introduce elements that would occur later in the play. This allows the author to create an aspect of change in the characters of the play. The readers are forcefully made to acclimate to the plays world by inducing from Bono and Troy’s conversation. Bono and Troy are close friends who work tether, based on their first…

In Fences, August Wilson creates a character, Troy, constantly wanting to control the lives of Rose, Cory, and Gabriel. In Troy’s mind, it’s his responsibility to protect his family; however, it falls into control over their lives. Eventually Rose, Cory, and Gabriel take control over their lives to get away from Troy’s control in various ways. Rose, Troy’s wife, is a typical, stereotypical 1950’s housewife in the novel. She stayed at home cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children while…

such a barrier made of posts and wire or boards. But, a fence can also be an emotional barrier between people. They are the result the result of conflict and tensions between the people involved, and can have negative results if not addressed. In August Wilson’s play “Fences”, Troy Maxson often conflicts with the people in his life. Because of segregation, Troy creates fences in his relationships. Because segregation prevented Troy from becoming successful in sports, Troy fears…