Introduction: The Symbolism of the Fence in Literature
In the realm of literature, symbols often transcend their literal meanings to convey deeper psychological, social, or philosophical themes. In August Wilson’s Fences, the titular fence becomes far more than a physical structure—it becomes a potent metaphor that embodies protection, separation, identity, and control. Set in the 1950s Pittsburgh, Fences is a cornerstone of American drama and part of Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, exploring the African American experience through generational conflict, racial discrimination, and personal limitations.
At the heart of the play is Troy Maxson, a sanitation worker and former baseball player whose life is marked by missed opportunities and emotional turmoil. The fence he builds around his house is central to the play’s structure, both figuratively and narratively. Through its construction, destruction, avoidance, and eventual completion, Wilson uses the fence as a tool to explore themes of responsibility, relationships, dreams, and existential barriers. Understanding the importance of the fence in Fences illuminates the broader significance of the play itself.
The Fence as a Literal and Symbolic Structure
Literal Function: Protection and Privacy
On the most basic level, a fence serves to demarcate boundaries. In everyday life, fences offer privacy, security, and a sense of ownership. In Fences, Rose’s motivation to build the fence is simple: to protect her family and keep them close. As she tells Troy early on, “You ought to take a part of your time and do like you supposed to do. Build this fence.” This shows Rose’s desire for preservation and the sanctity of the home—a yearning for stability in a world that often denies it to African Americans.
The literal purpose of the fence, therefore, reflects Rose’s maternal nature and desire for unity. She wants to keep her family together and safe, shielded from external forces such as racism, poverty, and personal failures.
Spiritual Undertone: Keeping Evil Out
But there’s a deeper spiritual layer to the fence as well. Rose says, “It’s a preacher who says you have to build a fence to keep the evil out.” This invokes a more metaphysical interpretation of the fence—to protect the family not just from physical dangers but spiritual ones as well. It’s Rose’s way of confronting the chaos and misfortune that often invade the lives of black families in America, particularly during the Jim Crow era.
The idea of a fence standing between good and evil mirrors religious and superstitious beliefs that many African Americans held during this time. It adds layers of cultural richness and collective memory to the plot, reinforcing Wilson’s mission to depict genuine African American life on stage.
The Fence as a Symbol of Character Divides
Troy’s Refusal to Build the Fence
Troy Maxson, the protagonist of Fences, is reluctant to build the fence. His hesitance is more than just procrastination; it symbolizes his failure to connect emotionally with his loved ones. He avoids the very thing that might symbolically bind the family together. In contrast to Rose, who sees the fence as a symbol of unity, Troy views it with resistance. His refusal suggests an unwillingness to be tied down, to be close, or to assume the full responsibilities of a father and husband.
Troy is a man of contradictions. He is a physically imposing figure, full of stories and bravado, yet emotionally distant. The fence, for him, becomes a barrier he does not want to help construct—perhaps because he feels caged by the expectations placed on him. His relationship with Rose deteriorates as he engages in an affair, and the fence remains undone until the tragic death of his mistress, Alberta.
The Fence and Fatherhood
Troy’s relationship with his son, Cory, is also mediated through the idea of the fence. Cory, like his father, is talented at football and wants to pursue it as a way out of the cycle of poverty. However, Troy, bitter from his own rejection due to racism and age, tries to shut down Cory’s dreams. In this dynamic, the fence stands metaphorically for the emotional barriers between fathers and sons—especially as they navigate changing social conditions and racial limitations.
By refusing to take the responsibility of building the fence early in the play, Troy mirrors his failure as a father—his inability to nurture, protect, and guide his son properly.
The Evolution of the Fence: From Partial to Completed
The Fence as an Incomplete Life
For much of the play, the fence remains incomplete. This mirrors Troy’s own life—unfinished, inconsistent, and full of loose ends. It’s not until Alberta’s death and the arrival of her daughter, Raynell, that Troy begins to work on the fence. He builds it with the help of Gabriel, his mentally impaired brother, and Cory, reuniting the family in grief and labor.
This act of completing the fence represents a kind of symbolic catharsis. In death, Troy finds purpose and duty. As he builds the fence, he is no longer keeping people out but perhaps trying to reconcile what he’s done to his family and trying to build something meaningful before his own death.
Legacy and Completion
By the time of Troy’s own death at the end of the play, the fence is finally completed. This signals the completion of the arc of his life, not in success, but in acceptance and finality. Rose, despite Troy’s betrayal, accepts Raynell, Troy’s child with Alberta, and nurtures her, showing her continued role as the matriarch and moral compass.
