Fences

A detailed Summary of Fences

Get on your mark! Get set! Go! From the moment we are born, we enter the race of life. The race to win, to live victoriously, or to be successful in the race of life. Generally, we can say that success is defined as the accomplishment of something attempted. Therefore, anyone can be successful. But, as a society, what is valued as success? I believe society holds unrealistic values for a meaning of success. August Wilson's "Fences" display men who fall short of society's view of success.

Troy Maxson is a man who thinks he is a failure but finds it hard to admit. Troy is a middle age black garbage man who feels held back by the "white man". "Why you got the white men driving and colored lifting?"(p.9). The quatation mentioned is an example of how Troy feels he will never amount to anything because he is a black man in the "white man's world". Therefore, Troy limits his

When Cory learns what Troy did he becomes resentful. Cory's bitterness towards his father mirrors the bitterness Troy has towards the "white man." In Act 1, Scene 4, Cory says, "Just cause you didn't have a chance! You just scared I'm gonna be better than you, that's all"(p.56). I do not think Troy's intentions are to hurt Cory. I think Troy is protecting Cory's best interest. Yet, at the same time, I think Troy is protecting himself. If Cory became successful at playing football, Troy would look like a failure because Troy never made it to the major leagues as a baseball player. Therefore, Troy would have to face the fact that it is he who holds himself back rather than the "white man".

Meanwhile Troy's bitterness towards the "white man" creates callousness towards his son Cory. Cory, being a high school student, anticipates making it big playing football. Troy says

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Approximate Word count = 596
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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