Troy vs Society in August Wilson's 'Fences'

This article explores the conflict between Troy and Society in August Wilson's play 'Fences' and how social perceptions play a key role in determining Troy's conflicts. It also sheds light on other aspects of societal conflicts as well.

Running head: TROY VS SOCIETY
TROY VS SOCIETY IN AUGUST WILSON’S ‘FENCES’
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1TROY VS SOCIETY
One of the main themes that can be identified as the most prominent in driving all
possible elements and sub themes in August Wilson’s play ‘Fences’ is the conflict between Troy
and Society. Keeping the timeline and the extant behaviour towards African American people at
that point in time, it can be asserted that the prevalent social norms that painted a marginalising
image of Black people in the mind of others, plays a crucial role in connecting other aspects of
Troy’s conflict.
The social perception towards African Americans in the 1960s, wherein the play is
actually based, is a period in American history when the racial marginalisation was still a
highlighting aspect (Lang, 2013). Troy’s history with playing baseball can be cited as a
significant example where Troy’s removal from the team and ban on playing any major baseball
league, could have been a possible after effect of his imprisonment. However, Troy makes a
direct connection with his understood racial discrimination when preventing his son Cory from
playing football, despite the fact that race might not even have been a contributing factor
(Wilson, 1985; Wattley, 2010). It is therefore important to see how this little incident not only
provides insight into Troy’s conflict with his family, but also with his own self, where he is
unable to figure out the proper rational cause behind his own fate.
As much as social perceptions play a key role in determining how race can be a factor in
Troy’s conflicts, social perceptions of humans completely separated from racial connections can
also become an influence. If we look at Troy’s house, it can be seen both as a source of pride as
well as shame. Troy can have pride in the fact that he is able to provide his family with a house,
yet feel ashamed at the fact that the house is bought with the disability checks that his mentally
unstable brother gets from the military for his service (Wilson, 1985). This, coupled with the
perception of a grown man living off his brother’s pension money, can be seen as a facet of

2TROY VS SOCIETY
Troy’s conflict with society as a person providing for his own family, yet being unable to do so
on his own (Knabe & Ratzel, 2011).
Finally, death can be looked at as a metaphorical stance in the entire play, right from the
outset. The Fence in the play has been built over many years and its completion is only revealed
at the final act of the play. In a dramatic monologue in the second act, Troy conceptualizes the
fence as an allegorical device that keeps the Grim Reaper away (Wilson, 1985; Cheishvili,
2011). At the same time, it can also serve as a symbol of emotional separation between Troy and
his family. The fact that a fence around a house can also be looked at as a social practice
indicating ownership and respect for neighbourhood privacy, Troy’s conflict with death can also
be summed up neatly.
In conclusion, it can be stated that Troy and his conflicts with society as a whole, is a
culmination of Troy’s conflicts with his own self, his family as well as death. Looking at social
perceptions of humans outside the purview of race as a factor, which becomes relevant in a
predominantly Black play, can shed lights on other aspects of societal conflicts as well.

3TROY VS SOCIETY
References.
Cheishvili, T. (2011). Writing ‘Race’: Fences by August Wilson. TAMAR SHIOSHVILI, 82.
Knabe, A., & Rätzel, S. (2011). Scarring or scaring? The psychological impact of past
unemployment and future unemployment risk. Economica, 78(310), 283-293.
Lang, C. (2013). Representing the mad margins of the early 1960s. Mad men, mad world: Sex,
politics, style, and the 1960s, 73.
Wattley, A. (2010). Father-Son Conflict and the American Dream in Arthur Miller's" Death of a
Salesman" and August Wilson's" Fences". The Arthur Miller Journal, 5(2), 1-20.
Wilson, A. (1985). Fences. New York: Plume.