Cory, initially resistant to participating in fence-building, ultimately finishes the job alongside Raynell, symbolizing the continuation of family legacy and the building of new futures, albeit tempered by pain. The completed fence thus becomes a symbol of healing, transformation, and acceptance.
The Fence as a Racial Metaphor
Barriers Between Races and Opportunities
Wilson uses Fences to interrogate the systemic barriers that African Americans faced in the mid-20th century. While the Civil Rights Movement was on the horizon, life for many African Americans was still steeped in segregation, limited careers, and unfulfilled dreams.
Troy’s life was shaped by the fence-like structures of society—the baseball leagues that excluded black players during his prime, the jobs that were unavailable to him, and the systemic prejudices that forced him into menial labor. He says to Rose, “I ain’t got to like it. I got to do it.” This captures the essence of survival in a racially stratified society.
The Fence and the American Dream
The American Dream—the idea of personal achievement through hard work—was denied to African Americans due to racial profiling and socio-economic obstacles. The fence embodies this division: inside are the hopes and efforts of black families; outside are the inaccessible opportunities afforded to white America.
Troy’s bitterness stems from a lifetime of watching the fence that separates him from his dream grow taller and more insurmountable. As he tells Cory: “The world don’t owe you nothing. You ought to be thanking God you got a place to work.” Here, he is not simply expressing cynicism; he is articulating a lived experience of exclusion.
Yet, by the end, it is not this bitterness that wins out. Cory’s willingness to honor his father, even in the face of pain, symbolizes the hope that future generations can overcome these fences.
The Fence and Community
A Gathering Point
Interestingly, the process of building the fence becomes a communal act. Scenes in which Gabriel, Cory, and Troy work on the fence (even if reluctantly) allow the audience to witness moments of camaraderie, even amidst conflict. These scenes often occur in the yard, a liminal space between the house and the street, symbolizing the confluence of public and private life—a place where neighbors gather, where gossip is shared, and where relationships either flourish or falter.
Troy’s friend Bono and Rose often engage in quiet conversations on the porch, revealing truths about Troy and reflecting on life choices. The fence, therefore, becomes a backdrop for community storytelling and the exchange of wisdom. It’s where songs, memories, and laughter mix with heartbreak and confrontation.
Shared Responsibility vs. Individual Struggle
The fence also invites exploration of gender and generational responsibility. It’s Rose who persistently urges the men to build it, representing the often-overlooked emotional labor involved in family maintenance. Her insistence contrasts with Troy’s indifference, reflecting traditional gender roles in African American families.
Moreover, as generations differ in their views of the fence, so do their understandings of family, identity, and purpose. Cory represents a newer, more hopeful generation unburdened by old wounds yet deeply affected by them, while Troy personifies a man locked in struggle with both the past and future.
Conclusion: Fences Define Our Lives
In Fences, August Wilson uses a seemingly modest structure to illuminate the complexities of race, identity, family, and freedom in America. The fence is more than wood and nails—it’s a barrier and bridge, a symbol of exclusion and protection, of limitation and legacy.
The importance of the fence in Fences resonates powerfully beyond the context of the play. It reminds us of the invisible walls we build in our own lives—in relationships, within ourselves, and against others. The fence invites reflection on how we define—and redefine—borders.
For readers and audiences, the fence becomes a mirror. It forces us to ask: What fences do we build? What do we keep in or out? What do we tear down, avoid, or complete?
Ultimately, the fence in Fences stands as a monument to the human condition—where dreams and responsibilities intersect, where past and future collide, and where the act of building, or failing to build, speaks volumes about who we are.
What does the fence symbolize in the play “Fences”?
In August Wilson’s play “Fences,” the fence is a powerful symbol that represents multiple themes and emotions throughout the story. On a literal level, it is a structure that Rose wants built to enclose her yard, symbolizing her desire for security, unity, and protection within her family. For Rose, the fence is a manifestation of love and commitment, built to hold her loved ones close and shield them from the dangers of the outside world.
However, for Troy, the fence often symbolizes confinement and the limitations placed upon him by society, his past, and his personal choices. The building of the fence becomes a metaphor for Troy’s internal struggles—his efforts to contain his family, his hidden infidelities, and the emotional barriers he puts up between himself and others. Thus, the fence serves a dual purpose—offering protection and unity for some characters, while representing entrapment and division for others.
Why is Rose so insistent on having a fence built?
Rose Maxson sees the fence as a symbol of stability and love, a structure that will keep her family safe and connected. Throughout the play, she demonstrates a strong commitment to her household, often prioritizing the well-being of her family over her own wants and needs. In wanting the fence built, Rose expresses a longing for permanence and emotional security in a world where African Americans, particularly in the 1950s setting of the play, faced systemic barriers and social instability.
