FENCES  by AUGUST WILSON

1. Introduction

Fences is a major play by the African-American playwright August Wilson. It was first performed in 1985 and is set in Pittsburgh in the 1950s. It is the sixth play in Wilson's ten-play Pittsburgh Cycle/Century Cycle, which presents different periods of African-American life in the twentieth century.

The play centres on Troy Maxson, a Black working-class man who works as a garbage collector. In his youth, Troy was a talented baseball player, but racial barriers prevented him from achieving the professional success he wanted.

His disappointment with his own life affects his relationship with his wife Rose, his son Cory, his older son Lyons, and his brother Gabriel.

At its deepest level, Fences is a play about race, family, fatherhood, dreams, disappointment, responsibility, masculinity, freedom and the conflict between generations.

2. About August Wilson

August Wilson (1945–2005) was one of the most important African-American dramatists of the twentieth century.

He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1945. His writing frequently focuses on African-American history, culture, language and identity.

His best-known plays include:

• Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
• Fences
• Joe Turner's Come and Gone
• The Piano Lesson
• Two Trains Running
• Seven Guitars
• King Hedley II
• Gem of the Ocean
• Jitney
• Radio Golf

Together, these plays are associated with Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle, also called the Century Cycle. The plays explore African-American life in different decades of the twentieth century.

3. Historical Background

To understand Fences, we must understand the racial situation of America in the 1950s.

Although slavery had ended decades earlier, African Americans continued to experience:

• Racism
• Segregation
• Economic inequality
• Employment discrimination
• Limited educational opportunities
• Discrimination in professional sports
• Social prejudice

Troy's life reflects this historical situation.

Troy and Baseball

Troy was a talented baseball player.

However, during his younger years, racial discrimination restricted opportunities for Black athletes. By the time Major League Baseball became more open to Black players, Troy believed that he was already too old to benefit.

His disappointment becomes one of the major forces shaping his personality.

4. Setting

Place

The play is set primarily in the backyard of the Maxson family home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The setting is deliberately limited.

Almost the entire play takes place around the house and backyard.

This is important because the backyard becomes a small representation of the whole world in which Troy and his family live.

Time

The action is set mainly in the late 1950s, with the story beginning around 1957.

5. Important Places

1. Maxson Family House

The house represents:

• Family
• Security
• Responsibility
• Marriage
• Troy's achievements
• Conflict

Troy is proud that he has been able to provide a home for his family.

2. Backyard

The backyard is the principal dramatic space.

Important conversations occur here between:

• Troy and Bono
• Troy and Rose
• Troy and Cory
• Troy and Lyons

The backyard therefore becomes a stage on which the family's private conflicts are revealed.

3. The Fence

The fence is being constructed around the backyard.

It is both a real object and a major symbol.

It represents:

• Protection
• Family unity
• Separation
• Emotional barriers
• Racial barriers
• Troy's fear of death

4. Garbage Collection Workplace

Troy works as a garbage collector.

His workplace represents the racial and economic inequalities of American society.

Troy complains that Black workers are expected to lift garbage while white workers drive the trucks.

He challenges the system and eventually becomes a truck driver.

This shows that Troy is capable of fighting against racial injustice.

5. Prison

Troy spent time in prison when he was younger.

While in prison, he developed his baseball skills.

Prison is important because Troy's past imprisonment contributes to the formation of his personality.

It is also ironic that a place of physical confinement helped him develop his dream of becoming a baseball player.

6. Plot of Fences

The basic plot can be understood as the story of Troy Maxson's rise, family conflicts, moral failure and death.

Troy is a hardworking Black man who has experienced racism and poverty.

He is proud that he provides for his family.

However, he is unable to separate his painful past from his son's future.

His son Cory wants to play football, but Troy refuses to support him.

At the same time, Troy has an affair with Alberta.

Alberta becomes pregnant and dies while giving birth to a daughter, Raynell.

Rose agrees to raise Raynell but separates emotionally from Troy.

Troy's relationship with Cory becomes increasingly hostile.

Eventually Cory leaves home.

Years later Troy dies.

Cory returns for his father's funeral, and the family begins to come to terms with Troy's complicated legacy.

7. Dramatic Structure

The play can be studied according to the traditional dramatic structure.

