August Wilson’s Fences give a clear cut description of the sufferings that many people, particularly people of Black decent, go through when they move to the city while centering on a poor family that really struggles to stay together. Apparently the head of the family that Wilson places his focus is Troy Maxson, a 53 year old man who happens to be the key character in this play whose location is not clear though is given a set in the 1950s. Other characters in the play include Rose Maxson (Troy’s second wife), Gabriel Maxson (Troy’s brother), Lyons Maxson (Troy’s eldest son), Jim Bono (Troy’s friend particularly in drinking), and Raynell Maxson (Troys daughter), among others. Some of the themes that Wilson canvasses in the play include; The Creation order, the American Dream, African American difference, Freedom versus Protection as well as the changing African culture. The title of the play is symbolic of the barriers that most families place around themselves in a bid to protect themselves and their children against ill minded peoples. Even though the book has experienced mixed reactions from its readers, the plot of the book is fantabulous.
August Wilson's Fences by Ladrica Menson-Furr is a book that gives the background of the play Fences by August Wilson. The book proceeds to highlight the production history of the play by August Wilson besides articulating on the “workshoping” the play. According to Ladrica Menson-Furr, the play, Fences, serves to affirm Wilson’s position in the American mainstream theater and just like the history of the main character, Troy Maxson, the books has one of the richest histories which really cements its position as one of the most notable plays in the American theater history (Menson-Furr 1). While giving an analysis and commentary of the play, Fences, Menson-Furr’s book proceeds to give the plot summary of the play and changing views relating to the play (Menson-Furr 17-41). According to the author of the book, the book, gives a brief history of the play, Fences before moving to discuss the workshoping in the fourth chapter. Additionally, the book by Ladrica Menson-Furr also offers the reader a list of other books that can be read in a bid to have a clear understanding of the play fences.
In its basic form, Understanding August Wilson by Mary L Bogumil is a biographical book that centers in the understanding of the life and literary works of August Wilson. The book begins with an account of the life of August Wilson as well as an overview of his career. Additionally, in this section, the author talks about the date and place of birth of August Wilson. Bogumil also discusses the family and educational background of Wilson. The author then proceeds to discuss some of the works August Wilson such as Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, and Seven Guitars. The most notable work illustrated in the book is the play, fences. While discussing Fences, the author concentrates on the characters in the play special emphasis on the main character, Troy Maxson. The author also talks about the significance of the name “Fences” with regards to themes of the play terming is as an important metaphor of the play.
In a book titled, August Wilson, Harold Bloom (a Sterling professor of Humanities at Yale University) gives a detailed biographical, critical and bibliographical information on August Wilson. The book talks about some of the major works of August Wilson including the play, Fences. The book gives the plot summary of the play fences, as well as detailed description of the characters in the play. Most importantly, under the subsection, critical views on Fences, the author compares Fences with some of his other great works such as Two Trains Running and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Additionally, the book samples some several opinions expressed by other reviewers on the characters in Fences: this renders the book very instrumental in analyzing the characters traits of the characters in the play, Fences.
In the paper titled August Wilson’s Fences: The African-American Women’s Pursuit Of Dreams Seen From The Perspective Of Rose Maxson, Nandy Intan Kurnia looks into the several struggles that African Americans go through in a bid to succeed in their endeavors with a close reference to the play, Fences, by August Wilson, The author, in spite of expressing her concern that Wilson did not give women considerable attention in the play, concentrates on Rose Maxson who according to the author is perhaps the only female protagonist in the play considering that the other women featuring in the play only exist by names. Basing his assertions majorly on library research, the author admits to drawing much insight from Wilson’s play to investigate how African American women struggle to achieve their dreams. Admittedly, since most books analyzing this play do not focus on women, Kurnia paper is essential in analyzing the role of women in the play Fences.
Works Cited
Bloom, Harold. August Wilson. Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001. Print.
Bogumil, Mary L. Understanding August Wilson. Columbia, SC: Univ. of South Carolina Press, 1999. Print.
Kurnia, Nandy Intan . "August Wilson’s Fences: The African-American Women’s Pursuit Of Dreams Seen From The Perspective Of Rose Maxson." Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta: 1-17. Print.
Menson-Furr, Ladrica C. August Wilson's Fences. London: Continuum, 2008. Print.
Wilson, August. Fences. New York, French, 1986. Print.
