August Wilson Fences Research Paper

Name:. H Class: Wegner English Period: 2 Date: 4/10/24.

In the world of fences, there is a strong dichotomy between those who have and those who have not, those who drive the garbage truck and the ones putting in the garbage. August Wilson wrote the play Fences in 1985, the period of the “war on drugs”, rising poverty, and rising hate for social welfare. Fences echo these issues being set in 1950s Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Injustice pervades both times. The persistent cycle of discrimination and systemic racism takes on new forms as the characters in Fences are used to show these cycles and the circumstances that come from them. The book itself dives into the dichotomy of generations and the trauma that trickles down. This is why the conflict …show more content…
What is autonomous and what is by influence? In the playwright, this is explored as the reader learns of the ways that characters' past circumstances affect them currently. How choices themselves are influenced by circumstances, not separate but rather an extension. In August Wilson's Fences, the experiences of the characters are examples of this pervasive influence of circumstances. While choices do have weight, it is circumstances that ultimately have a profound influence on shaping our lives. Choices are products of our current situation, while circumstances are the foundation. In this way, circumstances are what impact people in their lives, their morals, environment, personality, and choices are what come from these circumstances.

In Fences, the readers learn about the effect of circumstances and how choices are dependent on them. Troy Maxson is a great example of a character who has made poor choices because his circumstances left few options. Troy and Bono had just got home from work when Lyons showed up “just being in the neighborhood”. Lyons greets the men and begins to ask Troy for money, this angers Troy immediately. Troy begins to rant to his needy son, wanting Lyons to “know how good he's got it”. He says, “Sometimes I wish I hadn't …show more content…
When he meets Rose, his previous experiences aren't gone and continue to prevail in his relationship with her and his son Cory. His projection on both his sons is from his experiences in the past, ‘Right down there under the Brady Street Bridge’. Troy's parenting and overall view of life are all learned behaviors because he wouldn't be who or where he is now without the previous circumstances. His spite in life comes from being mistreated and constantly beaten down. How he treats his sons reflects this completely. Troy's life has been filled with struggles from his upbringing, work, racial discrimination, and limited opportunities. Troy's current relationship with his family in the book certainly isn't removed from his past, as in the quotes throughout the book, he cannot stop talking about this past which has become who he is. From this, it is seen through Troy Maxson that no one's choices or behaviors are ever separated from their circumstances. As one’s past circumstances evolve into the current circumstances. Therefore, circumstances have a much more profound and pervasive influence on someone's life compared to

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