Structure	Development in Fences
Exposition	Troy, Rose, Bono and the family are introduced
Conflict	Troy's problems with Cory, work and his past are established
Rising Action	Cory's football dream and Troy's affair develop
Climax	Troy reveals Alberta's pregnancy and conflicts intensify
Falling Action	Alberta dies; Raynell is born; Troy and Cory separate
Resolution	Troy dies and Cory returns for his funeral

However, some critics argue that Fences is more complex than a simple Western dramatic structure. A scholarly discussion in the August Wilson Journal notes that although the play has been described as structurally conservative and influenced by the well-made play, its structure can also be understood through African/Yorùbá concepts of time and cultural experience.

8. Detailed Summary — Act One

Scene 1: Troy and Bono

The play begins with Troy Maxson and Jim Bono returning from work.

They are talking about their jobs as garbage collectors.

Troy complains that Black workers are expected to collect garbage while white workers drive the trucks.

This immediately introduces the issue of racial discrimination.

Troy has complained about this unequal treatment.

He wants Black workers to have the opportunity to drive the trucks.

Importance

This opening establishes Troy as:

• Strong
• Proud
• Determined
• Resistant to injustice

9. Troy's Baseball Story

Troy talks about his past as a baseball player.

He believes he was talented enough to become a major professional player.

But racial discrimination limited his opportunities.

His bitterness about baseball becomes extremely important later.

When Cory wants to play football, Troy thinks about his own experience.

The tragedy is that Troy cannot understand that Cory's world may be different from his own.

10. Rose and Troy

Rose joins Troy and Bono.

Rose is Troy's wife.

She is loving and devoted.

She believes strongly in family.

The conversation reveals Troy's complicated personality.

He is sometimes funny and affectionate, but he is also proud and controlling.

11. Lyons Arrives

Lyons, Troy's older son, comes to ask for money.

Lyons wants to become a musician.

Troy does not respect his son's career choice.

Troy believes Lyons should have a regular job.

This establishes another conflict between parents and children's dreams.

12. Cory's Football Dream

Cory is Troy's younger son.

He has a talent for football.

A college is interested in him and may offer him an opportunity.

Cory believes football can provide him with an education and a future.

Troy refuses to encourage him.

Troy thinks Cory should work instead.

This becomes the central conflict of the play.

13. Why Troy Opposes Cory

Troy's opposition has several causes.

First

He has experienced racism himself.

Second

He believes professional sports are unreliable.

Third

He wants Cory to have economic security.

Fourth

He fears Cory will suffer the same disappointment he experienced.

Fifth

Troy's pride makes it difficult for him to admit that the world is changing.

Therefore, Troy is not simply trying to destroy Cory's future.

He thinks he is protecting his son.

But his protection becomes a form of control.

14. The Fence

Rose wants Troy and Cory to build the fence.

The fence has an important symbolic meaning.

Rose wants to keep her family together.

Troy, however, does not take the project seriously at first.

The unfinished fence reflects the incomplete emotional relationships within the family.

The fence gradually becomes a symbol of the emotional boundaries between the characters.

15. Troy's Promotion

Troy challenges racial discrimination at work.

He eventually becomes a garbage-truck driver.

This is significant because he achieves something that previously seemed impossible.

It demonstrates Troy's determination.

However, his personal success does not solve his family problems.

This is an important point:

Economic success does not automatically produce emotional happiness.

16. Troy's Affair with Alberta

Troy begins a relationship with Alberta, another woman.

Alberta represents excitement and escape from Troy's responsibilities.

Troy feels that his relationship with Alberta gives him freedom.

But his freedom comes at the cost of Rose's trust.

This is one of Troy's greatest moral failures.

17. Troy Confesses to Rose

Troy eventually tells Rose that Alberta is pregnant.

Rose is deeply hurt.

She reminds Troy of everything she has sacrificed for him.

She has built her life around their marriage and family.

Troy tries to explain that his relationship with Alberta made him feel alive.

Rose does not accept this as a justification.

Their marriage is permanently damaged.

18. Cory Defends Rose

Cory becomes involved in the conflict.

He sees Troy behaving aggressively toward Rose.

Cory attacks Troy.

This creates a serious father-son confrontation.

Troy feels that Cory has challenged his authority.

Their relationship becomes increasingly hostile.

19. Gabriel

Troy's brother Gabriel is a World War II veteran.

He suffered a brain injury during the war.

He believes that he is the angel Gabriel.

His character introduces a strong religious dimension to the play.

Troy has also used money connected to Gabriel to help purchase the family house.

This creates moral complications.

Gabriel's presence constantly reminds the audience of:

• War
• Sacrifice
• Religion
• Death
• Spirituality

20. Alberta's Death

Alberta goes into labour.

