Premium Essay

Fences

In:

Submitted By DESSICA
Words 626
Pages 3
In 1987 the Pulitzer Prize for Drama was given to August Wilson for his well written play Fences. The Pulitzer Prize is one of the highest honors in the world for writers, playwrights and composers. Fences, was the sixth play of Wilson’s ten part Pittsburgh Cycle. The series of plays narrate the misfortunes and goals African Americans hope to reach during each decade of the 20th century. August Wilson's series of plays brought him recognition as one of America's most celebrated scriptwriters which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The play Fences was written in 1983 by August Wilson. Fences is perhaps August Wilson's most prominent work, Fences explores the life and relationships of the Maxson family. This touching drama gave Wilson his first Pulitzer Prize. The focus of Wilson's attention in Fences is the protagonist Troy Maxson, a 53-year-old head of household who hardly gets by with supplying for his family. All the action occurs in the front yard of Troy and Rose Maxson’s home. Troy once thought he had a promising career in baseball but because the race barrier had not been broken as yet he never made it to the MLB. He has since become a garbage collector who struggles to fend for his family. Even as he gets near retirement age, Troy is forced to do heavy lifting instead of driving the truck. Before baseball, he had been thrown out by his father and was a homeless, poor man until he was imprisoned for 15 years after murdering someone in the course of a robbery. Troy lives with his wife, Rose, his son Cory and Troy's younger brother Gabriel, an ex-soldier whose war injury to his head has caused him mental retardation. Lyons is Troy's son from a previous marriage, and lives outside the home and Bono, Troy's best friend. In the play Troy was able to make ends meet by taking Gabriel's money that he'd been awarded because of his injury in the army. Through

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Argumentative Essay: The Benefits Of Allied Security Fence

...Without resorting to the most obvious pun, it can sometimes be difficult to decide whether or not a fence is right for you. Allied Security Fence of Kapolei, HI offers installation, repair & maintenance, and other fencing services for residential, commercial, and industrial properties, and they have plenty of reasons why the addition of a fence will be a benefit to your residence for years to come. • Security: This one leads by a wide margin since you can't put a price on the peace-of-mind a fence provides for yourself and your family. Fencing offers a nice area for children and pets to play in, while serving to make the entire property more private and personal. • Added Value: Besides security, one of the top reasons for adding a fence to...

Words: 293 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Sex in the City with 2 Women

...Fences Socratic Seminar Questions Directions:  Answer the questions below in preparation for the Socratic seminar on Fences.  You must respond in complete sentences, and you must submit your answers to Schoology.  Your written responses will be part of your Socratic seminar grade.   Make sure your responses are specific.  Provide specific quotes and page numbers to support your responses. 1. People are made up of both good and bad character traits, just as characters from literature are.  No one person or character is 100% good or 100% bad.  Troy was a complicated character.  Argue whether or not you believe Troy was a good man or not. 2. What are some examples of cultural, political, and social fences from history and today? What messages do these fences convey?  Are these fences good, bad, or a mixture of both? 3. How can fences be invisible? Provide at least one example of an invisible fence you put up in your own life.   4. How do you think the primary characters’ respective childhood environments affect their personalities?  Do you think it was fate or choice that had the most effect on them?  Why? 5. Names hold a symbolic meaning in the play.  What symbolic meaning do you think the characters below hold? One example has been done for you. a. Cory- Cory is the youthful center of the family, like the core of an apple. b. Rose- c. Gabe- d. Troy- 6. What do you think the play is saying about the themes below...

Words: 280 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Http: //Www.Scribd.Com/Doc/24002413/%E2%80%9cthe-Effect-of-Study-Habits-on-the-Academic-Performance-of-Freshmen-Education-Students-in-Xavier-University-Cagayan-de-Oro-City-School-Year-2008-20

...ACTIVITY | TASK ANALYSIS | MATERIALS | Planting Herb | 1. the teacher will select herb2. the teacher will prepare the pot3. The teacher will start to fill the pot with multi-purpose or soil-based compost4.The teacher will start planting5. The teacher will place the taller plants in the centre of the display, and the training ones near the edge6. The teacher will fill in around the planted herbs7. The teacher will add more if necessary 8. The teacher will top the herbs9. The teacher will put fertilizer to the herb10. the teacher will watering the plants | * A variety of herbs as listed above * A large pot; terracotta or ceramic are good choices * Gravel * Compost * Controlled release fertiliser * A watering can | ACTIVITY | TASK ANALYSIS | MATERIALS | Cutting grass | 1. The teacher will put on the proper protective clothing and or equipment.2. The teacher will check the level of the oil and gas in the lawn mower and fill accordingly. 3. The teacher will pull all weeds4. The teacher will start the mower5. The teacher will cut the grass6. The teacher will cut in opposing lines7. The teacher will mow in different directions to prevent graining8. the teacher will check the grass collector from time to time and if full, empty on suitable compost heap or garden dump9. The teacher will turn off the engine10. The teacher will place the mower back where it stored | * Grass cutting tools * Trimmer * Petrol brush cutter | ACTIVITY | TASK ANALYSIS | MATERIALS...

