Fences is an accurate depiction of the African American community of the Pittsburgh Hills District in the 1950’s. The play was selected to get a prize for a film that best brings out the picture of the history of the neighborhood of the black community of the Pittsburgh Hills District, during the Academy Awards. Also, the film has a setting at Pittsburgh Hills. The author of fences, August Wilson, had a series of 10 plays that he wrote which depicted the history of the Pittsburgh Hills District at different times of the decade. However, Fences seems to be accurately describing the black culture community in the 1950s. From the language of the play, the film depicts a vibrant African American vernacular language used in the 1950s (Wardi, 2013).
‘ Fences’ also gives a mention of addressing of a building 1839, at Wylie Avenue. In a real sense, no house exists in the address. Instead, the mention of 1839 is to signify the year that the Africans openly defied the orders to get on the slave ship.
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The play Fences also talks about the Negro baseball league player, Josh Gibson. He was one of the best hitters of baseball in the era. Troy, a character in Fences, plays as a negro baseball player. August Wilson must have tried to depict the life of the famous negro baseball player in the era. Both protest about being left “without a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out” (Archive.org, n.d) when the league for the negros halted.
Being an author of a set of many play series, the author of Fences, August Wilson, made people relive the life of the black culture of the neighborhood through him. Wilson was born and grew up in the district of Pittsburgh. He is therefore well conversant with the area and the culture during those times. He is also very proud of being brought up in the area and gives a lot of credit to the people who brought him up, and this created a significant meaning in his life.
In the play, Troy says he’d rather shop at Bella’s rather than at a supermarket because the folks there treated him right. August Wilson and his family had their house at Bedford Avenue. Their home was near Bella’s market. (Shanon,2006). It reflects August times and life in the play.
August Wilson life also comes out in the play with a lot of building of fences. From the 'Fences,' Troy Maxson and his child are often seen constructing fences in their home. However, we are not exactly told why they are building the fence, whether for security or preventing people from crossing over to their place is not well explained in the play. In his life, August Wilson mother kept to herself and liked keeping matters of the family away from other people. It draws some similarity with the play because Troy’s family had few numbers of guests coming over. Also, Troy seems to be very competitive in the play and does not like losing in his games. It brought out August Wilson personality of being very competitive.
Some of the characters in the play Fences are Troy Maxson, Rose, Lyons, Bono, and Corry. Troy Maxson is a bitter man. He doesn’t believe any more injustice and being fair. Troy denies his son, Corry, the chance to get the football college scholarship that his son got awarded. He fears that his son may fail to get a full chance to be successful in football, just the way he did when he was playing at the Negro baseball league. Also because of his pride, Troy might secretly be in fear of having his son outshining him as a better player in sports. It is brought out in the play Fences. “How come you ain’t never liked me?”, “Who the hell say I got to like you?” (Archive.org, n.d). Troy bursts out saying that according to him, he believes that people should live a life where they bring honor and that they can meet their required obligations.
“ I go out of here every morning,” Troy exclaims, “bust my butt…putting up with them crackers every day” because it’s my job. It’s my responsibility!” (Archive.org, n.d)
Troy is also an escapist. He fails to take full responsibility for the consequences of his actions. Troy blames it on his frustrations and problems. He gets a lady by the name Alberta pregnant and fails to accept his wrongdoings to his wife, Rose. Instead, he blames his wrong choices on his frustrations.
Another interesting character from the play who bests explains the time in the era is Rose. Back then, women must have been very submissive which is brought out by Rose's actions. When Troy, her husband impregnates another lady, Alberta, Rose whines about it to herself in a monologue. Later, she accepts to take responsibility for the child, and she agrees to bring up the child (Shannon, 2006).
Cory, Troy's son character, depicts that in the era, children could turn out to be disobedient to their parents. His father dispels him from living in their house. It is because Corry became disrespectful and refused to follow his orders. He willingly continues with his stand and becomes a mariner. He stays away from home and never comes back until six years later. The main reason for his coming back is to attend his father's burial.
References
Archive.org. (n.d.). Full text of "August Wilson "Fences"". [online] Available at: https://archive.org/stream/WilsonFences/Wilson%20Fences_djvu.txt [Accessed 24 Sep. 2018].
Shannon, S. G. (2006). The Past as Present in the Drama of August Wilson. Theatre Survey , 47 (1) 111-114
Wardi, A. J. (2013). From 1727 Bedford Street to 1839 Wylie Avenue: Home in August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle. The University of Toronto Quarterly, 82(1), 44-61.
