Movie Review: Fences

Name

Instructor

Course

Date

Fences

            August Wilson named his play, Fences because the lives of the characters revolve around the project of building the fence. The fence in this case acts as a figurative and a literal device and it represents the relationships that are formed and break up within the confines of the backyard. Therefore, the intention of Wilson in naming his play did not pertain to the dramatic action that related to building the fence in the backyard of Maxson. The mere fact that the wish of Rose is to see the fence built gives more meaning to the role that she plays since she considers the fence to be positive and necessary. According to Bono, he believes that the intention of Rose in wanting the fence to be built is because she wants to hold in the people that she loves. However, the symbol of the fence to Rose is her love. The desire that she has for the fence shows that she represents nurturing and love. On the other hand, Troy thinks that the fence is a trap, and reluctantly works to finish this project that Rose initiated. Therefore, Wilson used the title of his play to reference Troy, Rose, and Gabrielle as discussed in the following paragraphs.

            Troy Maxson, who is the protagonist in this play, has the ability to live in a fictitious world since he cheats on Rose, and engages in extramarital affairs with Alberta. Wilson used Fences to wholly portray the story of Troy. The one thing that all the characters in this play have in common is that they have complicated relationships with the protagonist. The use of fences in regard to Troy is clear when the author uses him as insists and espouses rigid practicality to protect himself and his own family from the dangers of the world. The author references him here as though he surrounds his family and gives them the protection that they need through the fence. The author has also portrayed Troy as the one who gives protection in his workplace. Troy is willing to take action against the unfair treatment of black people in his workplace.

            The inner conflict of Troy also plays out in the sense that he has a fantastical spin on his past. Troy could therefore be referenced as Fences in the sense that he is the bridge between his present and his future. The fact that he was initially locked up and now he has the freedom symbolizes that the title of this book created the boundary between the two different lives that Troy went through. Troy also comes in to represent the title of the play when he has inner conflicts between what his son wants and the reality that stands in his way. The reality was that there was a lot of discrimination at the time and the fact is that his son would not thrive in this industry. Fences also come in for the protagonist when the author uses him to bring out his inner conflict when he talks of the encounters he has had with his personified form. Of death. Wilson has brought out the fantasies of Troy that the past suffering and failure he encountered have pushed his mind to certain degrees, maybe as a form of involuntary self-defense to look into the fictional and imaginational constructions over constant and consistent considerations of the past that he went through. Therefore, Wilson has referenced Troy Maxson in the title of his play to show how fantasies and reality differ. He uses the character to show the boundary that may exist. 

            In his play, August Wilson used the symbol of a fence on different occasions. Another important occasion of fences that the author has used is protection. The author uses Rose to reference that she yearned for the fence so that she would get some protection. In this sense, protection seems to revolve around Rose. She wants to protect herself from Troy, who in turn wants to protect himself from death. Throughout the play, the author has shown that all the authors have created fences symbolically, and Rose is not an exception. Wilson has presented Rose as someone who protects herself from Troy. The focus of the play reflects the symbol of the fence and it helps the readers get a good avenue to understand the events that take place. The life of Rose and the other characters changes and finds a sudden twist with the existence of the fence, which the author uses as a figurative language or symbol. Throughout the play, it is obvious that the fence protects the characters. The author references Rose by using the title when Rose protects herself as she sings that Jesus should be a fence around her that protects her every day. She says that she wants Jesus to protect her as she travels on her way. As Rose sings this song, the author brings her desire for protection. According to Rose, the fence symbolizes her love, just as Wilson has brought it out. 

            The character of Gabriel in the play reflects the symbol of purity and innocence since he is the chorus which chimes in any situation whenever the tensions are heavy. August Wilson has referenced him in such a way that he guides the other characters through an indirect and detached method that embarks on the tensions and the conflict within the play. Thus, the fence depicts him as the boundary between these tensions and conflicts. For instance, Gabriel frames the conflict between the other characters when he enters most of the scenes. The dialogue of Troy temporarily alleviates the tension that exists between Troy and Rose. Therefore, Wilson introduces the character of Gabriel as a fence that exists between the two. Gabriel seems to be the go-between. He is not concerned with the argument that exists between Troy and Rose. All he wants is their happiness and he does not like to see them fight. That is why Gabriel often distracts them whenever there appears to be a heated debate between them. At some point, Gabriel also appears in the argument between Troy, and his son Lyons. He gives Lyons positive attention and therefore creates happiness and protects him from Troy. Wilson has referenced him as a fence between the two. 

            To conclude, as much as other characters are not mentioned here, it is quite evident that the title of the author incorporated the characters and the traits that he gave them. All the characters have brought up the idea of the author for a better understanding. The author has also used each character to reference them according to the title of his play.