Words: 1447 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

English Paper

...Essay 1- Comparison of the neighbors In Robert Frost’s poems “Mending Wall” and “The Ax-Helve,” the characters demonstrate the comparable differences of being each other’s neighbor. Frost uses these poems to tell us that we shouldn’t determine one’s worth on first interaction. Although Frost suggests that we should share amongst our neighbors yet there should be a boundary. In both poems, one neighbor is willing to be the open and “good neighbor” while in contrast, the other wants excludes himself. (Frost, Mending Wall) I “Mending wall” the neighbors like having a fence between the two. The fence symbolizes many different things, but ultimately it symbolizes a space or boundary between the two. This is completely different from “The Ax Helve” where the French neighbor wants the other neighbor over. So while they are very much different they are also very much similar. (Frost, Ax helve) The similarities come into play when you look into the underlying meaning and triggers of each poem, in both the neighbors have this unspoken suspicion of the other neighbor. For example in “Mending Wall” the narrator did not see the need for the wall between them which was there to create an alienation and a similar alienation was created by the cultural differences between the two neighbors in “The Ax Helve.” In the “Mending Wall” the narrator and the neighbor pretty much agree on the benefit of the wall, and in the end they both repair the wall, but the narrator did question the...

Words: 664 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

English Land of the Lost

...Stewart O'Nan Land of the Lost BI-LOI in Perry whose marriage had long since broken up. Soon after that her two boys moved out of the house, leaving Ollie, her German shepherdr. as her sole companion. From the beginning she followed the case in the paper and on T\-. absorbing it like a mystery, discussing it with her co-workers and customers - so much so s that her manager had to ask her to stop. Early on she visited the Web site and left messages of support in the guest book, from one mother to another, but after James Wade confessed that he'd buried the girl somewhere west of Kingsville, she began keeping a file. At night when she couldn't sleep she sat up in bed and went over the transcripts and the mother's map, convincing herself it was possible. She couldn't believe a feeling so She was a cashier at a ro strong could be mistaken. She didn't tell anyone what she was doing she wasn't stupid. The first time was the hardest because she felt foolish. In the privacy of her garage, while Ollie looked on, she stocked the trunk of her car with a shovel, a spade, a dry-cell flashlight and a pair of work gloves. She opened the door and he leaped into the backseat, capering from window to rs window, frantic just to be going somewhere' 'A1l right, calm down," she said. "It's not playtime." Searching on foot took longer than she thought. They came across nothing more sinister than a rotting seagull, but she wasn't disappointed. Bushwhacking3 through the overgrown no-man's-land...

Words: 1953 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Reflective

...bright future in front of me. How it worked out in the end is a surprise to me and my family. In this paper, I will reflect on my life experience that has turned me into the woman I am today. I will use the adult development theories I have learned about in this class to show how my up bringing has changed the out come in my life. I am from Hammond, Louisiana. I lived there when I was an infant to two years of age. We lived in a nice two bedroom house with a white picket fence around it. I had lots of fun playing in the dirt and grass when my mother would dress me up in pretty cloths. She would get mad at me for getting dirty, but she would just clean me up again and make me stay in the house. We would go to my grandfather’s house and run threw the fields. He had ten acres of land that we would just run and play on. We moved to the city (New Orleans, Louisiana) when I was two and a half years old. The city was nice it had pretty lights and pretty houses; we lived in a two-story house that had a big fence around it was a nice neighborhood. At the age of four my mother decided to leave my father and she moved us to Houston, Texas. My sister and I went to daycare and my oldest sister went to school while my mother put herself through nursing school and made a life for us. After a few years my father gave my mother a divorce. One of my favorite memories was when my grandmother took us to Alabama; we stayed with relatives that we did not know. It was fun we got to eat dinner food...

