Theme and symbolism in Fences by August Wilson

Symbolism and Theme Explored in Wilson's Fences

August Wilson's play, Fences, is about a family building a fence in the their backyard but it is also about a metaphorical fence as well. The project of building the fence runs the lengths of the play and demonstrates the power time has over our lives when we choose to bury things and not deal with them. The fence serves as a symbol of how people can build walls around themselves and while the action of the play is centered on the building of the fence, we must pay close attention to the metaphorical fences, which are at the heart of understanding this drama. The fence everyone can see is the easy task at hand. The symbolic fence, representing pain and suffering, is the more difficult of the fences with which these characters must deal. Manhood is a central theme of the play because while Troy's efforts are good, they are not enough to keep a fence from existing between him and Cory. The fence was between Troy and his father and now it is between him and his son. The difficulty these men experience with each other also puts stress on the rest of the family, causing more fences to exist between people. Fences is a story about life and what happens when people allow things to go unsaid.

Manhood becomes a central theme in the play because it is something Troy must seek out and find on his own. It does not come easily to him and his experience shapes his life. Undoubtedly, Troy is a victim of a dysfunctional family and an uncaring father. We also know this leaves Troy extremely bitter. He tells Bono his father had no concern for his children and he simply wanted them to "learn how to walk so he could start you to working" (Wilson 1626). Troy refers to his father as "devil himself" (1627) and he was afraid of him. Troy makes an important decision when he decides to leave home and turn away from his father. The fence between characters begins in these early stages of Troy's life when he lives through abuse from his father. Joseph Wessling writes the play is about the "imperfect quest for true manhood" (Wessling). Troy's troubles live with Cory as he goes his own way toward adulthood. These men are repeating the same behavior and passing it down through the next generation.

The fence is also a symbol for the chasm that exists between father and son. Troy is stubborn to the point that he will not allow Cory to play with the football team. His reaction and his reasoning illustrate how he chooses to live in the past. Sheri Metzger points out that this father and son do not connect through sports as men typically do. She says:

Baseball should provide fathers and sons with a bonding experience, with an opportunity for playful competition. However, Cory cannot compete with Troy. Troy's need for control, a pattern he learned from his own brutal father, is too ingrained for him to soften his ways. Although he means the best for Cory, Troy's misdirected efforts result in the loss of his son. (Metzger)

Troy and Cory's relationship is complicated. While every parent suffers from a generation gap, this relationship seems to be even more strained than normal. Most people can agree to disagree but these two men cannot seem to make that happen with their relationship. Troy's father was abusive and, while this should be motivation to be a better father than his father, he seems to be incapable of making decisions that benefit his son. He insists Cory give up any dream of playing ball and makes him return to the A&P. It is important to note Troy does not intend on making his son's life difficult nor does he want to make him miserable but he does want him to have a stable job that will allow him to provide for a family. There is also the notion that at the A&P, Cory will escape persecution for being African-American. Troy is attempting to protect his son but what he fails to do is realize that times have changed. A future with football would allow Cory to provide for his family far better than anything he could find in town. Troy cannot see this clearly and because of that, he cannot see how it is literally robbing his son of a bright future single-handedly. By trying to protect his son, Troy is only ensuring his life will be wrought with the same difficulties he had. He is pushing his son away from him, making them more like Troy and his father. All of these things are helping Troy build the perfect fence between him and his son.

Fences play also peers into the complexity of relationships. The issues of boundaries and separation extend beyond Troy and Cory. Rose sees the fence in the backyard as a symbol of protection for her family. In its purest form, it is a symbol of love. Troy, however, views it as a burden. Bono stumbles upon a bit of profundity when he says, "Some people build fences to keep people out . . . And some people build fences to keep people in" (1631), Troy does not make the connection and seems content to separate himself from others. Kim Pereira writes that even after surviving his father, Troy still finds himself in a: "similar predicament with his son Cory, with the roles now reversed. The play deals with the pain that psychological separation brings family members as each generation gropes toward reconciliation with the previous one" (Pereira). Here we see how issues must be dealt with in order to move on. Troy holds onto the things that have hurt him in the past. By continuing to do, he only makes the fence more difficult to tear down.