The main themes in Fences are
race, barriers, and responsibility and love
. Race: Racism has had a profound effect on Troy’s life, and it is his fear that racism will prevent Cory from achieving success that leads to Troy irreparably damaging his relationship with his son.
What Fences symbolize?
To Rose, a fence is a
symbol of her love
and her desire for a fence indicates that Rose represents love and nurturing. … The wholeness of the fence comes to mean the strength of the Maxson family and ironically the strength of the man who tore them apart, who also brings them together one more time, in death.
What is the central theme of Fences?
Family, Duty, and Betrayal
Fences is a portrayal
of family life
—of how its characters view their roles as individual family members, and how they each define their commitment or duty to the family; it also explores how betrayal can break the familial bond.
What was the point of the movie Fences?
Fences brought playwright August Wilson’s work to life for the benefit of all. The film focused
on the emotional development of men without the premise of athletics or combat
. These traditional elements are not lost, however, as sports metaphors and war stories were brilliantly incorporated.
August Wilson’s motivation in writing Fences was
to make a point and show that blacks struggled and competed greatly with whites during that time period
. His use of baseball in the play was due to the World Series that was taking place when he wrote the play in 1983 but took place in the 1950’s.
Who is Gabe in Fences?
Gabriel is
Troy’s brother
. He’s the only sibling Troy is still in touch with, though they grew up in a large family. Gabe was wounded in World War II and now has a metal plate in his head.
Why is Troy a bad father?
Troy’s father, like many blacks after the abolishment of slavery was a failed sharecropper. Troy claims that
his father was so evil that no woman stayed with him
for very long, so Troy grew up mostly motherless. … Troy was afraid of his father until that moment. At that moment, however, Troy believes he became a man.
What does Gabriel represent in Fences?
In a larger sense, Gabe’s symbolic meaning seems to be very evident in the play. He believes to be the Archangel Gabriel. Ironically enough, this figure of salvation, as Gabriel represents
the messenger of God
. The playing of his trumpet represents the end of time, and the moment where the final judgment lies.
Who is Mr death in Fences?
Death appears as
a personified figure in Troy’
s fanciful tales about wrestling with death and buying furniture from the devil. Troy’s typically stubborn sense of manhood and strength largely derives from his relationship with death.
What is the summary of Fences?
August Wilson’s play Fences tells the
story of Troy Maxson, an African-American garbage collector and ex-convict who once had a promising future in baseball
. His circumstances as a youth led him to prison, after which he settled down with Rose and made a family.
What is the meaning of the ending of Fences?
Troy has died in between the action of the last two scenes of the play, so the final scene
presents the lasting effects of Troy’s life on his loved ones
. Though Troy’s relationships with Bono, Rose, and Cory were ruined and broken in life, they gather together in his honor.
Why did Troy cheat on Rose in Fences?
When Rose finally finds out about this affair, Troy explains to her that the affair
was a way of escaping the pressures of his everyday life
—a way to be without the worries of mundane home-related stresses, such as paying the bills and carrying out necessary home maintenance.
How close is the movie Fences to the play?
Fences the movie is dense with talk, talk, talk, talky, talk like the play it’s based on,
virtually 95-100% of the dialogue transferred to screen
. Theatre is dialogue-driven and some of the most powerful scenes are never shown but understood through the prowess of delivery.
What is the central conflict in Fences?
On the surface, the primary conflict of Fences is
the struggle of Troy to accept that his son, Cory, is likely to surpass him in terms of his success
. Troy was an outstanding baseball player, but when he was in his prime, he was not allowed to join the major leagues due to his race.
What is Troy’s job in Fences?
Troy Maxson is
a garbage collector
who prides himself on his ability to provide for his family and keep it together. He is the patriarch and central character in Fences, (1950-1965), he continually places barriers between himself and the very people he loves the most.
What type of character is Troy in Fences?
Troy is
a tragic-hero
who has excessive pride for his breadwinning role. Troy’s years of hard-work for only meager progress depress him. Troy often fails to provide the love and support that would mean the most to his loved ones.
