Saturday, October 20, 2012
Fences -- blog # 7
This play speaks to trauma and overcoming hardships through forgiveness. The author August Wilson brings us into the life of a black family and their struggles. The time period for instance was tough and Troy's recalling his abusive childhood sheds light on his actions throughout the play. The fences referred to in this play are interesting metaphors. The first fence is clearly created to block out the beating Troy receives from his father this event was traumatic and life changing for him, he describes this by talking about his feelings when he was whipped with leather straps My dad was as evil as could be.... When he whipped on me, quite naturally I ran..." after the incident Troy at 14 left home and built the first fence to block out his trauma. Rose sang of a fence she hoped "Jesus would provide" to keep her and her sons safe, that is safe from her husband and his rage and safe from harm that often came to black men in that time and place. Cory had a fence to keep out the fact that Troy never showed love and acceptance to him, in fact when Cory asks his dad Troy "why didn't you ever like me" Troy goes off on a rant about how a father owes his wife and children but he never agreed to like anyone. Cory builds a fence around himself to cope with the pain of this statement, we can see that one trauma in a persons life can effect many generations of people. Troy's time in prison and bond with his friend Bono proves to be a positive relationship, when Troy cheats on Rose and has a daughter with Alberta, Bono serves as Troy's conscience and asks him to tell Rose the truth. Rose is aware that no fence can keep harm away and after Alberta dies during childbirth Rose takes the girl in and through forgiveness is able to raise her without hatred in her heart. At Troy's funeral many fences come down through Cory and Raynell interaction on the porch, they give each other hope and are able to allow the new family minus their abusive father a chance. They share a song their father use to sing about his dog and begin making new memories.Although much tradgedy occurs there are many life lessons in this play and much forgiveness and resolve.
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Nice response! I liked how you described the metaphors of the fences and what the fences represented to Troy. I also liked how you described Rose and what the fence represented to her. I agree with you that Troy built the fences to help cope with his pain.
ReplyDeleteDeb,
ReplyDeleteVery well thought out post. Just as I was reading your post I thought about another metaphor that exists in August Wilson's "Fences". One metaphor is the fact that so often men who have not not been properly fathered struggle to be proper father's to their children. This can be seen in the lack of relationship that Troy shared with his father that in turn carried over into his relationship with his son Cory.
You are correct in pointing out the relationship that Troy had with his own father "just as evil as he could be". Though Troy does not physically abuse his son, as his father did to him, he verbally abuses him, "Cory! Get your butt out here,boy!(1714), states Troy to his son when his son enters the room from football practice. Troy believed his son should not pursue a career in sports and should work hard as be did.
I want to also add that another fence exists in the story; the fence that Troy built up as a coping mechanism for the lack of relationship that he shared with his mom. Troy's mom hated his father and left one night when his father was sleeping. "Told me she was soming back for me. I ain't never seen her no more" (1723) This helps to explain why he did not feel much guilt in sleeping with Alberta though he was married to Rose, a faithful and loving wife.
I would have to also agree that the story was about foregiveness and resolve, yet besides the song that the children remembered their father singing in regards to the dog,I can't be sure that either of the family members resolved their issues with Troy prior to his death.
Deb, I really like the fact that you pointed out that this play is about overcoming hardships through forgiveness. There is a lot of forgiving going with Rose towards her husband Troy. She forgave him throughout the whole entire play. Troy doesn't exactly speak to her in a nice way and she accepts it and moves on. Also she forgives him after he tells her that he has slept with another woman and is having a baby. That is a big pill to swollow for any woman to have to endure something like that. Most importantly, Troy didn't know how to forgive and Rose did and because of her there was a resolution to the problem and that was showing her children how to forgive and move forward. Your point proves this by Cory's and Raynell's interaction on the porch of giving each other hope. You did a good job.
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