Her insistence on the fence also reflects her desire to maintain the integrity of her family unit in the face of Troy’s emotional distance and eventual betrayal. The fence, for Rose, is more than a physical boundary—it is her effort to build a secure foundation for her family. Her vision of the fence contrasts with Troy and Bono’s more reluctant approach to the project, highlighting the differing perspectives on family, responsibility, and dreams between the characters.
How does the fence relate to the theme of family in “Fences”?
The fence in “Fences” serves as a central metaphor for the dynamics of family life—its ability to bring people together as well as its potential to create barriers. The construction of the fence allows for moments of bonding, particularly between Troy and Cory, even though those moments are often strained by tension and generational conflict. It also becomes the site of important family conversations that reveal hidden desires, resentments, and loyalties.
At the same time, the fence mirrors the emotional boundaries within the family. Troy’s emotional neglect and eventual betrayal create invisible fences between him and his loved ones. The fence is therefore not only a literal project but also an emotional landscape where the family’s joys, struggles, and failures are played out. Ultimately, the fence is a symbol of Rose’s hope for a family rooted in love and stability, despite the obstacles they face.
What role does the fence play in Troy’s character development?
For Troy Maxson, the fence parallels his own emotional struggles, limitations, and attempts at exerting control in his life. Throughout the play, he wrestles with the fences placed on him by society—racism that barred him from a professional baseball career, economic hardship, and feelings of inadequacy as a provider and father. Building the fence becomes both a literal and symbolic act of control in Troy’s life, an attempt to define and protect his domain, even when his personal relationships begin to unravel.
Troy’s resistance and procrastination in building the fence reflect his deeper emotional conflict. He exerts dominance in the household but simultaneously builds emotional fences that alienate those closest to him. His infidelity, rigid expectations for Cory, and inability to show affection ultimately lead to his isolation. The fence therefore mirrors Troy’s internal struggles—his desire to provide for his family while simultaneously erecting barriers that push them away.
How does the fence symbolize racial barriers in the play?
The fence in “Fences” symbolizes the racial segregation and systemic barriers faced by African Americans during the mid-20th century. Troy often recounts how the color of his skin denied him a career in professional baseball, a personal injustice that haunts him. The fence thus represents the figurative barriers placed on Black Americans’ opportunities in employment, housing, and social mobility. It becomes a reminder of both the external and self-imposed fences that hinder progress and personal fulfillment.
In a broader sense, the fence highlights the struggle for agency and the complexity of overcoming both societal and internal limitations. The characters navigate life in a time when racial barriers were gradually being challenged but still deeply entrenched. The play uses the fence to explore how these barriers shape identity, ambition, and relationships, particularly within the African American experience. Through metaphor and symbolism, August Wilson connects the family’s story to the wider historical and cultural context.
What is the significance of Troy and Cory building the fence together?
The act of Troy and Cory building the fence together is symbolic of their strained relationship and generational differences. While they work side by side, their conversations reveal tensions over education, career choices, and their diverging views of the world. Cory wants to play football and believes in a future where race is less of a barrier, while Troy remains skeptical due to his own experiences. Their collaboration on the fence becomes a metaphor for the emotional labor involved in building and maintaining family relationships.
At the same time, the fence is the only significant physical project they complete together before their relationship collapses. This shared work highlights missed opportunities for understanding and connection. Their attempts to communicate across generational and emotional divides are hindered by Troy’s rigid worldview and Cory’s rebellious aspirations. In this way, the fence stands as both a product of their shared labor and a reflection of the barriers that prevent them from truly connecting as father and son.
How does the completion or non-completion of the fence reflect the play’s themes?
The eventual completion of the fence mirrors the resolution of emotional conflicts and the redefinition of family after Troy’s death. Initially a source of tension and unfulfilled promise, the fence becomes a symbol of healing and legacy. It is Cory who, after initially resisting and resenting Troy, eventually finishes building the fence—signifying a complicated form of acceptance and continuity. The act of completion shows that while Troy has left an emotional scar, his presence still shapes the family’s journey.
Moreover, the changing status of the fence throughout the play reflects the shifting dynamics of love, loss, and reconciliation. By the end, the fence becomes a space for gathering and remembrance, where the family comes together for Troy’s funeral. It encapsulates the core of “Fences”—the enduring impact of personal choices, the struggle for identity, and the power of familial bonds despite conflict and hardship. The fence, once a symbol of separation, evolves into a structure of unity and memory.