She dies while giving birth to her daughter.

The baby survives.

The child is named Raynell.

Troy brings the baby home.

Rose makes an important decision.

She agrees to raise Raynell.

However, she refuses to continue being Troy's wife in the same emotional sense.

This demonstrates Rose's extraordinary strength.

21. Cory's Final Break with Troy

Troy and Cory have another major confrontation.

Troy believes Cory is disrespectful.

Cory believes Troy has destroyed his opportunities.

Their argument becomes physical.

Troy orders Cory to leave the house.

Cory eventually leaves.

The father-son relationship is broken.

22. Seven Years Later

The final part of the play takes place seven years later.

Troy has died.

The family gathers for his funeral.

Cory has become a Marine.

Lyons has also returned.

Raynell is now older.

The family members begin remembering Troy.

23. Cory's Return

At first Cory does not want to attend Troy's funeral.

He remembers the painful relationship with his father.

Rose tells him that he should go.

Cory eventually changes his mind.

This suggests that Cory is beginning to understand Troy as a complicated human being rather than simply as an oppressive father.

24. The Ending

The ending is spiritual and hopeful.

Gabriel attempts to communicate with heaven.

His actions suggest that Troy may finally be released from the struggles that dominated his life.

The family cannot erase Troy's mistakes.

But they can remember both:

• His failures
• His strengths

The ending therefore moves toward acceptance and reconciliation rather than simple forgiveness.

25. Important Characters

Troy Maxson

Troy is the central character.

He is:

• 53 years old
• African American
• A garbage collector
• A former baseball player
• Rose's husband
• Cory and Lyons' father
• Gabriel's brother

Positive qualities

Troy is:

• Hardworking
• Courageous
• Responsible
• Protective
• Determined
• Strong

Negative qualities

He is also:

• Proud
• Stubborn
• Controlling
• Unfaithful
• Emotionally insensitive

Critical interpretation

Troy is neither completely good nor completely evil.

He is a complex and tragic character.

His experiences of racism have damaged him, but he also damages other people.

That complexity is one reason the character is so powerful.

A contemporary review in The New Yorker described Troy as a flawed giant, emphasizing both his strength and his contradictions.

26. Rose Maxson

Rose is Troy's wife.

She represents:

• Love
• Loyalty
• Family
• Sacrifice
• Emotional strength

Rose is not weak.

She eventually establishes an emotional boundary between herself and Troy.

She also chooses to raise Raynell despite Troy's betrayal.

Rose therefore becomes one of the strongest moral figures in the play.

27. Cory Maxson

Cory is Troy and Rose's younger son.

He represents:

• Youth
• Hope
• Change
• Future possibilities

His desire to play football represents the opportunities available to a younger generation of Black Americans.

Cory's tragedy is that his father cannot understand his world.

28. Lyons Maxson

Lyons is Troy's older son.

He wants to become a musician.

He represents the artistic pursuit of a dream.

Troy does not understand or respect his career choice.

29. Gabriel Maxson

Gabriel is Troy's brother.

He is a war veteran who suffered brain damage.

He believes he is the angel Gabriel.

He represents:

• Faith
• Sacrifice
• Spirituality
• Innocence
• The psychological effects of war

30. Jim Bono

Bono is Troy's closest friend.

He is loyal to Troy.

However, Bono also recognizes Troy's weaknesses.

He warns Troy about Alberta.

Bono therefore functions as Troy's friend and moral observer.

31. Alberta

Alberta is Troy's lover.

Although she is largely an offstage character, she has a major effect on the plot.

Her relationship with Troy causes:

• The breakdown of Troy's marriage
• Raynell's birth
• Rose's emotional separation from Troy

32. Raynell

Raynell is Troy's daughter with Alberta.

She represents:

• New life
• Hope
• Innocence
• The possibility of a new generation

Her presence at the end helps create a hopeful conclusion.

33. Major Themes

1. Racism

Racism is fundamental to Troy's life.

He has experienced discrimination in baseball and employment.

However, Wilson does not present Troy only as a victim.

He shows how racism can affect a person's psychology and relationships.

34. Family

Family is at the centre of the play.

The major question is:

What does it mean to be a good father or husband?

Troy believes providing money and shelter is enough.

Rose believes family also requires:

• Love
• Loyalty
• Communication
• Sacrifice

35. Fatherhood

Troy's relationship with Cory is central.

Troy wants to protect Cory.