Words: 1939 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

History Recycled in the Works of T.C Boyle

...Aguirre 1 Faver Aguirre Professor Schmidt English 112 21 November 2013 History Recycled in the Works of T.C. Boyle History's repeating itself is a dominant theme throughout T.C. Boyle's short stories and novels. If people do not learn from past mistakes, they are likely to fail again. By revisiting history, the author teaches the importance of awareness and caution in an ever-changing society. In “The Tortilla Curtain” published in 1995 a specific migrant problem in the 1930s is modified to fit contemporary immigration. Candido and America's battle for survival after immigrating to the United States repeats a similar event depicted in Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Boyle's twisted short stories in the “If the River Was Whiskey” mirror events in history in the light of modern times. The similarities between the Van Brunts and the Van Warts in “The World's End “contribute to identical generations, separated by three hundred years. In his writing Boyle attacks modern society's conceited, self-absorbed attitude, and he discourages reiteration of the past. In “The Tortilla Curtain” Boyle recycles a past dilemma as he writes of a problem similar to the "Dust Bowl" migration of the 1930s. Candido Rincon and his wife America travel from Mexico to live here in America through the "Tortilla Curtain" searching for work while constantly trying to achieve the American Dream. In this journey, the Rincons encounter several racist obstacles including a pack of white men who...

Words: 1445 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Fences

...ENG 15 Section 5825 May 4, 2012 Fences Evaluate the Characters of Troy and Rose. To what extent is each responsible for their tragedy and how does the character of Troy change throughout the play. The play Fences by August Wilson revolves around the front yard of the main characters Troy and Rose Maxson between the years 1957 and 1965. Rose is a long, responsible mother, wife, and friend who tends to show forgiving and selfless character traits. Many of her words and actions also show that she is a strong and assertive yet tender woman. Her husband Troy, on the other hand, is pretty much her opposite. Troy’s character is very dominant. He is and imaginative and boastful person who mostly comes off as selfish and bitter. Within the eight years, which the play takes place, Rose and Troy find themselves in a tragedy. Troy’s character changes between Act I and Act II, however, both his and Rose’s character are responsible for the tragedy. Rose Maxson is a forty-three year old woman. She is the wife of Troy Maxson and mother of Cory Maxson. Typically Rose is seen cooking and/or cleaning. Through her actions, she is perceived as a woman who does everything they can to keep her loved ones close by and happy. She is a very selfless person. She offers food to anyone who comes to visit and also helps out financially where needed even when her financial situation is sparse. She is also loving and caring. She tends to show concern for others including her son, Cory, her brother-in-law...

Words: 1389 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

A Sucessful Student

...The team has been asked by your company president to describe a successful student. The characteristics of a successful student revolve around a number of decisions that one has to make about their life. They have to first make a decision as to what their ultimate goal is and what’s motivating them towards this goal. Based on this initial goal they then have to determine how they’re going to get there and if they have the time, ability and drive to accomplish it. Once all of these items have been considered and the person decides to move forward they then have to formulate a plan on how to best take on the tasks, assignments or schooling required. As a reminder a student doesn’t necessarily mean someone is attending school in an institutional setting. When starting the learning process it’s important that the student understand key factors about themselves. If they went through the deliberation process outlined above they have already started understanding more about themselves that will ultimately lead to their success. The student has to understand strengths, weaknesses and be open for constructive criticism at all times. They have to be attentive, unafraid to ask questions or bring up objective views that may relate to their own experiences. They also have to be self-motivated and understand that they may be asked to do things they are uncomfortable with or work with people that have varying points of view. The key is to ensure they are always approaching every...

Words: 429 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Unique Names

...Amanda Blythe Mrs Allen –Hubbard May 26, 2013 Economics In society today there are many types of opportunities for Americans to achieve the American dream, such as having a high quality career or owning a business of your own. However, many will argue the discrimination on my different levels will hiders certain people from achieving such dream. Is having a unique name one of the discrimination in society that would cause a person to fall in between the cracks and cause them not to achieve high? In my opinion, I believe the having a name that is very unique causes discrimination that can make it almost impossible for a American lifestyle of the family, white picket fence and a booming career. Today in our world parents choose name that are not traditional names. The younger parents and the more urban parents tend to choose names such as Sadiquah and Tyrek. Beginning from childhood the discrimination comes where people of todays’ society will say that those children come the ghetto. Those children are already put into a category that will already hinder that way they think or grow up. They end up following that path that their name already chooses for them. Some children end up escaping that path that was probably destine for them and grow smart individuals who attended college and give back to the society. However, when it comes to handing in the resume for a job. A source states that job applicants with white names had a 50% chance of getting a callback over those...

Words: 354 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Fences

...Alberta. Every time Troy demands respect from his son, Cory, he gets that respect, and when he teases his other son Lyons, Troy then feels like a bigger and better man. Troy turns into a friendless and lonely man when his anger, fears, and his secrets start to get the best of him. His loved ones lost all respect for him and begin to change their lives so that they wouldn't have to depend on him nor his company anymore. Troy loses his position as a loving and dedicated husband, giving and dependable parent and reliable and inspiring friend. He goes from maintaining two relationships with women to having neither, he had no power over his disappointments. His failure is a combination of his own actions basically coming back on him. He erected fences to keep the people he needed the most emotionally separated from him. Troy was born into a big and poor family with an abusive, but hardworking, father who...

