Fences

August Wilson

Presentation by: Faress Adib

 AUTHOR BACKGROUND
 Born April 27, 1945, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  "Fences" is set in the 1950s, a time when many African
Americans were migrating northward in hopes of
 Grew up in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, a predominantly African- finding better opportunities, escaping the Jim Crow laws
American neighborhood, which greatly influenced his writing. of the South.
 Raised mainly by his mother after his father, a German immigrant  This period saw the rise of the Civil Rights Movement in
baker, was largely absent and later passed away when Wilson was a response to systemic racial segregation and
teenager. discrimination in the United States.
 Dropped out of high school at the age of 15, after facing racism and  The play places a strong emphasis on personal
turning to self-education at the local library, reading extensively, responsibility and the impact of personal choices, set
especially African-American literature. against the backdrop of a society grappling with
 Died on October 2, 2005, of liver cancer. profound racial inequalities.

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 About This Book
In the 1950s, the good play "Fences" is set in Pittsburgh's
Hill District. A lot of African American people live there. The
story is mostly about Troy Maxson, who now picks up trash
after playing baseball in the Negro League. At the same time,
people with African American roots had high dreams and
hard times. He writes the play to talk about how he feels
about Jim Bono, Rose, their son Cory, and their marriage.

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 KEY TAKEAWAYS

-Women empowerment
-Societal norms do not define you
- You are stronger than you think, but you only realize this when you go
through situations in life that test your strength.
- Can’t deny human nature

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 Writer’s Style/Voice
 Dialog-Driven Narrative
 Economic and Direct Language
 Symbolism: Fence and Baseball
 Internal Conflicts with Reserved
Outward Appearance
 Rhythmic and Musical Language
 Historical and Cultural Context

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 CHARACTERIZATION
Troy Maxson Cory Maxson Jim Bono
Main character - A former Negro League Troy and Rose's son - An ambitious young Troy's friend and coworker - A loyal friend
baseball player, Troy is a strong, man, Cory aspires to play college football. who often provides insight into Troy's
hardworking garbage collector. He's His dreams clash with Troy's experiences and character. He serves as a moral compass and
complex, with a blend of good traits and views, leading to a strained father-son a voice of reason.
flaws, shaped by the era's racial relationship.
discrimination and his challenging past. Lyons Maxson
Troy's son from a previous relationship - A
musician who often borrows money from
Troy. His lifestyle and career choice are a
source of conflict with his father.
Rose Maxson Gabriel Maxson
Troy's wife - A devoted, resilient woman Troy's brother - Suffered a head injury in
who represents stability and love in the World War II, resulting in mental impairment.
Raynell Maxson
family. She endures Troy's flaws and His disability check helps the family Troy's daughter - Born from his extramarital
infidelities, showing strength in facing financially, and he believes he is the angel affair, she is raised by Rose after her mother's
emotional hardships. Gabriel, adding a symbolic layer to the death. Raynell symbolizes hope and the
narrative. possibility of a new beginning for the family.

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 IMPORTANT QUOTE ONE

"You got to take the crookeds with the straights.”

"Death ain’t nothing but a fastball on the outside corner."

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 IMPORTANT QUOTE TWO

"Sometimes when he touched me, I’d just...shake.“

"Don’t you think I ever wanted other things? Don’t you think I had dreams
and hopes?"

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WHY WE CHOSE IT
"We chose 'Fences' to learn more about different literary voices, especially from the
middle of the 20th century, which was a very important time in American history."
This play not only helps us prepare for the AP Exam, but it also shows us how
families lived and dealt with social issues in the 1950s, a time of racial stress and
cultural change. With this view, it's simple to see how these ideas are used in
American play.
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 Literary Devices
 Symbolism: The fence symbolizes both division and protection, representing the
characters' desires to keep people in and out of their lives.
 Irony: Troy's efforts to protect his family, especially Cory, ironically lead to familial
discord and distance.
 Foreshadowing: Gabriel's talks about Judgment Day foreshadow key events in the play,
hinting at the eventual outcomes for the characters.
 Metaphor: Baseball metaphors are used extensively, with Troy's life experiences
paralleled to a game of baseball, reflecting his struggles and failures.
 Personification: Death is personified, depicted as a character that Troy believes he has
battled and defeated.
 Dramatic Monologue: Troy's long speeches reveal his character, background, and
worldview, driving the narrative forward.

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 Narrator
"Fences," by August Wilson, is told from a neutral third-person point of
view, mostly through the words and actions of the characters. Wilson
makes it clear what the stage should do, but there isn't a set way to tell a
story. Instead, what the players say and do tells the story. People who
watch this style try to guess what the people are thinking and how they
feel. This makes them care a lot about the play's main ideas and the
characters' hard lives.

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THANK YOU!