But he protects him in the wrong way.

He denies Cory opportunities because he fears the world.

Thus, fatherhood becomes a struggle between:

Protection and control.

36. Generational Conflict

Troy belongs to an older generation.

Cory belongs to a younger generation.

Troy's generation experienced more severe racial restrictions.

Cory sees new opportunities.

This creates a major difference between them.

Troy sees the world through his past.

Cory wants to live in the future.

37. Dreams and Disappointments

Every important character has some kind of dream.

Character	Dream
Troy	Baseball success
Cory	Football career
Lyons	Music
Rose	Loving family
Troy again	Personal freedom

The play shows how dreams can inspire people but can also become sources of disappointment.

38. The American Dream

The American Dream says that hard work can lead to success.

Troy's life challenges this idea.

He works hard.

Yet he faces:

• Racism
• Poverty
• Limited opportunity
• Personal disappointment

Wilson therefore asks whether the American Dream is equally available to Black Americans.

39. Masculinity

Troy has a traditional idea of manhood.

For him, a man should:

• Work
• Earn money
• Protect his family
• Be strong
• Control his household

But his understanding of masculinity becomes destructive.

Wilson shows that being a man is not simply about authority.

It also requires:

• Emotional responsibility
• Compassion
• Communication
• Accountability

40. Freedom

Freedom is an important idea.

Troy feels trapped by:

• His job
• His family responsibilities
• His past
• Racism
• Marriage

His affair with Alberta becomes his attempt to escape.

But this freedom is selfish because it hurts Rose.

41. Death

Death appears repeatedly.

Troy talks about fighting death.

Gabriel thinks about heaven.

Alberta dies.

Troy eventually dies.

Death therefore becomes both a literal event and a symbolic presence.

42. Important Symbols

Fence

The most important symbol.

It can mean:

Protection + separation + family + emotional barriers + racial boundaries.

Bono explains that some people build fences to keep people out, while others build them to keep people in. This captures the two-sided meaning of the symbol: the fence can protect relationships but can also isolate people.

Baseball

Baseball represents:

• Troy's youth
• His talent
• His lost opportunities
• Racism
• Competition
• Death

Troy often explains life through baseball language.

House

The house represents Troy's achievement as a provider.

But it also becomes a place of conflict.

Therefore, the house is both:

a shelter and a battlefield.

Gabriel's Trumpet

Gabriel's trumpet represents:

• Heaven
• Spiritual release
• Salvation
• Hope

43. Critical Views

Critical View 1: Troy as a Tragic Hero

Troy can be considered a modern tragic hero.

Like a classical tragic hero, he possesses great strength but also a fatal weakness.

His major weakness is his inability to change.

He is trapped by his past.

His pride and fear ultimately contribute to his downfall.

Critical View 2: Troy as Both Victim and Oppressor

This is one of the most useful ways of understanding the play.

Troy is a victim of racism.

But he becomes an oppressor within his own family.

He experiences discrimination from society.

Then he imposes control on Cory.

Therefore, Wilson presents the cycle through which suffering can be passed from one generation to another.

Critical View 3: Troy and the Failure of Fatherhood

Troy thinks that providing money proves that he is a good father.

But Cory needs emotional support and encouragement.

Troy fails to recognize this.

His fatherhood therefore becomes a mixture of:

love + fear + authority + control.

Critical View 4: Rose as the Emotional Centre

Although Troy dominates the action, Rose can be interpreted as the emotional centre of the family.

She provides stability.

She protects the children.

She survives Troy's betrayal.

She raises Raynell.

Her strength contrasts with Troy's emotional instability.

Critical View 5: The Fence as Multiple Barriers

The title does not refer only to one physical fence.

There are many "fences" in the play:

• Troy and Cory
• Troy and Rose
• Troy and Lyons
• Troy and society
• Past and present
• Black and white America
• Life and death

Thus, the plural "Fences" is highly significant.

Critical View 6: Race and Personal Responsibility

Wilson does not allow us to blame everything on racism.

Troy has genuinely suffered from racial discrimination.

But he is also responsible for his actions.

He chooses to betray Rose.

He chooses to deny Cory.

He chooses to control his family.

The play therefore combines social criticism with individual responsibility.

44. Critical Appreciation

Fences is powerful because August Wilson does not create simple heroes and villains.

Instead, he creates human beings with contradictions.

