Breakable Fences and Unbreakable Fences: The Limits of Troy Maxson’s Dreams in Wilson’s Fences

Abstract

Fences, set in the 1950s, is August Wilson’s 1983 play. It is a play about the lives of the Maxsons, an African American family from 1957 to 1965. Wilson explores the conflicts between the characters’ pursuit of their goals and their commitment to family. The playwright invites readers to evaluate Troy Maxson’s personality in relation to his painful past, focusing the action of the main figure. Troy’s struggles to build defensive fences and break down racial fences are distinctively shown in his relationship with his family members. In Fences, Wilson tries to deliver the message that African Americans still don’t enjoy the equality they deserve. The play shows how racial barriers prevent African Americans from achieving their goals. In this play, fences have two different meanings; one is related with the protection of Troy’s family members from the outside dangers, while the other is related with barriers which block one’s access to other social groups. The two different meanings of fences in the play are encoded in the name of the protagonist Troy Maxson. The protagonist’s name already foreshadows the results of his efforts to build up and break down fences. The fences of the title not only indicate Troy’s wish to protect his family members but also mean hurdles which prevent them from communicating with the white community. This essay analyzes why the defensive fences are breakable and the racial fences are unbreakable for Troy Maxson himself.