Exploring Theme in August Wilsons Fences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Exploring Theme in August Wilsons Fences - Essay ExampleMany of these restrictions and attitudes efficiency have gone unnoticed and unremembered except for the black playwrights and authors who revealed their effects on the community as a whole. In his play Fences, August Wilson uses the concept of a fence as both a theme and a symbol to reveal the hidden boundaries his characters encounter as they attempt to achieve a low version of the American dream in the 1950s North.The concept of invisible boundaries blocking ones ability to reach the American Dream is the central theme of this play. The story begins on a random Friday afternoon. The plays main character, Troy Manxson, is waiting for his latest paycheck from the citys go down on removal services department where he works somewhat unwillingly because his dreams of being a big baseball star were thwarted when he was junior by rules that prevented black men from playing in the major leagues. As the play progresses, it becomes clear that all the characters featured once had big dreams that were thwarted by the generalized lack of opportunity that applied to anyone with darker skin. In this opening scene, Troy immediately addresses the theme of the play when he tells Bono about the invisible ceilings that are endlessly placed over his head, such as the bosss reaction when Troy asked why only white men were allowed the position of garbage motortruck drivers. Troys frustration is clear as he obviously realizes that playing for a professional team would have afforded him and his family an entirely different liberal of life, and he is even held down in this lowly position working on a garbage truck. His response to the idea that things are changing and he was just born too young, Troy says, There ought not never have been no time too early (Wilson, Act 1, Scene 1). In spite of knowing his limitations were externally set, Troy feels he has failed