Troy is:

• Loving but cruel
• Responsible but selfish
• Strong but emotionally vulnerable
• A victim but also a source of suffering
• Protective but controlling

Rose is:

• Loving but firm
• Patient but not submissive
• Forgiving but not passive

Cory is:

• Young
• Ambitious
• Angry
• Hopeful

This psychological complexity makes the play realistic.

45. Language and Style

Wilson uses everyday African-American speech.

The dialogue is often:

• Conversational
• Humorous
• Emotional
• Poetic
• Figurative

Troy frequently uses baseball imagery to explain ordinary experiences.

This makes his speech distinctive.

Wilson also uses African-American cultural traditions, music, religion, humour and storytelling.

46. Dramatic Techniques

Symbolism

The fence and baseball carry deeper meanings.

Foreshadowing

Troy's repeated discussion of death prepares us for his eventual death.

Irony

Troy wants to protect Cory from disappointment but ends up destroying his opportunity.

Dialogue

Most of the plot develops through conversations rather than large external events.

Monologue

Troy's long speeches reveal his past and psychological condition.

Offstage Characters

Alberta never becomes a major visible character, but her presence affects everyone.

Restricted Setting

The repeated use of the backyard intensifies the family drama.

47. Why Is the Play Called Fences?

This is perhaps the most important examination question.

The fence is:

Physical

It surrounds the house.

Emotional

Troy creates emotional barriers between himself and his family.

Social

Racism creates barriers between Black and white Americans.

Generational

Troy and Cory cannot understand each other's worlds.

Psychological

Troy is trapped inside the limitations created by his past.

Protective

Rose wants the fence to keep the family together.

Restrictive

The same fence can prevent people from moving freely.

Therefore:

The fence is both a symbol of protection and a symbol of imprisonment.

48. Most Important Contrasts

Troy vs Cory

Past vs Future

Troy vs Rose

Authority vs Emotional Understanding

Troy vs Bono

Pride vs Moral Friendship

Troy vs Lyons

Practicality vs Artistic Dream

Troy vs Gabriel

Material World vs Spiritual World

Important Questions

PART I — LONG-ANSWER QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

1. Discuss Troy Maxson as a tragic hero.

Answer

Troy Maxson is the central character of August Wilson's Fences. He can be described as a modern tragic hero because he is a strong and respected man who possesses serious weaknesses that ultimately cause his personal downfall.

Troy is a Black working-class man living in Pittsburgh in the 1950s. He works as a garbage collector and has spent much of his life struggling against poverty and racial discrimination. In his youth, he was a talented baseball player. He believes that racism prevented him from achieving his dream of becoming a professional baseball player.

Troy has many admirable qualities. He is hardworking, responsible and determined. He provides a house and financial security for his family. He also challenges racial discrimination at his workplace and eventually becomes a garbage-truck driver.

However, Troy has serious weaknesses. He is extremely proud, stubborn and controlling. He believes that because he provides for his family, he has fulfilled all his responsibilities as a father. He fails to understand Cory's dreams and refuses to support his football career.

Troy's own disappointment in baseball influences his attitude towards Cory. He thinks he is protecting his son from racial discrimination, but in reality he prevents Cory from pursuing an important opportunity.

Troy's greatest personal failure is his affair with Alberta. His unfaithfulness destroys his relationship with Rose. Although he loves his family in his own way, he does not understand the emotional responsibilities of marriage.

Troy's tragedy is therefore not caused by racism alone. Racism has wounded him, but his pride and inability to change also contribute to his downfall.

At the end of the play, Troy dies. His family remembers both his strengths and his mistakes.

Thus, Troy is a tragic figure because he is neither completely good nor completely bad. He is a victim of an unjust society, but he also becomes responsible for the suffering of the people closest to him.

2. Discuss the relationship between Troy and Cory.

Answer

The relationship between Troy and Cory is one of the most important conflicts in Fences. It represents the conflict between father and son, past and future, and two generations of African Americans.

Cory is a young and ambitious man who wants to play football. A college is interested in his talent, and football may provide him with an opportunity for higher education and a better life.

Troy, however, refuses to support Cory's dream.

Troy believes that professional sports are unreliable. His attitude comes from his own experience as a baseball player. Troy was talented but believes that racism prevented him from achieving success.

Troy therefore thinks he is protecting Cory. He wants his son to have a secure job rather than depend on sports.

However, Cory belongs to a different generation. Opportunities for Black athletes are beginning to increase. Cory believes that his father should support his ambition.

The conflict becomes increasingly serious. Cory feels that Troy is destroying his future. Troy, meanwhile, believes Cory is becoming disrespectful.

