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Essays on Fences

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General Overview
Fences is a play written in 1985 by American playwright August Wilson which won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play from the same year. It describes the African-American experience of that period (the action happens in the 1950s) including race relations. Essays and ... assignments on this play often focus on racial bias, character analysis, symbols, family relationships, blood ties, social differences, the role of cultural elements such as songs in understanding African Americans, etc. The play is still relevant as it gives an account of racial discrimination issues from the not so distant past but also focusses on African American culture. Explore essay samples below to find more related topics and well-structured papers.
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Social Differences Depicted in "Fences"

1484 words | 3 Pages
Divides Made By Fences Built By definition, the structure of a fence is said to be a barrier that controls access or prevents escape from a specific area. In August Wilson’s Fences, this definition stands for much larger boundaries being set within each character’s interpersonal...
Topics:
Family, Friendship, Interpersonal relationship, Marriage

Relationships and Self-improvement in "Fences"

1091 words | 2 Pages
As Ernest Hemingway once said, “The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting you’re special too.” It is common for people to lose themselves in relationships. It is easy to take on certain personality traits of...
Topics:
Mother, Personality psychology, Relationship, Strike action

The Analysis of Troy Character in "Fences"

1629 words | 3 Pages
August Wilson’s Fences is a classic play about African-American life written in 1983 and set sometime in the 1950s. It serves as the sixth installment in Wilson’s “Pittsburgh Cycle,” which spans ten installments in total. Fences is a period piece during a decade through which...
Topics:
Archetype, Carl Jung, Jungian archetypes, Sigmund Freud

The Power of Blood Ties in "Fences"

1953 words | 4 Pages
A man lives his life and evolves over time; he embodies a synthesis of all his experiences with those he meets over his lifetime. What he sees when he finally meets the son he helps bring into this world for the first time is unique...
Topics:
American films, Family, Slavery, The Namesake

Baseball as a Symbol of America in "Fences"

2115 words | 4 Pages
Along with the Fourth of July and Apple Pie, baseball is a celebrated symbol of America. Since its invention over 150 years ago, the game has served as a powerful metaphor for the American dream, and the hopes and democratic ideals that accompany this idea....
Topics:
Baseball, Baseball bat, Strike zone, Strikeout

The Values of Troy Maxon in "Fences"

1136 words | 2 Pages
In August Wilson’s Fences, Troy Maxson is a man of many flaws. He is human, and like any other human, his experiences throughout life have influenced his decisions and his outlook on life. If we were to have no context on Troy’s life, we would...
Topics:
Accept, Hamartia, Protection, Tragedy, Tragic hero

The In-depth Analysis of Relationships in "Fences"

1008 words | 2 Pages
In the play Fences, by August Wilson, a fence represents protection and incomplete or broken relationships. Through the fence, Wilson is trying to show that even things that were once perfect and have gone awry can still be rebuilt. One way Wilson uses the fence...
Topics:
Interpersonal relationship, Relationship, The Play, Want

A Sense of No Escape in "Fences"

1300 words | 1 Page
Although August Wilson’s Fences does not display the degree of senseless violence as projected in King Hedley II, both exemplify the harsh circumstances of African American communities in the 1950’s and 1980’s, respectively. Wilson makes contrasts between his characters from these plays, such as King’s...

American Dream in August Wilson’s Play Fences

1087 words | 2 Pages
In August Wilson’s play, Fences, the author wishes to study black characters in a predominantly white society. The play demonstrates that the fulfillment of the American dream remains only as a fantasy for the black community in a population where racism serves as their significant...
Topics:
Black people, Discrimination, Race, Racism

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date
Date

1985

plot
Author

August Wilson

type
Type

Play

genre
Genre

Comedy, Drama

characters
Characters

Troy Maxson, Cory Maxson, Rose Maxson, Gabriel Maxson, Jim Bono, Lyons Maxson, Raynell Maxson, Alberta, Bonnie, Coach Zellman

symbols-motives
Symbols/motives

Death and baseball, seeds and growth, blues,trains, fences, the devil

influence
Themes

Coming of age within the cycle of damaged black manhood; interpreting and inheriting history; the choice between pragmatism and illusions as survival mechanisms

quotes
Quotes

“Your daddy wanted you to be everything he wasn't...and at the same time he tried to make you into everything he was. I don't know if he was right or wrong...but I do know he meant to do more good than he meant to do harm.”
“The whole time I was growing up...living in this house...Papa was like a shadow that followed you everywhere. It would wrap around you and lay there until you couldn’t tell which one was you anymore.”
“They’re old folks. My granddaddy used to pull his teeth with pliers. They ain’t had no dentists for colored folk back then.”
“One time in my life I’ve got to say no.”

interesting-facts
Interesting facts

The play won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 1987 Tony Award for Best Play.
Fences was first developed at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 1983 National Playwrights Conference.
A film adaptation of Fences by Denzel Washington completed production in 2016 and was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten films of 2016.

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