Words: 1004 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Ohio Law

...You are working as a paralegal for a firm in Cleveland, Ohio. One of your clients is a sweet old lady named Mildred. While Mildred was organizing her estate plan, she had a survey done on her home and realized that her neighbor, Cliff's picket fence is actually 3 feet on HER side of the property line. Mildred does not want to get into a fight, but at the same time, she does not want Cliff to permanently keep the 3 feet of property that belong to her. So, she came to your firm to ask advice. Mildred has a deed that clearly shows that she received title to the 3 feet in question through a deed executed over 40 years ago. Cliff, of course, will argue that he acquired the 3 feet via adverse possession. Neither Cliff nor Mildred can remember exactly when the fence was put up and neither party can remember what was done with that space before the fence was put up. It is apparent that this case will come down to who has the burden to prove what because it's apparent that neither party can prove much of anything except that Mildred has her deed and all parties agree that the picket fence has been up for several years. Your supervising attorney asks you to draft an essay, citing relevant Ohio law where applicable, explaining who has the burden to prove what in this case and which party is likely to prevail. Please do...

Words: 251 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Fences

...Jake Cashen Prof. Ahrens English 102 10/24/2013 Fences In 1965, August Wilson’s “Fences” was created as the fifth part of his Pittsburg Cycle of dramas of the 20th Century investigation of the evolution of black culture (Gantt, 1; Gantt, 2).The play uses symbolism and metaphors that tell the late life story of Troy Maxon and the family that surrounds him. Even from the beginning of the drama there is conflict and foreshadowing that can be attributed to his own belief that he has failed in life, and that the world did not give him what he deserved. He believes that he has to go outside of the family to find refuge and that is how the story begins and ends. Using Formalistic analysis the essay will focus on the recurring themes in each act and scene of the drama to build to the last scene and the conclusion of the play (Chapter 3, 37).The point of view throughout the play is told through the eyes of Troy Maxon as viewed by the audience. He is the lead in the drama, and all plots revolve around his life and his decisions, some good and others not so good. These recurring themes also give the audience an understanding as to the life of the African American, both male and female, in the mid to late 1950s and early 1960s. Life was improving in the sense of gaining citizenship, but this was also before the civil rights movement and shows that citizenship did not mean acceptance or understanding of the assimilated African American culture, or putting into the open the injustice...

Words: 1813 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Fences

...Literary Analysis Essay on Fences The sport of baseball is an extremely integral aspect of the book Fences. Troy Maxson, our protagonist in this play, was a baseball player. It is Troy’s belief that the only reason he never made the major leagues was because he has the wrong color skin. Throughout the play, it is noticeable that Troy is still bitter over this and continuously makes references to current players and how he is much better than them. Troy’s life is a difficult one, and the connection between baseball and Troy’s trying life leads me to my point. The use of baseball in Fences is to symbolize the American dream and it being unattainable to Troy Maxson. First, how is it that our American pastime can be directly related to and represented as the American dream? There are several connections between the sport and the American dream that lead me to my thesis. The article Baseball as History and Myth in August Wilson’s Fences does a great job of connecting these two seemingly unrelated subjects. This article starts with a great quote by John Thorn saying, baseball has become “the great repository of national ideals, the symbol of all that [is] good in American life: fair play; the rule of law; equal opportunity; the brotherhood of man; and more.” Fair play shown through sportsmanship between the two teams, rule of law in “objective arbitration of disputes,” equal opportunity as each team is given a chance on both offensive and defensive sides each inning...

Words: 923 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Shoe Horn Sonata

...meaning. One of the main themes explored in Shoe- Horn Sonata is friendship, as Bridie and Sheila share a strong connection that develops with genuine warmth, humor, deep felt emotion and straightforward honesty. Flashbacks and memories, expressed through voice-overs are used to deepen the audiences understanding of what happened decades ago in the camps while at the same time alerting us to what has been lost at this present time. During the television interview (Act 1, scene 7) conducted by Rick, Bridie and Sheila begin to talk about the living conditions of the POW camps and the mistreatment of the prisoners. Over Christmas time, the Japanese had allowed the Australian men to visit the nurses “On the other side of our barbed wire fence were twenty or thirty Aussie men – as skinny as us – and wearing slouch hats. Unlike the Japs, they had hairy legs. And they were standing in rows – serenading us.” This image reinforces for the viewer the separation between the men and the women in the war; it was the image that was created to show the division of the Australians by the Japanese. The Japanese wanted to be able to control the Australians whilst they were in the POW camps... The separation of the sexes was used to breakdown the prisoners human ability to feel and express those feelings, to dehumanize...

Words: 664 - Pages: 3