Their relationship finally breaks down.

Cory leaves home, and for many years he remains emotionally separated from his father.

After Troy's death, Cory initially refuses to attend the funeral. However, Rose encourages him to return.

At the end, Cory begins to understand his father's complicated personality.

The relationship between Troy and Cory shows how parents can unintentionally hurt their children when they impose their own past experiences on the next generation.

3. Discuss the significance of the title Fences.

Answer

The title Fences is highly symbolic and has several meanings.

At the literal level, Rose wants a fence to be built around the Maxson family's house. She wants the family to remain together and protected.

But the fence has a deeper meaning.

1. Family Protection

Rose sees the fence as a way of protecting her family and keeping them together.

2. Emotional Separation

Troy builds emotional barriers between himself and his family. He has difficulty expressing love and understanding.

3. Troy and Cory

There is an emotional fence between Troy and Cory because they cannot understand each other's views.

4. Troy and Rose

Troy's affair creates another fence between husband and wife.

5. Race

Racism creates social fences between Black and white Americans.

6. Generations

There is also a fence between Troy's generation and Cory's generation.

7. Life and Death

Troy repeatedly thinks about death, creating another symbolic boundary between life and death.

The title is therefore plural because there are many kinds of fences in the play.

The fence can protect people, but it can also separate them. This double meaning makes it the central symbol of the play.

4. Discuss racism in Fences.

Answer

Racism is one of the most important themes in Fences.

Troy's entire life has been influenced by racial discrimination.

He grew up in poverty and later experienced racism in professional baseball. Troy believes that he was talented enough to play professionally, but racial barriers prevented him from achieving his dream.

Racism also appears in Troy's workplace.

He works as a garbage collector and complains that Black workers are expected to do the physical work while white workers drive the trucks.

Troy challenges this unfair system.

Eventually, he becomes a garbage-truck driver.

This demonstrates that Troy is willing to fight racial discrimination.

However, racism also affects Troy psychologically.

His painful experiences make him suspicious of opportunities available to his children.

When Cory wants to play football, Troy assumes that Cory will face the same discrimination that he experienced.

The tragedy is that Troy's past prevents him from recognizing that society is changing.

Thus, racism affects not only Troy's economic opportunities but also his relationship with his son.

Wilson shows that racism can leave psychological wounds that continue even when social conditions begin to change.

5. Discuss Rose Maxson as a strong female character.

Answer

Rose Maxson is one of the strongest characters in Fences.

She is Troy's wife and has devoted many years to her marriage and family.

Rose represents love, loyalty, sacrifice and emotional strength.

She supports Troy and helps maintain the household.

Unlike Troy, who often thinks about his individual freedom, Rose is deeply committed to the family.

Her strength becomes particularly clear when she discovers Troy's affair with Alberta.

She is deeply hurt, but she does not allow Troy's betrayal to destroy her completely.

When Alberta dies after giving birth to Raynell, Rose agrees to raise the child.

This is a remarkable act of responsibility.

However, Rose does not simply forgive Troy.

She makes it clear that their relationship has changed permanently.

She continues to care for the family but establishes an emotional distance from Troy.

Rose is therefore not a passive wife.

She has her own moral judgment and emotional strength.

Rose represents the strength of women who sacrifice for their families while still maintaining their dignity and independence.

6. Discuss the theme of generational conflict in Fences.

Answer

Generational conflict is central to Fences.

Troy belongs to an older generation of African Americans who experienced severe racial discrimination.

Cory belongs to a younger generation that sees new opportunities.

Troy's past shapes his worldview.

He believes that society is dangerous and that Black people must be realistic about their limitations.

Cory, however, believes that he can create a better future.

His desire to play football represents this new optimism.

Troy cannot accept Cory's ambition.

He thinks Cory should work rather than depend on sports.

This creates a major conflict.

The conflict is therefore not simply about football.

It is about two different ways of understanding life.

Troy represents the past, while Cory represents the future.

The tragedy is that Troy wants to protect Cory but ends up becoming an obstacle to him.

7. Discuss the American Dream in Fences.

Answer

The American Dream is the belief that anyone can achieve success through hard work and determination.

Fences questions whether this dream is equally available to everyone.

Troy works hard throughout his life.

He becomes a garbage collector, buys a house and provides for his family.

Yet he experiences racism, poverty and disappointment.

His baseball career is a major example.

Troy believes he had the talent to succeed but was prevented by racial discrimination.

