According to August Wilson’s official website‚ Wilson was born in 1945 in Pennsylvania; he grew up in impoverished Hill district in Pittsburgh ghetto. As a young man Wilson dedicated himself to become a writer reading works of African Americans such as Langston Hughes and Ralph Ellison. Along with Wilson’s professional life‚ He won two Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (1987)‚ and The Piano Lesson (1990)‚ seven New York Drama Critics Circle Awards‚ and he received twenty three honorary degrees. Wilson’s
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In August Wilson’s Fences the audience is given an in depth look at the Maxson family and their struggle to live as an African American family in the 1950’s. Troy Maxson‚ the father and story protagonist‚ tries to lead his family to survival in a world where the color of their skin is their biggest hindrance. The previous summary is an extremely superficial take-away from Fences‚ and Wilson used this prejudice to drive the real theme to the audience. Fellow playwright and drama critic Suzan Lori-Parks
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Fences A father and son relationship always goes through it’s ups and downs. With two males under the same roof‚ the battle for power as alpha male is the inevitable to occur. Some boys have a strong relationship with the father consisting of communication‚ understanding and a lot of support. Some of these boys don’t have the luxury of being able to sit down and speak their mind to their father without debate. A normal family picture consists of a father who works‚ has a great relationship with
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Throughout a piece of literature‚ the reader learns the theme of the writing by the many elements put forth by the author. The title‚ the characters‚ and their conflicts can set the overall theme of the writing. The play Fences by August Wilson has multiple themes but one that stands out is the theme of a person’s journey to overcome struggle. The theme can be interpreted by the reader through its main character Troy. Troy grew up in a different world than we live in today. A world filled with segregation
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August Wilson’s Fences The immigration of Africans to America as slaves has had a great effect to many things including literature. Despite their experiences in this foreign land‚ they brought with them a different culture that had not been experienced in the American society. The stories and experiences of African-Americans have seen authors write books and plays being staged with large audiences. This is due to the different but almost similar
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In the play‚ Fences by August Wilson‚ the main character Troy is a very bitter man. Troy blames the white people for why he could not get ahead in life. Troy wanted to play baseball but the reason he could not because he says‚ “ I wasn’t the right color” ( Wilson). I believe that there are other factors that limit Troy from getting ahead. Poverty is one factor that keeps Troy stuck because he repeatedly talks about‚ “ having a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of” (Wilson 28). Other factors
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Fences by August Wilson presents a slice-of-life in a black tenement in Pittsburgh. The play is set in the late 1950s through 1965. The main character‚ Troy Maxson is a garbage collector who has taken a great price in keeping his family together and providing for them. Troy’s rebellion and frustration set the tone for the play as he struggles for fairness in society‚ which seems to offer none. In his struggle he builds barriers between himself and his family. Troy also wrestles with the idea of
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Minority groups often form their own communities within society‚ this can be shown in the play “Fences” written by August Wilson. This was illustrated by the character Troy Maxson‚ and his role in the black community. The importance of community to the African American culture is so significant because they feel oppressed by mainstream society. As a result of this oppression they feel the need to form their own community. Forming a community is necessary in order to create a group identity‚ and
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Happy Endings & August Wilson Fences When you read a book with a tragic end you think it ends with a sad ending right? Well that’s not quite right. Even though books and movies may end in tragedy it still has a happy ending to it. The book Fences is a prim example of how tragic ends in a happy ending. Rose in this case has moral reconciliation. She learns how to move on‚ forgive and see things different. First of all‚ Rose and Troy had a nice family. They had a son together and she
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Isaac Jenkins Campbell English III AP 9 September 2011 Critical Review Fences by August Wilson is a book based on the lives of an African American family in the 1950’s. Each family member has to deal with the other in their own ways. A father‚ Troy‚ that hasn’t gone far in his life takes his frustration out on the people that are closest to him. The book brings out the reality of a regular black man living with heartaches and regrets. It explains that there aren’t only two kinds of black
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