His life therefore challenges the idea that hard work alone guarantees success.

Cory represents a new generation that may have greater opportunities.

However, Troy's experience makes him suspicious of these opportunities.

The play therefore presents the American Dream as both hopeful and limited.

It shows that social inequality can prevent people from receiving the rewards they deserve.

8. Discuss baseball as a symbol in Fences.

Answer

Baseball is one of the most important symbols in the play.

For Troy, baseball represents his youth and his lost dreams.

He was a talented baseball player and believed he could have become a professional.

However, racism prevented him from achieving his ambitions.

Baseball therefore becomes a symbol of:

• Dream
• Hope
• Racism
• Failure
• Competition
• Aging
• Death

Troy frequently uses baseball language when discussing ordinary life.

He also uses his baseball experience when judging Cory's football career.

This is problematic because Troy assumes that Cory will experience exactly what he experienced.

Baseball therefore becomes a symbol of Troy's inability to separate his past from Cory's future.

9. Discuss fatherhood in Fences.

Answer

Fatherhood is a major theme in Fences.

Troy believes that being a father means providing for one's family.

He works hard and ensures that his children have food, clothing and shelter.

However, Cory needs more than material support.

He needs:

• Encouragement
• Trust
• Emotional support
• Freedom to make choices

Troy fails to provide these things.

He controls Cory's decisions because he believes he knows what is best.

His relationship with Cory therefore becomes increasingly hostile.

Troy's approach to fatherhood is partly shaped by his own difficult childhood.

He wants Cory to become strong enough to survive the world.

However, he does not realize that strength also requires emotional understanding.

The play suggests that good fatherhood requires both material responsibility and emotional connection.

PART II — MEDIUM-ANSWER QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

1. Why does Troy oppose Cory's football career?

Troy opposes Cory's football career because of his own painful experience with baseball. He believes that racial discrimination prevented him from becoming a successful professional player. He fears Cory will face similar problems.

Troy also believes that Cory should have a stable job.

Although Troy thinks he is protecting Cory, his attitude becomes controlling. He fails to recognize that opportunities for Black athletes are changing.

2. What is the importance of Rose's fence?

Rose wants the fence because she wants to protect her family and keep them together.

The fence also becomes a symbol of the emotional barriers within the family.

Troy's delay in building the fence reflects his difficulty in creating emotional security.

Thus, the fence represents both love and separation.

3. What is the role of Jim Bono?

Jim Bono is Troy's close friend.

He has known Troy for many years and understands his personality.

Bono is loyal to Troy, but he warns him about his relationship with Alberta.

He therefore acts as a moral observer.

His character also provides a contrast to Troy's behaviour.

4. Discuss Gabriel's significance.

Gabriel is Troy's brother and a World War II veteran.

He suffered a brain injury during the war and believes that he is the angel Gabriel.

His character introduces religious and spiritual elements into the play.

At the end, his attempt to open the gates of heaven gives the ending a symbolic and hopeful quality.

5. What is the significance of Lyons?

Lyons is Troy's older son and wants to become a musician.

He represents artistic ambition and a different way of pursuing the American Dream.

Troy does not respect Lyons's career because he prefers financial stability.

Their relationship shows another example of the conflict between a parent's expectations and a child's ambitions.

6. How does Troy's affair affect Rose?

Troy's affair deeply hurts Rose.

She feels that the years she sacrificed for Troy have been betrayed.

Although she agrees to raise Raynell, she no longer gives Troy the same emotional commitment.

Her relationship with Troy changes permanently.

7. What does Raynell symbolize?

Raynell represents new life, hope and continuity.

She is born after Alberta's death and is raised by Rose.

Although she is the result of Troy's betrayal, she is innocent.

Her presence at the end helps create a sense of hope for the future.

8. What is the importance of Troy's job?

Troy's job as a garbage collector represents the economic position of many working-class Black Americans.

His complaint about Black workers being denied the opportunity to drive garbage trucks introduces the issue of workplace discrimination.

When Troy eventually becomes a driver, it represents a small victory against racial inequality.

9. Why is the backyard important?

The backyard is the principal setting of the play.

It becomes the place where the characters discuss their hopes, problems and conflicts.

Because the setting is limited, the audience focuses intensely on family relationships.

The backyard also contains the fence, one of the most important symbols in the play.

10. Why is the 1950s setting important?

The 1950s was a period when racial discrimination still strongly affected African-American life.

Troy's experiences in baseball and employment reflect these inequalities.

At the same time, younger Black Americans such as Cory were beginning to see greater opportunities.

This historical transition helps explain the conflict between Troy and Cory.

11. What does Troy mean by freedom?

Troy associates freedom with escaping responsibility and feeling alive.

His relationship with Alberta gives him a sense of personal freedom.

However, this freedom is selfish because it hurts Rose and his family.

Wilson therefore shows that freedom without responsibility can have destructive consequences.

12. Why does Cory leave home?

Cory leaves because his relationship with Troy becomes unbearable.

Troy repeatedly controls Cory and refuses to support his ambitions.

Their arguments become increasingly intense.

Eventually Troy orders Cory to leave.

Cory's departure represents the breaking of the father-son relationship.

PART III — SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

1. Who wrote Fences?

August Wilson wrote Fences.

2. When was Fences first performed?

It was first performed in 1985.

3. When did Fences win the Pulitzer Prize?

It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1987.

4. Where is Fences set?

It is set mainly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

5. In which period is the play set?

The main action takes place in the 1950s.

6. Who is Troy Maxson?

Troy Maxson is the central character of the play. He is a Black working-class man and a garbage collector.

7. Who is Rose Maxson?

Rose is Troy's wife. She is loyal, strong and devoted to her family.

8. Who is Cory?

Cory is Troy and Rose's younger son who wants to pursue football.

9. Who is Lyons?

Lyons is Troy's older son and an aspiring musician.

10. Who is Gabriel?

Gabriel is Troy's brother and a World War II veteran who suffered a brain injury.

11. Who is Jim Bono?

Jim Bono is Troy's best friend and fellow garbage worker.

12. Who is Alberta?

Alberta is Troy's lover.

13. Who is Raynell?

Raynell is Troy's daughter with Alberta.

14. What is Troy's occupation?

Troy works as a garbage collector.

15. What sport did Troy play?

Troy played baseball.

16. What sport does Cory want to play?

Cory wants to play football.

17. What does the fence symbolize?

The fence symbolizes protection, family, separation and emotional barriers.

18. What does baseball symbolize?

Baseball symbolizes Troy's dreams, racial discrimination, disappointment and past.

19. Why does Troy oppose Cory's football career?

He believes sports are unreliable and fears Cory will experience the racial discrimination that affected his own baseball career.

20. Why is Troy bitter about baseball?

Troy believes racism prevented him from achieving the professional baseball career he deserved.

21. Why does Troy have an affair?

Troy claims that his relationship with Alberta makes him feel free and alive.

22. What happens to Alberta?

Alberta dies while giving birth to Raynell.

23. What does Rose do after Alberta's death?

Rose agrees to raise Raynell.

24. What happens to Troy at the end?

Troy dies, and his family gathers for his funeral.

25. Why does Cory initially refuse to attend Troy's funeral?

Cory remembers the painful relationship he had with his father and does not want to return.

26. What does Gabriel symbolize?

Gabriel symbolizes faith, spirituality, sacrifice and possible redemption.

27. What does Cory symbolize?

Cory symbolizes youth, change, hope and the future.

28. What does Raynell symbolize?

Raynell symbolizes new life and hope.

29. What is the major conflict in the play?

The central conflict is between Troy and Cory, although the play contains several family and social conflicts.

30. What is the central theme of Fences?

The central concerns include racism, family, fatherhood, generational conflict, dreams, responsibility and the effects of the past.

PART IV — VERY SHORT QUESTIONS FOR QUICK REVISION

Question	Answer
Author?	August Wilson
First performed?	1985
Pulitzer?	1987
Genre?	Drama
Setting?	Pittsburgh
Period?	1950s
Protagonist?	Troy Maxson
Troy's wife?	Rose
Troy's friend?	Bono
Troy's job?	Garbage collector
Troy's sport?	Baseball
Cory's sport?	Football
Cory's father?	Troy
Lyons's profession?	Musician
Troy's brother?	Gabriel
Troy's lover?	Alberta
Troy's daughter?	Raynell
Main symbol?	Fence
Other major symbol?	Baseball
Main conflict?	Troy vs Cory
Major social issue?	Racism
Major family issue?	Father-son conflict
Major generational contrast?	Troy vs Cory
Troy's dream?	Baseball
Cory's dream?	Football
Lyons's dream?	Music
Rose's priority?	Family
Alberta's fate?	Dies in childbirth
Troy's fate?	Dies
Main idea of fence?	Protection and separation